EPISODE 5

THREE-EDGED SWORD –

PART TWO

"THEIR SIDE"

 

"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
Bertrand Russell

"The true beginning of our end".
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare

"Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box."
Italian Proverb

 

 

Onboard the Ingata…

 

Terann frowned as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She reached a hand up to rub her temples, when she heard a voice ask behind her:

"Alyt Terann, are you unwell?"

The Minbari nodded. "Yes, Tabari. I am fine. What is our status?"

"We will be coming out of hyperspace shortly. As of yet, the Earther’s do not appear to be aware of our arrival."

"Excellent. Inform Shai Alyt Neroon that we are about to enter into battle." Terann stepped over to the console, making certain that all stations were at the ready. The last confrontation with the Humans had not gone well. This time, they would show the arrogant Earthers how it felt to be targeted by Minbari vengeance.

"Coming out of hyperspace."

A slow smile spread across the Warrior’s face. "Begin the attack…"

The Minbari Warcruiser, Ingata, came out of hyperspace at the precise coordinates, directly behind the Earther’s fleet. Terann stared for a moment at the ships spread out before her. She counted three Omega class destroyers and one Nova Dreadnought. Terann considered the odds in favor of the Minbari as she ran her fingers in an almost-loving caress across the firing controls. She allowed the excitement of the coming battle to wash over her, savoring the anticipation, absorbing the heavy emotions of the crew around her, seeking out those few she felt fear from and wiping it away as one would a bothersome insect. Her forest green eyes narrowed as she contemplated her first victim.

"Alyt, the Human’s have detected us. They are turning to attack. Should we lock weapons?"

Terann waved her slim hand in dismissal. "We will await the Shai Alyt. He will want to see this."

"Yes, Alyt."

Terann returned her attention to the projected scene before her. All around them, the Earther’s ships loomed like ugly blocks, built by ignorant barbarians who had no eye or appreciation for creativity or beauty. From the first moment Terann had seen the monstrosities that comprised the Human’s fleet, she had loathed the sight of them, and found herself wondering at the intelligence of such a race. Throughout the years of the war though, the Minbari had come to understand that there was more to the Humans than the hideous ships that they traveled the galaxy in. They were cunning, cruel and deadly if not carefully watched. Her fists clenched as she thought of the countless Minbari who had died at Human hands. Always before a battle erupted, Terann was certain that her hatred for the enemy would cloud her judgment, overcome her will. She always proved herself stronger than that, though. Stronger, and smarter.

"Alyt. Earth destroyer powering up to fire. Should we evade?"

"Negative."

If the crew were surprised at her reply, they did not show it. All remained calmly at their stations as the first volley of laser fire from the Earth ships showered over them. The Ingata rocked steadily for a moment, causing Terann to brace her feet apart to keep from losing her balance. Others followed her example until the powerful ship quieted from the assault. The small fleet of Earth vessels unleashed yet another volley and Terann’s eyes focused on the smaller Nova. If there was one lesson she had learned quickly, it was that of knowing your opponents well; their strengths and weaknesses. The weapons on the Dreadnought took most of its power to fire and the Warrior knew that soon it would be left impotent, weak, easy prey. Her fingers moved lightly over the controls once more, focusing the Ace’s weapons on her first victim.

"Status report," she called out, her voice as calm as if she were asking the current temperature in Yedor.

"Damage is minimal, Alyt," Tabari replied quickly.

Terann was about to nod when she was momentarily distracted from the battle by the entrance of her Shai Alyt to the bridge. She remained with her eyes facing the screen, though she could sense every nuance of her superior’s behavior. Never had she dared to intrude upon his thoughts or feelings without his permission, and those particular times had been to teach him how to keep other telepaths out. The experience of learning so much about him, seeing so deeply inside of him had left Terann with a powerful impression. His presence was one that was so strong and powerful that often his emotions and very essence seemed to wash over her. She knew she made an excellent Alyt for him because she could sense his every order and wish before he voiced it. It was a talent of hers that others found suspicious and unsettling but Shai Alyt Neroon had adjusted to her quite well. Now it appeared as if he always expected her to second-guess him and though there had been a few times when her choices had been incorrect and she had been punished, she more than made up for them with the times in which she was correct.

The Warrior was snapped from her reverie when another blast from the destroyers rocked the Ingata beneath her feet. She took notice that the Dreadnought had not participated in the latest attack and she allowed a small smile as her middle finger played over the main firing control. Terann allowed herself to enjoy the next few moments. It was unnecessary for her to participate so actively in the battle but she chose to do so in order that she would never forget the feeling of it, the heady sense of power one has knowing that the lives of countless thousands are at that mercy of your hand. She never wanted to forget the knowledge, the uncertainty you felt knowing that if you miss your target, if you fire incorrectly, you could cost the battle and the lives of your fellow crewmembers. She never wanted to allow herself to forget that her life could end as quickly as those she was out to destroy could.

"Alyt, the Earth vessels are preparing to fire another attack."

Terann made no reply but simply allowed the controls beneath her fingers to let loose. The laser exploded from the warcruiser, cutting a neat, deadly line through the Dreadnought with little to no difficulty. The Minbari watched impassively as the ship split in two and numerous explosions erupted between it’s halves until the entire vessel dissolved into a ball of fire. There was no celebrating among the Minbari crew, no smiles of congratulation. Each Warrior continued in their duties, glancing up occasionally as Alyt Terann methodically destroyed another ship, cluttering the space around them with battle debris ranging from enormous hull structures to tiny, fragile Human bones.

The end of a battle was always anti-climatic for Terann. While the anticipation and implementation of battle stirred the adrenaline and amplified the sense, the conclusion of battle was often mind-numbing. There was a silence on the bridge as the crew tracked survivors and systematically destroyed them until the only race that survived in that particular quadrant was that of the victors. Terann fought her draining emotions as the screen flickered out before her and she was once more overshadowed by the enormity of the Warcruiser around her. She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders and turned to face her Shai Alyt.

The crew milled around them silently, behaving as if they did not know their superiors were present and that they could not hear a word said between them.

"Alyt Terann." Neroon’s voice was deep, powerful. It appeared to emanate from somewhere deep within his soul, and would then burst upon the surroundings, reverberating the very walls.

Terann regarded him steadily, her gaze not wavering from his. Did others see what she did, she wondered? Did they see his greatness, understand his soul? Understand that he was the best of them? Terann could not put into words what she felt when she looked upon Neroon, what she felt when she sensed his presence. It was not love, at least no love that she had ever heard of, but something deeper, something stronger. Neroon had given her the chance that no other would, had made her who and what she was, a Warrior who was both feared and respected by her people. He had given her a home, when others would have shunned her; had given her a chance, when others said she could not be one of them; had given her a purpose, when others had believed she had none. She knew him better than any and understood, without a doubt, that she would lay down her life in a moment to protect his.

"Yes, Shai Alyt?"

"You destroyed the enemy."

"Yes, Shai Alyt."

"You won the battle."

"Yes."

Neroon’s eyes narrowed suddenly. "Alyt Terann, are you aware that our people have only four Advanced Cruisers left in our fleet?"

"Yes." Terann raised her brow in defiance. "And that number currently remains steady, Shai Alyt."

Neroon approached her, raising his chin a bit so that he towered over his officer. "You foolishly endangered the lives of your crew as well as the existence of your vessel. This, I would estimate, was due in part to your pride, your arrogance, your need to appear brave and courageous."

"One does not need what one already has, Shai Alyt," Terann retorted steadily.

Her Shai Alyt regarded her silently for a long moment, his expression unchanging, his eyes hard. Finally, he nodded once.

"Very good, Alyt Terann."

She inclined her head to him as he turned to leave the bridge, her heart beating erratically. He did not show his ability to surprise her very often but when he did she felt a certain pride in the knowledge that she had taught him to block his thoughts and feelings so well. Terann returned her attention to the bridge crew, ordering that a communication be sent to Minbar informing them of the victory. She then placed Tabari in charge, knowing that Neroon would soon wish to see her in his quarters. She had sensed in him the need to tell her something, she felt his excitement and even a hint of subterfuge. Not normally one to be led by her curiosity, Terann found herself looking forward to the upcoming meeting and exited the bridge quicker than usual after a battle.

 

Shai Alyt Neroon of the Star Riders paced before the window in his quarters, awaiting the arrival of his second-in-command. He glanced out at the starfield to watch as debris from the Earth vessels floated by. Something that could have been mistaken for a grin crossed his face. Leave it to Terann to leave a pile of debris wherever she went.

Ridicule and reprimand had bombarded Neroon when word had leaked about his choice for Terann as Alyt. Because of the mystery surrounding her heritage, her own clan had difficulty accepting her. Her mother had been a great Warrior, respected by many, but after her disappearance and subsequent return with a daughter of whom had no father that could be named, the respect and the acceptance dwindled. From the start, Terann was offered none. As a young child, Terann had quickly learned how to fight, how to defend and stand up for herself. She knew she had to be smarter, more cunning, stronger and better than those around her were. When her clan began to realize she was an extremely strong telepath as well, their acceptance of her broadened, but not by much. She was still forced to fight for every ounce of respect and every rank she achieved. When Neroon had met Terann, he swore he had never met anyone as ruthless, cunning or tenacious as she. When he further discovered that her loyalty was as strong as her persistence, he quickly requested that she be assigned to his crew. From there he continued to watch and wait, noting what mistakes she made and how quickly she learned from them, monitoring how her mind worked and what she based her decisions on. If Terann had noticed his interest in her, she had never shown it, preferring to remain in the background, unnoticed by her peers. Neroon quickly learned that was how she survived; she had always moved ahead quietly, without much notice. After Neroon’s Alyt was killed in battle, he turned his eye toward Terann, knowing before speaking with her that she was the perfect choice.

Neroon based his choice on a multitude of reasons. Her loyalty and ruthlessness aside, Neroon was fascinated by the fact that she was a telepath. It was rare that a telepath, no matter what Caste they were born to, to not eventually be pulled into the Religious Caste by all of their monotonous preaching and continual badgering that telepaths were "special", telepaths were meant to lead their people, to care for life, not fight for it. Terann had remained loyal to her Caste though, had remained loyal to her heart and what she was. Neroon knew instantly that having a telepathic Alyt beside him would be very beneficial and gain him a strong advantage over others. He did not care that there were rumors among their people that her blood was not pure, that is was possible she was not full Minbari. What mattered to him was how Terann saw herself, and in her heart she was Minbari, born of the Warrior Caste, and there was no one alive who could tell her differently.

When the door to his quarters chimed, signaling her presence, Neroon waited a moment before replying. He knew he had a tendency to spoil Terann, it was one of his few faults. He was often so proud and pleased of the work that she did that it often clouded his better judgment. Terann had a tendency to grab for the upper hand when it was within her reach, such as the battle he had witnessed earlier. If there were something she knew she could get away with, she would do so, without hesitation. She never went far enough to overstep her boundaries or intrude on Neroon’s leadership. He would not have let her had she tried. But there were those who would see it differently and Neroon knew he had to be certain he could keep her under control if the need ever arose. It was a battle of wills between them, and he loved the constant challenge.

"Come!"

The door "swished" open and Terann entered, inclining her head slightly when she saw Neroon by the window, half hidden by the shadows. "Shai Alyt. You wished to see me?"

Neroon remained silent for the moment, watching her. If there was any truth to the doubt of the purity of her bloodlines, Neroon felt it was evident in her face, especially her eyes. She had a strangely exotic look about it, something that made her stand out from the other females of their race. Her eyes were a dark green but in the right light they appeared almost black, like a void into which one could easily become lost. Sometimes Neroon refrained from looking into her gaze directly for the simple fact that it disturbed him. He knew that much of the crew feared her and he had no doubt much of it had to do with her haunting eyes. At the moment though, there was nothing overly unusual about them; green, appealing to look at, but nothing to take note of.

"I commend you on the battle, Terann." He continued to watch her for a moment as he spoke then shifted his gaze back to the starfield. "When we have finally rid this galaxy of the barbaric Humans, our people will need to lend much of their thanks to you. Your tenacity and courage has provided us with many of our victories."

"I am grateful for your compliments, Shai Alyt. But I wish nothing more from our people than the respect I deserve as a Warrior."

Neroon raised his brow at that but refrained from comment. "Do you regard yourself as being a qualified leader, Terann?"

"Though I have watched you closely, and have garnered the respect of the crew, I could never match your leadership skills, Shai Alyt."

"True." Neroon moved away from the window to step into the light. He folded his arms over his chest. "And do you know why that is, Terann?"

The Warrior thought for a moment, then replied, "Because they will never accept me as a true Minbari."

Neroon frowned. "Well that was filled with an enormous amount of self-pity, Terann. And not at all what I expect from you."

Terann remained silent.

"But, what you say is partly true, only not how you believe. You would fail as a leader for one simple reason: the lack of belief in yourself. If you have doubts of your purity, how can you not expect the same from others? You are a Warrior, Terann. You are Minbari. Your actions show me this daily and yet…And yet I see a hesitancy in you that is holding you back, that says to others that you are not to be trusted because you do not trust in yourself." Neroon moved closer to her, standing near enough that he had to look down to catch her gaze. "I believe in you, Terann. It is time you began to believe in yourself."

Before Terann had time to reply to this, Neroon continued, turning to walk away from her. "Over the next few days, you will have the opportunity to prove to yourself and the crew that you are capable of being a leader. When I return, I will expect to see those qualities stand out in you."

"Return?" Terann frowned. "I did not know that you were leaving. Where will you be going, Shai Alyt?"

"That is none of your concern," he replied, turning to flash her a warning look. "I am leaving as soon as our mission here is completed, and I will return when I am finished."

"Finished with what?" Terann could not help asking.

Neroon simply flashed her anther warning.

She considered it prudent to drop that subject and move on to another. "Are we to pick you up anywhere? Are there any specific instructions?"

"You will continue on the present course. Plans are in motion for a major strike against the Humans and the Ingata will lead the attack. If you encounter any trouble along the way, I am certain you will know how to handle it."

"Is there anyway to contact you?"

Neroon shook his head. "I will contact you on a regular basis. The codes will be scrambled so that no one will be able to trace them to their origin. Are there any other questions?"

Terann shook her head. "No, Shai Alyt."

"Excellent."

Neroon turned to regard her once more, his face again half hidden by the shadows. For a brief moment, Terann felt a shudder run down her spine and a voice whispered across her mind, We are ready… A premonition fell over her that something terrible was going to happen. She was tempted to request that Neroon not leave the ship but something warned her that his staying would change nothing. She forced the worry aside and returned her attention to her Captain.

"You will do well, Terann," Neroon commented.

She nodded, knowing full well that it was he, and not she, that had coming trials to face.

 

 

 

Terann

She was standing in the midst of a mountain range, on some forsaken planet that appeared to have been long dead, long alone in the universe. The wind whipped the cloth of her uniform around her, but she did not feel the chill or discomfort that was expected. Instead, it appeared as if she were in the center of a void, where neither sound nor touch could find her, while around her dust stirred in the breeze and clouded the skies above in a murky darkness.

Terann…

She glanced around for the voice, a tone that she did not recognize. She felt anger that someone knew more about her than she did them; it enraged her that they had brought her to this dead rock without her permission. To lose control of a situation was one thing; to begin without control was another. She forced herself to move from the area where she awoke, standing, and followed in the direction she believed the voice came from.

Terann.

She started, turning to find the vessel of the voice standing directly behind her. He was Minbari, or at least he appeared so at first. The longer she regarded him though, the more Terann began to realize that there were subtle nuances about him that were not entirely Minbari. She could not explain it had she been forced to. Were any other to look at him, they would not see it. They would proclaim him Minbari and move on. But Terann had stared at a face that was Minbari but not Minbari all her life. She knew the difference. She knew what she wanted to be, what she lacked, what she possessed that others did not. This one…he was the same. It was the eyes, perhaps. Eyes which said they did not belong to the face in which they were housed.

"You are an impostor", she told him.

Minbari, came the reply. But not born of Minbari.

Terann frowned. He was cryptic, which signaled Vorlon but she knew that was one thing he was not. She would know if he were. He would have sung to her by now.

"Who are you? Why did you bring me here?"

I love this place as you do, Terann. You must not overlook that.

"This place? I do not even know this place. How could I love it?"

Look deeply, Terann. It is there, in your heart.

The Warrior glared at him for a moment longer before finally turning and staring off across the rugged terrain. At first she saw nothing of consequence, nothing that would signal she had ever been to this world before. But as she looked deeper, shapes began to form. Here and there, the ground would sparkle, and Terann found herself knowing and accepting the terrible truth.

Minbar.

"But how? When?"

She turned back to the stranger only to find that he had been replaced – by a Human male in Earthforce uniform. She immediately lashed out for him but found that each time she tried, he would simply appear on another side of her. Calmly, quietly, he allowed her to continue her attacks until she grew tired of her actions. Terann snarled angrily at the Human.

"You did this! You barbaric monsters destroyed Minbar!"

No, Terann. You did this.

Panic seized her. "Me? That is impossible! I love my people! I would protect them at any cost!"

Yes, you would. You loyalty to them is unquestionable. And that is why you fail.

"What do you know?" She argued. "Your people are uncivilized and brutal!"

Perhaps.

The figure disappeared once more. Terann took a step forward, scanning with her eyes when she "felt" another presence appear behind her. She spun around quickly, prepared to defend herself against an attacker only to find that she was facing an image of herself. Yes, it was her, only she did not wear the same uniform and her expression appeared – what? Peaceful?

We are not innocent. None of us can claim innocence, Terann.

The Warrior backed up slightly from the figure of herself. "How can I trust you?"

You must figure that out for yourself. Can you trust yourself, Terann? Can you trust the choices you make? Do you believe in yourself, in me? Are we so different that we can not coexist in the same heart?

Terann shook her head in confusion. Nothing was making sense. "That Human said I was responsible for this – for the destruction of Minbar!"

He was correct. We are responsible, Terann. We are at fault for our loyalty to our people, and our perfidy to ourselves.

"I am sorry. I do not understand."

The image flickered, wavered and disappeared before her, leaving Terann alone once more. She roared her outrage at the puzzle, at the senselessness of everything she was experiencing, at the terrifying thought of bringing destruction to her world, whether real or imagined.

Anger is useless in times like these.

Terann whirled to her right only to be confronted by a Human female in a uniform that denoted her as one of their telepaths. Though she could not clearly distinguish the facial features, Terann felt there was something familiar about the Human. One of Terann’s victims, perhaps?

"What do you know of anger, barbarian?"

I know that anger has killed millions on each side. I know that anger will kill billions more. And I know that the anger over those billion will lead to more billions until all of the lights in the universe are extinguished forever.

"Anger has nothing to do with it! My people are simply cleansing the galaxy of a race that is only known for brutality and stupidity!"

The image before her grew silent, watching. Terann felt desperation clawing at her. She hated this feeling of misunderstanding, of having a light shone in her eyes that kept her from seeing what was before her. Why did her mind see fit to speak to her in the voice of the Humans? Why were they the designated messengers?

We are one, the Human spoke softly. Blow out one flame and the breeze carries…

Slowly, the image morphed out of the Human female form and back into the Minbari male who had first come to her. Only now, she saw what she could not understand before. His eyes were those of the Human female, his face that of the Human male. He wore Minbari robes, only they were in the colors of the Earthforce uniforms and, pinned to his chest just below his left shoulder, he wore an emblem encasing a strange stone. Oddly it seemed familiar to her.

The voices of authority and resistance are winning, Terann. For the flames to continue, one must sleep, for the other to survive…

Again, Terann could only shake her head. "I do not understand – "

That is why you have failed…

"Alyt Terann? Alyt Terran?"

Terann opened her eyes, quickly coming to the realization that she no longer stood in the void of the dead world (Minbar?) but was, instead, safely ensconced in her quarters aboard the Ingata. She glanced over from her palette to see Tabari standing just within the door of her quarters, the harsh light of the corridor flooding the room. She blinked against it.

"Yes?"

"I am sorry to have to awaken you from your rest, Alyt, but there is an urgent message coming in from Shai Alyt Branmer. He said that it is for you only, and that you must speak with him immediately."

Terann nodded, sliding off of her palette and smoothing her uniform down so that she once more attained her usual regal appearance. "I understand, Tabari. Have we received any transmissions from Shai Alyt Neroon?"

"No, Alyt."

Terann frowned. It was unlike her commanding officer to allow such an inordinate amount of time to slip by without reporting in to his ship. Again, the same feeling of dread that she had felt when he had told her of his mysterious mission settled over her. She had always believed that she was somehow connected to Neroon in a way that she would always know if he had come to harm. The past few days had done little to dispel that belief. Somewhere, deep inside her, alarms were ringing an ominous tune. All thoughts of her inexplicable dream disappeared to be replaced by worry and premonition of forthcoming tribulation.

"Tabari, I want you to prepare the crew for battle while I speak with the Shai Alyt. I believe Shai Alyt Neroon may be in trouble, and that we have an upcoming confrontation with the Humans."

Tabari bowed before her Alyt, showing not a flicker of question or judgment at Terann’s spoken confidence. She turned and hurried off to do as she was ordered, Terann watching with an expression of the slightest hint of satisfaction. Her mind pondered the events of the last few days, and the final climax that had led to the crew’s sudden change in comportment toward her. Terann exited her quarters and headed for the communications room, while in her mind she replayed the past few days, wondering exactly how she would explain it to her Shai Alyt when he returned. It had not been her own doing that had brought about such significant change, but actually the actions of an unlikely ally.

The day had begun as any other. The Ingata was patrolling the border of Minbari space, looking for any hint as to the presence of an Earth Ship when alarms began to blare throughout the vessel. Morwenn quickly alerted Terann that an unknown element had been injected into the life support systems, eating away at the insides of the ship and filling the air with toxic gases. He went on to inform her, without the slightest inflection or hint of emotion, that the Ingata would be disabled and unlivable within two hours time.

Terann took this news with her usual unflappable bearing, but inside panic played itself out steadily. She could just see attempting to explain to Shai Alyt Neroon why he did not have a ship to return to; why the Minbari fleet lost it’s flag ship. In all truth, she would rather be forced to share quarters with a Pak’ma’ra then have to face Neroon with such news. She would rather be caught traveling aboard an Earther’s ship, drink Bravari with the Centauri Emperor, marry a member of the Religious Caste…No, wait. She would rather face Neroon with news about his destroyed ship then marry into the Religious Caste, but there were many other things she would rather face. All around her, the eyes of her crew were watching, waiting to see what the "impostor" would do; how she would handle such a dire situation. They were waiting for her to fail, waiting for her to prove to them that she was not truly a Warrior, that she did not belong among them. The more she read this in their eyes, heard it whirring through their distrusting minds, the more Terann’s resolve strengthened.

She nodded once to Morwenn. "Very well. Prepare the crew to evacuate, but do not do so until you hear the order given from me. Is that understood, Morwenn?"

"Yes, Alyt Terann."

"Where is this element emanating from?"

Morwenn pulled up the schematics of the ship, pointed toward the red lights that indicated the danger. "The immediate area has been sealed off."

"Is there any way to ventilate that area? Remove the fumes or element that is causing the damage?"

"Yes." Morwenn nodded. "But it is too late for the life support systems. The ship is already being eaten away at. We have no way of repairing the damage to the hull and the venting systems."

"You leave that to me. Just get me in there." She whirled around quickly to face Tabari. "I want you to put together three teams and search every inch of this ship. This is obviously the work of sabotage and I want the saboteur found, is that understood?"

"Yes, Alyt." Tabari bowed briefly then scurried off to begin her search.

Terann turned back to Morwenn. "Can you get me in?"

"Yes, but – "

Morwenn was unable to finish his sentence as Terann hurried off to attempt to eliminate the danger to her ship. Yes, she thought of it as her ship, and rightly so. She had put as much of her strength and loyalty and pain and frustration into the Ingata as anyone, including Neroon. She was not about to let some bleeding heart liberal destroy it beneath her feet. Terann was certain that some protester of the war with the Humans was behind this destruction; it was an act that was occurring more and more frequently as the war continued. In the past year, the Minbari fleet had lost two of its vessels due to sabotage by their own people. Their own people! Of course, it had all been performed by the Religious Caste, and they were slowly being forced to pay for their treachery. But not enough, Terann thought. Not so that anyone was warned against doing it again, not so that the Minbari people cringed at the mere thought of sabotage against their own ships, not so that Religious Caste members trembled in fear at the approach of a Warrior. No, Terann would have treated this entire affair quite differently from the beginning if she had been in charge. And if, by Valeria’s grace, the saboteur were caught, and if, by some chance, that saboteur turned out to be a member of the Religious Caste, then Terann would make certain such treason against the Minbari people would never occur again.

When she approached the quarantined section, Terann found that a small group of her Warriors had gathered around, watching through the shielded doors in wonder as the ship appeared to eat away at itself. Morwenn had opened the ventilating system, pushing the noxious fumes out into space, and cleaning it sufficiently for Terann to enter. More minute components of the element had already attached themselves to the physical aspects of the vessel, working their destruction still.

She entered cautiously, still uncertain as to the exact mechanics of the compound. Taking her first breath, and noting that the air was sufficiently safe to breathe, she allowed her body to relax, straightening to her full height. At first, she scanned the area, careful to distinguish which sections were decaying more quickly than others did. She had never attempted to control an inanimate object, such as the hull of a ship, but reasoned to herself that it certainly had to be less of a challenge than forcing one’s self into a sentient mind, capable of fighting back. Terann approached the most damaged section of the hull and surveyed it for a long moment, attempting to see past the outer appearance of the compound and into its true chemical makeup. It took an enormous amount of concentration but she finally saw that the compound seemed to be made up of living creatures. She would not exactly call them sentient, but it was readily apparent that they were eating away at the fibers of the ship like microscopic scavengers. Terann knew that it would be simple to rid the ship of its invaders but contemplated exactly how she was going to repair the ship in enough time without having to abandon it. She knew the crew watched her, knew that many of them were waiting for her to fail, hoping for her to do so. None of them knew of what she was truly capable, none of them knew that what she was went far beyond the simple Minbari telepath. If they knew, if she could tell them…Well, their fear of her would grow a hundred fold.

Returning her thoughts to the problem at hand, Terann focused her mind on the microscopic creatures, searching deeply for any sign of intelligence or instinct, no matter how minute. Once she located it, she worked quickly, murdering each tiny mouth of destruction with an almost childlike glee. She relished those few chances when she was able to reach deep into her abilities and learn her true potential. She fed on those moments like an addict, unknowingly increasing her own powers as she did so. Within seconds, the ship was free of the vermin that had attacked it and Terann had only to find a way to repair the damage.

"Alyt Terann?"

Morwenn’s voice echoed through the intercom, distracting Terann from her thoughts. "What is it, Morwenn?" She snapped.

"We have approximately one hour and fifteen minutes left in the ship’s environmental systems. Should we begin evacuation?"

"No."

There was a brief pause, then, "Alyt, I would be remiss in my duties if I did not inform you that the destruction of this vessel appears imminent. And while losing the flagship of the fleet will cause a rift in our defenses, losing the entire crew along with it will only disgrace your clan."

"Enough!" Terann shouted, angered not only by his implications of her impending failure but also by the continued interruption. "Should you find it necessary to continue to blast your voice into this chamber and inundate me with your mundane and cowardly ramblings, I will find it necessary to relocate your position to the engine room. Is that understood?"

Silence.

Terann nodded and returned her attention to the task at hand. Outside she felt the apprehensions of her crew, the certainties that she would fail, intermixed with the few hopes that she would not. Had she not taken a moment to reach out and touch the emotions around her, she might have missed it, but there it was, hidden far behind the others, waiting. Terann allowed the emotions of the crew to pass, hanging on tightly to the other though she returned her attention to the decaying hull. Gently, she reached out her hands to lightly touch the material before her. Beyond the exterior, Terann felt the interior matrixes of the ship breaking down, wires disintegrating, internal mechanics imploding. She stretched the fabric of her mind until she reached each and every component that the compound had attacked. Carefully, using the simplest instructions possible, she "convinced" the ship to repair itself. It took longer than she anticipated and certainly used more strength than she thought she was capable of obtaining. At each point that she thought her mind was ready to give out, some hidden reserve of strength would build up and push itself into the foray. She eventually succeeded in her mission though, with minute’s left to spare.

Once she had built up enough strength, Terann called out to the intercom, "Status, Morwenn."

There was the briefest of pauses before he replied, "All systems appear to be functioning normally, Alyt. I…the Ingata is no longer in danger."

Terann nodded. "Excellent. I want you and Tabari to gather the crew together. I have something…I want them to see."

Morwenn did not bother questioning her request. After what he had just witnessed, he knew better than to belie her orders.

Terann did not have far to travel to find what it was she searched for. Her victim stood only meters away from the damage, watching with vexation as carefully laid plans were destroyed by Terann’s interference. As if wanting to be found, the saboteur did not move, regarding Terann steadily as she approached.

"Delenn", Terann spoke the name in a venomous tone. "I should have known it was you."

Delenn was a well-known radical of the Religious Caste. She and others of her clan had publicly criticized the continuance of the war on more than one occasion. She was a student of the Religious leader Dukhat, and a continual thorn in the side of the Warrior Caste. Terann found herself smiling at the thought that she now had a perfect excuse to teach the Religious Caste, as well as Delenn, a well-deserved lesson.

"How did you do that?" Delenn queried, still confused over the sudden turn of events. She had been specifically guaranteed by those she had purchased the gas from that there was no way to stop it once it was released. She had been assured of victory. Never trust a Centauri.

"I would think that you would be more worried about what I am now going to do with you than how I spoiled your plans," Terann commented, her eyes narrowing as she watched her victim.

Delenn raised her chin in defiance. "Whatever you do can not truly touch me. The Religious Caste is in the right, as you will soon understand. My message will be carried on, as will the spirit of what we attempt to end. The Warrior Caste can not continue to step on their people and expect to retain their power without dissent."

Terann carefully considered her options. She knew that if she simply killed Delenn for her actions, the foolish would turn her into a martyr and the distance between their Castes would only continue to grow. No, she needed to find a way to send a warning to the Religious Caste that such actions would not be tolerated, and punish Delenn at the same time. It was time to send a message to all of Minbar that it was the Warrior Caste that was in control, the Warrior Caste who made decisions regarding life and death, the Warrior Caste who would make a difference in the Universe. And if it was left to Terann to make that statement heard, then she was more than ready for the challenge.

Her crew was silently assembled when Terann brought Delenn before them, announcing to all present that it was the Religious Caste that was responsible for the sabotage against their vessel, and that it was the Religious Caste that would pay. A murmur of voices rose up within the room as the crew discussed among themselves how to exact revenge. Terann stood silently as the conversations continued, knowing that the distrust aimed at her by the crew was manifesting itself full force now that such a critical event had occurred. She knew that many were hoping she would simply detain the perpetrator until Neroon arrived to take over the situation. Terann had actually considered that option for a brief moment, but knew that to prolong the matter would only reduce its magnitude. The lesson must be taught now.

"We all know that the outcry against us from the Religious Caste has been considerable," Terann started, pausing for a moment to allow the murmurs around her to die down. "This has slowly begun to weaken our position on Minbar, even causing several uprisings against us by the Worker Caste. These unfortunate occurrences have caused a decrease in production of our military arsenals and almost cost us the war. This dissent among our own people must come to an end once and for all. The Religious Caste must be silenced."

"While we will all gladly agree to your words, Alyt, " Morwenn commented, speaking for the others. "I find myself questioning them. The only way to truly silence the Religious Caste would be to do away with them, and while the idea does not in the least disturb me, it would only turn those of the Worker Caste more violently against us. And even you must see that we can not function as a race without their input."

Terann regarded him silently for a moment before finally nodding. "Agreed. We certainly can not exterminate their Caste. It would go against everything we stand for as a people. The dilemma that offers itself to us today is that of revenge for what has been attempted by this being before us who has the nerve to refer to herself as a Minbari." Terann cast Delenn a look of pure loathing. "We can not simply kill her. To do so would only make her a martyr among her own kind, and that is something we most certainly do not need at this juncture."

Terann waited while a murmur of agreement rang through the crew, then continued. "Therefore, I have decided to take matters in my own hands and deal with this my way. If any of you have a problem with this, you may take it up with Shai Alyt Neroon when he returns. Until then, I going to end this dissention among our people once and for all."

Delenn backed up a step when Terann turned to her. For the first time in her life, the true feeling of fear wafted through her. There were rumors regarding Alyt Terann, rumors that were told to small children to frighten them, rumors that she was not truly Minbari, that she was something else altogether, something never seen before. Although Delenn had never been a witness to anything Terann had done that was out of the ordinary until that day, she had met plenty of those who claimed they had. Still uncertain whether or not to believe the stories her mind recalled, Delenn did understand that never had she looked into a pair of eyes that seemed so devoid of life, at least life as she understood it. It was much like gazing into a black hole or the eyes of one long dead. She found herself wondering if the Warrior before her even possessed a soul.

Nothing that you would recognize as a soul, I assure you, rang the reply through Delenn’s mind like a death knell. Her eyes widened in surprise and fear as she realized Terann had been reading every thought that had coursed through her mind in the past few minutes. The smile that danced on the Warrior’s lips could only be described as horrible and Delenn found herself shrinking back further from the figure before her. In a last ditch effort to get her message across to the stubborn Caste that insisted on the destruction of Minbar because of their own foolish pride, she called out:

"Listen to me! I know that you, like my own Caste, are raised to believe in certain facts, in certain ways that the Universe is supposed to work. But what so many of your kind do not seem to understand is that what we are taught is at odds with how things truly are. While I am taught that the sky is pink, you are taught that it is red, and in truth it is black, infinite, all around us. We are one; do you not see that? While you insist on continuing this futile war, you bring all of Minbar down with you, and once we are gone, there will be no one left to remember us. Darkness is fast approaching, not just for us, for all the races, and if we do not provide the chance for us to work together, then we will all perish."

Terann applauded Delenn at her close. "What extremely touching words, Delenn. If you are nothing else, you are an expert orator."

"Do not do this," Delenn warned the Warrior before her. "You will be the first among us to feel the flames of destruction."

Terann once more flashed that terrible smile. "I have always been partial to the heat."

Delenn sucked in a deep breath as Terann approached her, focusing her gaze intently on her victim. The room grew to a hushed silence around her and Terann used the opportunity to project into the minds of those around the deed that she was now performing in the name of the Warrior Caste. Quickly, she pushed her way deep into the recesses of Delenn’s mind, not caring of the pain she caused, ignoring the cry from the woman who trembled before her. Once she found what it was she searched for, she allowed Delenn to "see" what it was she did, to join her in her cause as she sought her revenge.

The journey first took them deep into the temple walls that protected the Sister’s of Valeria, those honored few who had taken the calling to devote their lives to prayer and meditation. There, Terann quickly sought out the presence of Delenn’s mother, who had long ago accepted the calling, leaving her child and husband and giving honor to the family. The unsuspecting woman knelt before a triangular alter of candles, silently meditating, her form peaceful, her eyes gently closed against any distraction. There were four other Sisters in the room as well, but Terann paid them no mind. Using the unimaginable powers she had been blessed (cursed?) with since birth, she set about her work.

Delenn’s mother opened her eyes to see the image of her daughter standing silently before her. "Delenn?" She questioned softly, her mind quickly denying what vision clearly showed her.

"Hello, mother," the image replied, and flashed a terrible smile. "I have been wanting to give you this for a long time."

Her mother’s expression appeared curious at first then quickly dissolved into a look of terror. A reverberating scream tore from her lips, causing the other Sisters to hurry over to her, coming to abrupt halts before they reached her, their eyes widening in horror. Slowly, the woman before them began to rip apart, as if she were no more than a piece of cloth someone were tearing into rags. She continued to scream in agony as the torturous murder continued, as the unmistakable image of Delenn stood over her, laughing gleefully.

When Terann brought them back to where their physical bodies stood aboard the Ingata, Delenn had collapsed at her feet, crying out her anguish at the scene that she had just witnessed, at the terrible death that her mother had suffered because of her actions. Terann only continued to smile down at her, ignoring the gasps of surprise and shock that ran through the crew. She leaned over Delenn and whispered, "Are we ready for more?"

Delenn looked up at her, tears staining her pale cheeks. "You are not Minbari!" She hissed in reply. "You are a freak! A creature unworthy of that uniform you so proudly flaunt!"

"Wrong answer," came the reply as rage contorted the features of a usually bland expression.

Terann tore into her mind once again and continued her rampage. Methodically, and in increasingly disturbing methods, the telepath, who at the moment was more Vorlon than Minbari, murdered over two-thirds of Delenn’s clan, leaving only an unlucky few to pass word of the horrors that they witnessed. When finished, the form that lay before her was barely cognizant of the life she had previously lived. The murdering of her clan, which she had been forced to feel at her own hand, tore at her sanity until there was little left but a drooling, incoherent creature doomed to spend eternity in a vegetative state.

An eerie silence permeated throughout the room as the crew watched their Alyt with a mixture of fear and awe. If they had ever doubted Terann’s loyalty to her Caste, it was now quickly wiped away. There were minor trepidations among them as to how the Religious Caste would react, but these worries did not consume their minds. Each Warrior knew who was superior among their race.

Tabari was the first to gain the courage to approach Terann. "It will be difficult for the members of Delenn’s clan to accept that she was responsible for these deaths. There is no way that she could have done so. She is not…telepathic."

"No." Terann turned to face the other Warrior. "Of that I am counting on. They must understand what it was that brought about this tragedy, and how to make certain it is to never happen again." Terann moved to return to the bridge, stepping over Delenn’s inert form as if it were nothing more than an obstacle in her way. "Return the saboteur to Minbar," she instructed. "Make certain that she is taken directly to Dukhat…and give him my regards."

"Yes, Alyt Terann," Tabari replied quickly, motioning others forward to help her remove the senseless Minbari from the Ingata.

Once outside the corridor, Terann immediately fell back against the bulkhead, exhaustion from her recent activities showering over her. She had never controlled so many at once, never left her body for so long and never taken so many lives without rest. She had not even known if she would be capable of doing so, but failure was something that she would not allow herself to consider. She knew she needed sleep, knew she needed sustenance before continuing any further. Uncertain as to how her Shai Alyt would react to her behavior, nervous as to the reaction from the rest of the Warrior Caste and the subsequent retaliation, if any, from the Religious Caste, she knew that she would need her strength in the coming days.

Terann’s mind returned to the present as she stepped foot onto the bridge. She attempted to stem the worry she felt, the fears that harm had somehow come to her Shai Alyt. Morwenn was standing near the communication console when she entered, quickly stepping aside as she neared. The moment she saw Branmer’s troubled expression fear tore through her

"Shai Alyt, what has happened?" She demanded.

"Terann, you must make all possible haste to Ventaca."

She frowned. "Ventaca? Why?" It was a simple farming colony. She could not see what it possibly had to do with Neroon.

"There has been an…attack…by the Earthers. Shai Alyt Neroon has been…incapacitated."

Terann’s hands clenched into tight fists, her nails digging deeply into her palms as a mixture of fear and anger raged through her. The Humans had just made a fatal mistake, an error in judgment. Suddenly, inexplicably, they had just made the war personal for her, giving her a reason to want to see the extermination of the Humans more than any other of her race. If they had taken Neroon from her, if they had dared to take the life of the greatest of the Minbari, then she would see their souls damned to the Hell that they believed in.

 

 

 

 

Stepping from the shuttle, Terann felt her breath catch in her throat. Where there was once a thriving colony of more than a thousand, now was a smoldering battlefield. The Humans had always been hesitant to hit civilian targets, but now it appeared that their tactics had changed. If there was one thing she had learned in the years she had spent fighting in this war was that the Humans were nothing if unpredictable. She assumed that was one of the reasons that her people had not been able to eliminate them yet. She had always been taught that in order to beat an enemy you must first know them and understand them. However she found it impossible to know people who seemed to not even know themselves.

"Alyt?" A soft voice behind her said. She turned to face the young woman who had spoken. "They are waiting for you."

Terann nodded and headed in the direction that the young Warrior had indicated. "Were there any survivors?" Terann asked.

The officer hesitated, her uneasiness apparent, before responding. "The Shai Alyt will explain everything to you."

Terann wondered what had upset the young woman so much. She debated touching her thoughts to try to ascertain what had happened. Though Terann was only a couple years older than the Warrior beside her was, she far out ranked her, and if she saw fit to scan her there was little she could do in protest. But, Terann refused to invade others in such a way. There was obviously some reason for the young woman’s silence and Terann was certain that reason would be revealed to her soon enough.

Terann was led to an area of the settlement where the captains of the other Warcruisers, consigned to the colony, had gathered. She nodded to the young officer in dismissal then turned to the Shai Alyts, saluting them respectfully. Out of the four, only Branmer met her gaze. This did not surprise Terann. Neroon had served as Alyt under Branmer for several years before the Ingata was been commissioned and he had been a factor in Terann being a part of Neroon’s crew. Branmer, too, was often view as an outcast among their people. Having been the result of a bonding between one of the Warrior Caste and one of the Religious Caste, he understood Terann and what she was forced to endure. Where Terann had her telepathic ability, Branmer was a gifted tactician and it was this ability that had enabled him to gain acceptance within their caste. It was because of his strategies that the Minbari had been able to score many early victories against the Earthers.

"Have you been able to locate Shai Alyt Neroon?" She asked, trying to hide her concern for her commanding officer.

They cast uneasy glances to one another, finally Branmer replied, "We assume he was with the others."

A look of confusion passed over Terann’s face. "What others?"

She followed their gaze to a small rise at the edge of the encampment. Spinning around quickly, she headed away before they were able to stop her. Coming to the top of the slope a wave of nausea flooded over her, as she stared down at the mass of bodies below her. She swallowed hard trying to keep from vomiting. Cursing violently under her breath, she wondered what exactly had happened here. She visually scanned the remains of the hundreds of colonists, searching for her commanding officer, but the bodies appeared to melt into one another, making it impossible to discern individual people. She flinched slightly as she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder. Turning quickly she was relieved to see it was Shai Alyt Branmer.

"Are you all right?" He asked, his concern evident.

She quickly composed herself, then nodded. "Yes, I am fine. Do you know what happened?"

He glanced back as the other captains joined them, then turned back at Terann. "We believe it was some sort of bio-agent. It is obviously very short lived, otherwise…." His voice trailed of, knowing he did not need to say more.

Terann looked back at the carnage, allowing her anger to swell. "Have you taken a sample from any of the bodies?" She inquired of the others.

"Yes, but it breaks down so quickly that I doubt there will be much left to analyze." Shai Alyt Kaplann interjected.

Terann considered his words, then thought of something. "Send it to the Wind Swords. Perhaps Jha’dur will know what to do with it." Since the end of the Dilgar War the Wind Swords had been sheltering War Master Jha’dur. She had offered to design weapons of mass destruction for them to use against the Humans. Now looking at the hundreds of bodies piled in the crater, she began to think they had been wrong to refuse her help.

Branmer turned to the others, nodding his desire for a moment alone with Terann. He understood how devoted to Neroon she was and he hoped to be able to calm her anger and sadness at his apparent death. After they were gone, he placed his hands on Terann’s shoulders, forcing her to face him. She quickly hid her feelings from him, something she had learned to do early on. "Are you sure you are all right, Terann?"

"I am fine, Shai Alyt," she managed to say, refusing to meet his gaze.

"You do not lie well. I know how important he was to you," he told her softly. He then watched a strange look crossed over her face, as she seemed to mentally turn inward. He did not understand telepaths at the best of times, and from what he knew of Terann the thought of ever understanding her seemed an impossibility.

Terann suddenly felt a strange ping in the back of her mind. It was very distant but still extremely familiar. She closed her eyes, calming her mind. Burying the memories of the attack and the subsequent revelation of the fate of the colonists, she slowly released a piece of herself to explore the surrounding area. For several moments she felt nothing and was almost prepare to give up, dismissing the sensation as an echo of what had been. Then she sensed it again, however it felt different. She quickly pulled back, her eyes snapping open. "What is it, Terann?" He asked as the fog lifted from her eyes.

She brought her eyes up to meet his, trying to make sense of what she had seen. Finally she said, "He is alive…but barely."

"Are you sure?" When she nodded, he quickly pulled out a communications device, ordering troops to be sent out to look for Neroon.

When he turned back to her she continued to explain. "They used a telepath to scan him…..deeply. His thoughts are very erratic, chaotic. Who ever performed the scan intended to killing him when they were done. I only hope he got away before they learned too much."

"You have no idea." Came the reply.

He turned, heading toward the encampment signaling for her to drop the subject. She fell into step beside him, remaining silent trying to determine what he meant by his last comment. She knew that Neroon kept things from her, it was to be expected. But from the tone of the Shai Alyt’s voice, this concerned something far greater than a simple military strategy. She studied the structures that had once comprised the colony. Now considering Branmer’s words she wondered if this had truly been a colony. It made no sense for the Earthers to attack an unimportant agricultural colony in a relatively uninteresting part of the galaxy.

From what she knew of the Humans, they had only recently begun employing their telepaths in a military capacity, and then usually it was a low-level telepath that was used. Terann wondered why such a strong telepath would be sent to something as insignificant as a civilian colony. After spending countless hours training Neroon to block out casual scans she had become accustomed to his thought patterns, but from the discord she saw in his mind told her that the telepath used was far from typical. She came to a stop as a wave of dread passed over her. "Are there any other telepaths with us?" She asked him, her voice full of concern.

"Only one, he is with the prisoners," he told her, his voice hinting at his confusion.

"He must be kept away from Neroon. We cannot risk any more telepathic interference. From what I saw in his mind it is going to be close to impossible to repair the damage done by the Human. Anymore stress will probably kill him."

"Are you sure you can help him?" he asked, knowing that if Terann could not help Neroon, no one could.

"I am not certain." She said sadly, turning to continue toward the colony.

They walked silently to the building where the Humans were being held. Terann could feel the various emotions that radiated from the prisoners, and she quickly blocked them out. Her own anger had grown so strong that it seemed to dwarf that of the Earthers. Instead of pushing down her rage she allowed it to intensify, making her eager to show the Earthers exactly what she was capable of. Branmer opened the door, and after allowing Terann to pass he followed her into the building. Terann was shocked to see that the building was in actuality a warehouse that was currently crammed almost to capacity with Human soldiers. She began to wonder why exactly a colony of only a thousand would require a building such as this. She quickly buried her curiosity, and set about doing what was expected of her. Before her stood several hundred soldiers, most were injured, all were extremely enraged. Countless Minbari guards lined the perimeter of the building, not hesitating to beat any of the Humans that proved uncooperative. It was evident from the tactics they used that they no longer cared about creativity when it came to killing, they only wanted the Humans eliminated.

"Alyt Terann," Shai Alyt Cadroni called, moving toward them. He was accompanied by another warrior, who Terann assumed to be the other telepath. "We have identified several high ranking Humans for you to choose from. The rest of them we will simply execute."

She nodded, following the other telepath to where a dozen Earthers sat on the floor, segregated from the rest. She lightly scanned those gathered, having to fight past their anger. Her eyes settled on a large dark skinned Human who seemed to shrink under the weight of her gaze. She could easily detect the apprehension hidden beneath his smug arrogance, leading Terann to believe him to be in command of the other troops. "That one," she said, gesturing to him, a small smile forming on her face as she felt his anxiety grow.

Following Terann’s command, two of the guards moved to pull the Human to his feet. As they approached him, she noticed one of the other Earthers shift slightly. Before the guards could react he jumped to his feet, free of his restraints. Swiftly he lashed out at the closest guard, attempting to strike him. Before his fist could connect, he let out a scream and crumpled to the floor. As he rolled over onto his back to determine what had happened, several of the other soldiers gasped at what they saw. The soldier’s femur had been broken, cleanly, in two. One of the bone fragments could be seen protruding through both his skin and uniform. Blood began to pour from the wound causing a puddle to quickly form around him. The Earther cried out in agony, begging for the others to help him, but none was forthcoming. All those around him refused to move confused as to how the injury had been inflicted upon him. The intended target of the assault, smiled graciously to Terann who inclined her head slightly to him in reply. He then turned back and violently pulled the man, chosen by Terann, to his feet pushing him towards the door. Terann glance briefly at the soldier she had injured and flashed him a satisfied smile then turned and followed the others out the door.

They past several other buildings before they came to the one set aside for the interrogation. Terann opened the door, inspecting the small room before nodding to the guards that it was acceptable. They pushed the Human inside and forced him to sit in the chair that had been positioned in the center of the room. As she took a step toward the Human something on the floor caught her eye. Squatting down the Minbari removed the glove from her left hand, reaching out to touch a spot of blood that lay on the floor. Dipping two fingers into the blood, she rubbed it gently with her thumb noting that the colour was not consistent with that of a Human. That left only one other possibility. Minbari blood. She stood and quickly analyzed the room. With the way the chair had been arranged in the center, it was only logical to assume that the room had been used by the Humans for an interrogation. Namely Neroon’s interrogation. Her anger overwhelming her she brought her foot up to violently kick the Earther in the head, snapping it backward. Terann stepped back, considering the Human for a brief moment then quickly pulled a knife out from under her tunic, noting with pleasure that the Human flinched slightly. She circled around behind him, cutting his restraints. This seemed to shock both the Human soldier and the guards who stood silently by the door. Terann nodded to them in dismissal, hardening her look when they both appeared ready to protest. They inclined their heads slightly to her then left, closing the door behind them.

Once they were gone the Human jumped to his feet, a movement that Terann responded to with a look of indifference. The Human was far larger than her but posed little threat. He took a step toward her as if testing her resolve. She only continued to smile arrogantly at him, walking past him to claim the seat he had just vacated. Gently, she touched his mind determining that she could easily extract all the information they need from him in only a matter of minutes. But with the vision of the dead colonists and the whereabouts of her Shai Alyt still unknown, she found herself unwilling to simply scan him and then execute him. Everything in her screamed out for her to make him pay, not only for the things he had done but for the actions of every Human on the planet. The soldier turned back to her as if trying to determine what it was she was doing. He knew the guards would be positioned just outside the door, so attempting to run would be pointless. However, he believed that if he could kill the arrogant Minbari woman that sat before him he could at least claim a small victory before his death.

"How many bones are there in the Human body?" Terann asked, pulling him from his reverie. Having spent so much time in Human minds she had easily learned their language though she felt it beneath her to speak it anywhere but during an interrogation. He did not answer, he only continued to stared at her in arrant confusion. Sighing slightly in annoyance, Terann continued, "There are two hundred and six bones in the Human body."

"What?" He muttered, unsure of why she was bothering to tell him that.

She smiled, enjoying herself immensely. "If you choose to cooperate then this will be extremely easy for you. However, if you give me an incorrect or unacceptable response, I will start breaking your bones."

He snorted lightly in disbelief before his face turned serious. "Come near me you Minbari bitch and I will personally rip your head from your body."

Terann nodded, absorbing his words. She then lifted her eyes to meet his. "One," she said, hearing a definite snap as his left ankle broke in two. He fell to the floor, grabbing at his injured leg. The Minbari watched him gather his strength and attempt to stand. Once on his feet again, she asked him silently; Who are you?

His eyes flashing in anger, he shouted, "Go to hell!"

"Two," she said calmly, breaking his left tibia. Once again he crumpled to the floor. She watched in rapt fascination as he pulled himself to his feet again. Pleased with his determination, she asked again, Who are you?

He looked away from her trying to keep her from his thoughts. She easily pushed past his attempts to determine his name and rank. General Richard Franklin she repeated to him. She was surprised by the man’s importance, knowing that the information he had inside his mind would prove invaluable to her people. She did not doubt his being responsible for the massacre of the colonists. Her contempt for the man standing in front of her intensified, forcing her to pull back for a moment to control her rage. She finally asked, after several moments. What happened to the colonists? .

Silence.

No longer able to control her rage, she shouted, "Three...four…five!" destroying what remained of his leg. He fell to the floor again, unable to pull himself back up. She rose to her feet, glaring down at him. Swallowing hard against the anger that threatened to consume her, Terann stepped back, allowing herself to calm. She knew that pain was never an effective means of getting information but as a telepath she did not need cooperation, she simply needed his mind clear enough to extract any information. So long as she did not inflict any cranial trauma she knew she could make him suffer as long as she saw fit. She turned away from him, allowing him a chance to overcome the shock of his injuries. His defiance washed over her and she relished in it, allowing it to reinforce her need to break him, to have him beg her for mercy, so she could blatantly ignore his screams, as he had those of the colonists.

Turning back, Terann watched as General Franklin pulled himself back up into the chair. His breathing was becoming raspy, as shock set in, but Terann knew she was strong enough to keep him conscious as long as she need him to be. What happened to the colonists? She asked again. When she received no response she forced her way into his mind, centering in on recent memories knowing that it would be the first to be damaged during a scan. She watched in horror as images of the horrific massacre of the many men, women and children who had called this their home, began to filter into her mind. It was as if she had been standing on the edge of the crater, helpless, watching as the chemical performed its horrid task. She witnessed the insanity as children clung to their mothers, too young to comprehend what was happening to them, as their limbs no longer had the strength to hold them up. She heard their screams as their organs burst within their small bodies, begging for their parents to save them. Terann could see the pride in the Humans as they watched their creation work its evil. The telepath pulled back, focusing her attention on the Human’s right leg, shattering the bones with a single thought, watching with pleasure as blood began to seep through his uniform. Who created this? She managed to ask him through her rage. His mind was becoming jumbled from the pain, and Terann knew that her time to retrieve any information from him was growing short. She fought through the madness in his thoughts for something concrete. It was clear that he had little to no understanding of the actual make up of the chemical. This in itself did not surprise her. He was, after all, only a soldier. She pulled at the threads of his mind, looking for a single name or face. Someone to blame. Someone on who revenge could be exacted. When she uncovered the one responsible she felt a wave of extreme anxiety wash over the Human.

Staring down at the Human in disgust, Terann said. "Stephen…Your son?" The Human looked up at her in fear, unsure of how she would respond to this revelation. Terann could feel his apprehension and derived pleasure from it. She narrowed her eyes to him accusingly. "You must be very proud." Reaching out with her mind, she forced him to lift his right arm. He looked on in horror as the bones, starting with his fingers, began to break in succession. Without a further word, Terann entered his mind violently, tearing at the fabric of his very being. She stopped only occasionally, when she deemed him needing a reminder of who was in control. He fought her at every opportunity, intensifying her rage. From what she could tell he was starting to enjoy angering her. He had been pushed past the point of desperation, no longer holding out any hope for salvation. It was as if he had dedicated his final moments to make her life as difficult as possible. As she proceeded through his mind, he continued to mock her, silently shouting vulgarities to her, proudly displaying the faces of the countless Minbari he was responsible for killing. It was as if a battle were being waged using the man’s mind as a battlefield. He knew he had no chance for victory, he only hoped to take some piece of Terann with him.

In the end, he lost.

Propelled by her anger, Terann tore at the General’s mind, retrieving every shred of information she could. Not because it was needed but simply because she could, to show the Human the magnitude of the crimes he had committed against her people. Slowly she reduced his mind to paste then set about doing the same to his body. Beneath her rage she could hear the Human scream but she blatantly ignored him, deriving immense pleasure from the pain she was inflicting on him. At some point his screams waned, but Terann continued her assault, finally crushing his skull. As she came out of her madness she glanced down at what remained of the Human. She was both shocked and awed by the blood and gore that lay before her.

Once she was calm, she emerged from the building to find Branmer waiting patiently for her. She inclined her head slightly to him, and he asked, "Did you get everything we need from the Human?"

She nodded, still unwilling to speak, the interrogation still fresh in her mind.

Branmer glanced behind her at the mass that had once been General Richard Franklin, then smiled at Terann, obviously proud of her accomplishment. His look then turned serious. "We found Neroon, he is alive, but little more than that."

"Where is he?" Terann asked eagerly, knowing that from what she saw in his mind, that he would need her.

Branmer gestured toward the warehouse where the prisoners were being held, and Terann turned and raced off to offer her help. Upon entering the building she found herself unprepared for what she saw. The floor of the building was strewn with the bodies of the hundreds of Humans, however that was not what had caught her attention. Off to one side of the building, lay the lifeless form of her commanding officer. The medic who had been working on him glanced up at Terann, shaking his head slightly. She felt her heart sink in her chest, and pushed past the others to kneel beside him. She placed her hand on his chest, jumping slightly when she felt him breathe. "I thought you said he was dead," she said, pointedly, to the medic.

"Physically he is fine, but his brain activity is off the scale. There is nothing more I can do for him. It is only a matter of time," he explained, his voice trailing off.

Branmer placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come Terann, it is time to go," he said, his tone soft and caring. But she did not want his sympathy. Neroon was still alive and if there was anyway that she could save him she was willing to try. She could feel the madness coursing through his mind, knowing that if she were to attempt to enter his mind that she could be overwhelmed by it, killing both of them. Terann shrugged this off. Her loyalty and devotion to him ran deeper than anyone knew, and she was willing to protect him at any cost.

When she felt Branmer tug at her, urging her to come with the others as they began to leave, she brushed him away. Without a second thought she took Neroon’s hand in hers, her breath catching in her throat as she felt the deathly cold of his skin. She closed her eyes, focusing her thoughts. She pulled back from his mind almost instantly, overcome with the insanity. Calming her mind once again, she began to slowly make her way back into his mind. To her dismay, she could not find anything recognizable in his thoughts. It was as if his mind were no more than a glass window through which someone had thrown a stone, causing the very essence of his being to shatter. As she continued deeper, she attempted to find some small fragment of him that had been left untouched by the Human telepath. In the far reaches of his mind, she found what she was looking for, but watched in horror as he pulled away from her, confused by her. Her mind raced as to how to get him to embrace her, to allow her to pull him back through the raging insanity.

Somewhere, in a deep dark corner of his mind, Neroon was trapped, surrounded by madness, not understanding who he was or what he was. All around him broken images swirled, images that he could never hope to understand. Voices screamed at him, some were familiar, but he did not know from where. Nothing made sense, forcing him back further into his mind, desperately seeking solace from the madness around him. Somewhere in the senselessness, he felt a presence. It felt strangely alien, sending him deeper.

Neroon.

He heard a voice echo through his thoughts, but could not determine from where. He began to feel himself slipping away into darkness, welcoming the relief it brought him.

Fighting to retain control, Terann pursued Neroon deeper and deeper. Every time she closed in on him he would pull away as if frightened by her. She realized, with a start, the cause of Neroon’s apprehension. He could see her, as plainly as she saw him, and in his current mental state her duality was only adding to his confusion. She knew there was only one thing she could do, though she was unsure if it was even possible. She had done it before, but then only with the Vorlons. To do it now without their help and support could very well kill her. Before she could change her mind, she shed all that was Minbari in her, leaving her Vorlon half to pass easily through his mind.

Before the blackness completely engulfed him, Neroon noticed something reaching out to him. A being of light. For some reason, unknown to him, he found himself welcoming it, allowing it to pull him from the madness.

Holding the small fragment of her commanding officer, Terann quickly set about repairing the damage done by the Human. She hated being this close to him, she had never before invaded his mind, and now she found herself so deeply entrenched in him that she was beginning to question the morality of what she was doing. She worked quickly trying to take as little notice as she could to the things she found. Unfortunately due to the completeness of the Human telepath’s scan, some things screamed out to her, informing her of their presence. Most involved military strategies, dates, locations, things that she was already well aware of. Then, quite by accident, she found something that caused a wave of horror to pass over her, confirming her suspicions about the colony. Terann began to feel Neroon become more aware of what was happening to him, and he began to fight her. Speaking softly to him, trying to reassure him, she finished correcting the more severe damage. Once certain that he would be able to handle the rest of his injuries, Terann slowly pulled out of his mind. When the connection was severed, Terann felt herself begin to fall backward. Branmer quickly grabbed her, preventing her from falling. Taking a few moments to compose herself she turned to the medic whom was checking his readings. "He should be okay now," she told him softly.

Gathering her strength, she attempted to stand, requiring Branmer’s assistance. "Are you going to be okay, Terann?" He asked with concern.

She nodded. "I will be, I am just very tired."

"You have been through a lot today," he told her. "You have done well."

She inclined her head slightly to him, then turned to watch as Neroon started to regain consciousness. He immediately attempted to stand, hating to be treated like an invalid. Two large Warriors stepped forward to offer their assistance and to Terann’s surprise he accepted. As they guided him toward the exit, he stopped when he came to Terann. She nervously inclined her head to him and he smiled at her in appreciation for what she had done. He then continued out the building. Terann fell into step behind them, walking silently to the shuttle.

Once there, Terann paused to look back at the settlement. With the knowledge of the colony’s true purpose, a wave of anger and sadness washed over her. She understood the reason for the secrecy surrounding the base, and she could even accept the cost of so many lives. So many of her kind had died in the war already, and if the deaths of only a thousand more would see the end of the Human race then so be it.

"You seem troubled, Terann." Branmer’s voice behind her broke her from her reverie.

She paused a minute, trying desperately to focus her mind. She was extremely weak from the interrogation of the Human and from helping Neroon, making it difficult for her to concentrate. Still something nagged at her. Looking back at him she said, "I feel we are missing something here."

"We are certain there is no one still alive," he told, her trying to ease her doubts.

"We should destroy what remains of the colony just to be sure. We can not risk the Humans finding out about the weapon." When she saw the look of concern he bore on his face, she added, "Do not be concerned. I understand the importance of maintaining secrecy regarding the Dilgar’s creation. I do not, however, think we can take a chance that any of the Humans survived."

Branmer understood that Terann was more in tuned to certain things than others were and he knew he should heed her advice. He nodded to her then turned to his own shuttle. Taking one last look around, Terann raced up the ramp, eager to leave this planet far behind.

 

 

 

Terann sat quietly in her quarters the next morning, deep in meditation. After having filed her report with Neroon the night before she had returned to her quarters desperately seeking a nights peace. However she found her sleep plagued with strange dreams, images of darkness and evil. As with most dreams, her conscious mind clouded her memory and she found the harder she tried to recall them the farther away they became.

After more than an hour, Terann resigned herself to the fact that whatever her dream was telling her she would not figure it out now. She stood, taking a moment to straighten her uniform then turned to leave her quarters. She was not due on the bridge for another half an hour but she felt she should seek out Shai Alyt Neroon if only to confirm that he had recovered from his ordeal. Moving through the corridors of the ship, she found herself deep in thought. If Neroon and the other war leaders decided to follow through on her recommendation, to test the Dilgar weapon at the Earther’s colony on Orion VII, they stood a very real chance of finally ending the war. It had been a long, hard war, for both sides, with many deaths. She often wondered it anyone really remembered why they fought. It was as if both worlds had become so accustomed to killing one another that they knew to do little else. Approaching the Shai Alyt’s quarters, she found herself wondering what life would be like outside of the war. What would her Caste do when it was finally over? Would they once again begin killing each other? She found it somewhat disconcerting that it took a war with an alien race to make them stop killing their own kind.

Nodding slightly to the guards that stood outside of Neroon’s chamber, she waited silently for him to admit her. After the door slid open, Terann stepped across the threshold, immediately sensing that he had been expecting her. She saluted him respectfully, quickly suppressing her desire to ask him how he was after his experience with the Human telepath, knowing that such an inquiry would be out of place. His handsome face was still marred with cuts and bruises from the assault and Terann found herself clenching her fists at her sides in anger.

He eyed her briefly then rose to his feet and circled around his desk to stand before his executive officer. Taking a deep breath he spoke. "I have gone over the report of your scan, of the Human, with the others and we have decided to do as you suggest. With the Humans possessing their own biological weapon, none of us can find reason to delay the testing of our weapon any further."

Terann lifted her eyes to meet his, a wave of realization washing over her. "How long have we had this weapon?" She asked.

A grin played at the corners of his mouth, as he noticed how she rarely missed anything. "Two years," he said plainly. "We have hesitated using it knowing that it might generate sympathy for the Earthers. Though we have been able to handle the Humans on their own, I doubt it would be so easy if some of the smaller alien worlds were to actively side with them. But now, with them having used their own bio-agent, against us, the other worlds will see our attack as being justified. The Humans have damaged their position far more severely than they perceive. Our contacts within the Centauri Empire and the League Worlds have been informed of the Human’s creation and from what they have said they will support any action we take in response to it."

Terann nodded her understanding, then asked, "When do we attack?"

"We will arrive at the rendezvous point in a little under two hours. We will then jump into normal space, disperse the agent in the upper atmosphere, then once certain of the effects we will leave. Our intelligence reports indicate that the colony is relatively unprotected due to its location deep within enemy held space. Because of this we are anticipating minimal resistance."

Terann considered the plan carefully, knowing that they could not risk making any mistakes. Any loose ends and the Humans would visit it back on them tenfold. She knew that by destroying the colony at Orion VII they could effectively cut off the Earther’s supply of the bio-agent, giving her own people enough time to plan the final assault on the Human’s homeworld. "We will have to destroy the processing plant from space. If there is one thing we have learned of the Earther’s, it is that they are unpredictable. If there is any way to retrieve even an ounce of the bio-agent, they will think of it."

"Do you know the exact location of the plant?"

Terann nodded. "I will feed the coordinates into the computer before we arrive."

"Good." He then softened his tone. "It has been a long road, Terann, but if all goes well we will finally be able to return home, to put this madness behind us." Terann inclined her head to him respectfully then turned to leave.

"Terann." Neroon called out to her, stopping her just short of the door.

She turned back to him. "Was there something else you wanted of me, Shai Alyt?"

"I read your report concerning the…incident…that occurred during my absence. Understandably the Religious Caste is most upset with you."

Taking a step toward him she began to explain. "We needed to send them a clear message, to show them…."

Neroon raised his hand, silencing her. "I agree," he said plainly. He then stepped toward her, holding her gaze with his. Her green eyes were soft, gentle in appearance and it was at times like this when he found himself shocked by the unthinkable brutality his Alyt often displayed. "And though we all agree with your motives there are those who would question your methods. The elders of your clan believe you have harmed our position severely and have invited retaliation by both the Religious and Worker Castes."

"Do you believe this will happen?" she asked, a wave of trepidation washing over her.

He paused breifly before responding plainly, "No, if there is one thing that I have learned about the Moon Shields, it is that they strive to find fault in your actions, that they wish for you to fail. They feel that this would in some way justify their rejection of you. They hate that they were wrong."

He paused and moved toward the window, taking a moment to take in the chaotic swirling of hyperspace. Without turning back to her, he continued. "When I first requested you be added to my crew they protested more than anyone. They believed that I was wasting my time with you, that you would be a hindrance to my crew. "

Terann dropped her eyes to the floor. She had been aware that there were those that disapproved of her position, had fought to prevent her from becoming what she was, but she had never guessed that her own clan had been among them. They were her family, she was supposed to share a common history with them, and now she found that everything she had done for them, to bring honor to them had been ignored. She raised her eyes in time for him to turn back to her. She quickly pushed the pain and hurt down deep within her, hating to show weakness to her commanding officer.

He turned back to the window, not giving any indication that he could see the anguish she so desperately tried to hide. "They stand alone, Terann. No one else will doubt you, or question your heritage. You have proven yourself to your Caste, and to me. Never doubt that."

She hesitated a moment, making sure he had said all that he had wanted to, before inclining her head slightly to him and then taking her leave. What could have been mistaken for a smile played lightly over the warrior’s lips as she headed to the bridge.

After briefing Terann on their plans to attack the Earther’s colony at Orion VII, Neroon had notified the remainder of the crew. Almost instantly a sense of eagerness and excitement fell over the ship, as officers scrambled to prepare for the coming battle. With little more to do than to oversee the crew’s activities, Terann reexamined the information gathered from the Human general. She used this knowledge to reassure herself that what they were doing was honorable and just. They had never hit a civilian target so heavily populated, and she began to question the recommendation she had made to Neroon. She found herself wondering if she had only suggested Orion VII as a possible target out of her anger at the assault on the Shai Alyt. No, she told herself, this was the best way to proceed. By cutting off the Earther’s supply of the bio-agent, they would save countless Minbari lives. They are only Humans she reminded herself, and despite knowing that they were mostly civilians living at the colony she forced herself not to care. As far as she was concerned the only good Earther was a dead Earther.

A half an hour before the scheduled time of the rendezvous, Neroon entered the bridge. "Report," he said to Terann, ignoring the customary gestures of respect offered by the crew.

"All stations report ready. We have received a message from Shai Alyt Sineval of the Trigati. He informs us the they and the other four ships are all ready at the rendezvous point and merely await our arrival."

"Good." He said, moving to recheck the reports from the various stations around the ship. Terann stifled a smile at her commanding officer’s thoroughness. If he had taught her anything in her many years of service to him, it was to never entirely trust anyone but yourself.

The rest of the journey was spent in silence. Terann could sense the various emotions that raced through the others around her. The younger officers were clearly eager to engage the enemy, not having become accustom to the harshness of war. The other, more experienced, members of the crew, seemed more relaxed and confident, as if they could finally see light at the end of the long tunnel they had been traveling for the past ten cycles.

Terann.

She heard her name whispered gently. Looking back at Neroon, she realized that he had not spoken. She mental shook her head, thinking she was only hearing things.

Terann

She heard it again, this time louder. She cast glances at the others around her, her confusion growing when she realized none of them had spoken to her.

Terann

This time her name was accompanied by an almost deafening musical tone. She quickly looked around her realizing that only she could hear the sound. She concentrated trying to make sense of what was happening. When she was unable to, the noise intensified, causing an intense pain to shoot through her mind. She clenched her eyes shut against the noise and pressed her hand against her right temple.

Neroon noticed the distress in his executive officer, gently took hold of her arm, startling her slightly. "Alyt?"

She blinked at him, taking a brief moment to collect her thoughts, the sound having disappeared. "I apologize, Shai Alyt. I am fine."

He was about to press her further when Morwenn, stationed at the navigational controls, reported. "Shai Alyt we are at the rendezvous coordinates."

Neroon nodded then turned to the communications officer. "Signal the Trigati. Tell them we are ready to proceed."

The warrior nodded and then set about doing as instructed. A few moments later she turned back to Neroon. "Shai Alyt the rest of the fleet reports ready. They are prepared to jump to normal space on your command"

Terann gave the controls one final check. "Jump engines are online," she informed him.

"The beginning of the end," he said softly, before commanding, "Jump."

Orion VII filled the viewscreen of the Ingata as it and the four other warships came out of hyperspace.

"Scanners detecting one Omega Class Destroyer and a Nova Dreadnought on the far side of the planet," Tabari called out. "They are moving to intercept."

"Signal the Trigati and the Intara. Tell them to target the enemy ships." He then turned to the helmsman. "Continue on course for the colony."

Terann watched impassively as the Trigati and the Intara broke away from the main battle group, launching fighters once clear of the others. Her eyes moved back to the lush green planet as it grew larger the closer they drew to it. She focused her attention on it, blocking out the chatter around her as crew members gave reports to Neroon. Stretching out with her mind she could feel the life below her, oblivious to the danger that loomed over them.

"Shai Alyt, we have reached optimal firing range," Morwenn called out.

"Good," he replied then turned back to Tabari. "Scan the surface, I want to know exactly how many of them there are down there."

After only a few moments Tabari responded. "Scanners are detecting just over 1.3 million lifeforms on the surface."

"Are they all human?" He asked her.

"No," Terann said softly before turning to face her commanding officer. "There are others."

Neroon glanced back at Tabari who only nodded, confirming Terann’s statement.

"Well." He grinned slightly. "This will teach them to oppose us. Bring the weapon systems online. I want firing control."

While the others hurried to do Neroon’s bidding, Terann felt something, or rather someone push into her thoughts. As she attempted to block it, she was met with an excruciating pain. She grasped the console beside her, trying to steady herself. Looking around she was relieved to find that no one had seen her distress. She withdrew from the goings on around her and focused on the force invading her thoughts.

She knew their song, not from having been with them, but from being one of them. Never had they come to her like this. Always it had been late at night or during her dreaming, and never had they been so forceful.

Why are you here? She questioned them, only half expecting an answer.

End this!

Terann mentally shook her head in confusion. I do not understand.

NOW!

Summoning all of her strength, Terann broke free of the Vorlons and brought her eyes back to the viewscreen and the planet displayed on it. Searching it with her mind she began to feel the thoughts of the colonists, could feel that their once serene minds were now full of terror and confusion. "They know we are here," she muttered softly.

Neroon looked at her, his features cold, hard. "It no longer matters." His hand played across the firing control one last time before launching the warhead containing Jha’dur’s weapon. The bridge fell heavy with silence and Terann could easily sense the crew’s anxiousness as the weapon advanced on its target. Once it entered the upper atmosphere, it burned up almost instantly. Terann’s breath caught in her throat, as she watched as nothing happened.

"You seem worried, Terann," Neroon said, his eyes fixed on the planet before them, his confidence obvious.

"No, Shai Alyt, it’s…." She did not have a chance to finish as she noticed the atmosphere of the planet as it began to darken, turning an ugly rust colour. It was then that she felt them, the Earthers on the planet, as they began to die. She felt them all, individually, and together. She could hear their cries for mercy and reveled in their agony. She allowed their fear and pain to wash over her in waves, opening herself to them, wishing, not for the first time, that she could share this feeling with Neroon, she longed to show him how it truly felt to destroy an enemy. To feel ones own sense of power was one thing but to compound that feeling with the utter desperation of your victim was another. She had tried, once, to explain it to him, but she knew that his not being telepathic made it impossible for him to truly understand. Humans for the most part were arrogantly stubborn, and refused to show any sign of weakness or resignation when faced with death. Terann, however, could easily detect the feelings of desperation and terror that their minds betrayed, and it was these emotions, in her victims, that she sought out to use and exploit. Even now, when the rest of the crew looked on as thousands of faceless humans died, Terann watched them, could see them as clearly as if she were standing among them and found great pleasure in their destruction. As the number, still left alive on the planet, decreased, Terann was forced to stretch out further with her mind, to search amongst the dead for the last sparks of life on the planet. As she opened herself up to them her mind was suddenly filled with horrid images of death and fire and darkness. The sickening images involved not only the Earthers but her own race as well as, and those from a hundred different worlds. As the horrors flashed through her mind at a sickening pace she became aware of the song of the Vorlons. She focused on their voice in a desperate attempt to free herself of the horrid imagery in her mind.

She found herself alone in a darkened room. On either side was a mirror though neither held a reflection. She could feel them all around her as they watched her in her growing confusion.

Who are you?

She spun around quickly hoping to locate the source of the voice that seemed to surround her.

Who are you? the voice asked again.

She turned back, her eye catching the reflections in the mirrors. The reflection on the left was of herself, yet seemed oddly different. It was the eyes. They were foreign to her. It was then that she realized that it was not face staring back at her that was alien, but her own face that was. The image in the mirror was Minbari--pure Minbari. She quickly turned to the mirror on the right that was now filled with an almost blinding light. She lashed out at it, knowing what it represented, hating to see that which she had spent a lifetime trying to deny. As her fingers touched the surface of the mirror the room around her shattered, and as the shards fell around her the voice of the Vorlons returned.

Together or apart…..It is time.

Terann blinked hard, trying to clear her head of the Vorlon’s intrusion. She glanced over at her Shai Alyt and for an instant it was clear to her that he was aware of her distress. Without saying a word, however, he looked back at the viewscreen. Terann, too, brought her eyes back to the colony and despite the echo of the Vorlon’s message she was able to feel the coldness of death on the planet below.

"Life signs," Neroon asked Tabari.

The young warrior looked down at her console once more before looking back at him shaking her head. "Negative, Shai Alyt. Scanners read the planet as being incapable of supporting life."

Once secure in the knowledge that their weapon had worked, Terann stepped forward. "Bring the weapon systems up to full power, signal the Tashani and the Valeria, tell them to lock on to secondary targets."

As the crew rushed to do her bidding, she could to feel her Shai Alyt analyzing her. A quick glance back at him confirmed this.

"Everything all right, Terann?" he asked her quietly enough so those around them would not notice his concern for her.

"Yes, I am fine." She quickly dismissed him, relieved when the crew began to report their readiness.

Terann quickly glanced down at the console beside her, verifying the location of the processing plant, knowing that it had to be destroyed. With it gone the humans would lose their main supply of their bio-agent and it would buy her people the time they needed to plan the final assault on the Earther’s homeworld. Once certain of the readings she gave the command to fire.

Terann could feel the ship shuddered slightly beneath her feet, and she watched as the colony was reduced to nothing more than a crater by the Ingata the Tashani and the Valeria.

Their mission complete, the Minbari fleet turned to make the jump to hyperspace. The Trigati, followed by the Intara, rejoined the battlegroup victorious in their encounter with the Earth Ships, firing once to destroy the local jump gate.

As the jump point opened just ahead of the Ingata, a wave of dread washed over Terann. Once in hyperspace she knew it would be almost impossible to block out the call of the Vorlons. Almost instantly she was inundated with their familiar song, and she fought to make sense of what they were trying to tell her. Through the apparent madness she began to make out words, spoken by thousands of voices, each overlapping the others.

The universe stands alone…..

Who are you?….

Together or apart….

Terann…..

It is time.

Almost as quickly as it had begun, the telepath felt the Vorlons flee her thoughts. Her mind worked quickly. She knew what she had to do, what they wanted of her, but to do as they asked would mean risking everything she had fought to gain. Her decision made she turned to Neroon. "Shai Alyt, I ask your permission to return to my quarters."

He studied her for a moment, aware that something was disturbing her. Never had he seen her so distant and distracted during a mission. "Why?" He questioned, knowing before he asked that she would not be forthcoming with a response.

"I am tired, nothing more."

He noted how her eyes avoided his alerting him of her subterfuge, but he decided to ignore it, for now. He nodded and as she turned quickly to leave he grabbed her arm. "We will speak later."

She inclined her head slightly in acquiescence then left the bridge. It was apparent from his tone that he was displeased with her, but there was little she could do. As much as she longed to tell him the truth she knew he would never understand. It was not that she could blame him, she found even herself questioning what she was planning. But she knew what was expected of her and she knew deep down that she did not have the strength to resist them.

Once at her quarters she set about packing, knowing if she took the time to hesitate, to reason what she was doing she would think herself crazy. Her few belongings tucked safely in her satchel, she took one last look around her quarters. They were now alien to her, and she was finally able to admit, to herself, that she did not belong here. As much as she loved the Minbari she was Vorlon, and it was with them that she truly belonged. For the first time in her life she was finally going home.

 

 

Terann was oblivious to the amount of time that had past since she had left the Ingata. Had she taken the time to notice she would have been shocked to find that it had been almost twenty hours. Twenty hours since she had effectively thrown away everything that she had fought for her entire life, and more importantly, twenty hours since she had betrayed the only Minbari that had ever truly cared for her. She wondered if she would ever be able to regain his trust, to return to him and make him understand what she had done and why she had done it. The message she had left had been written hurriedly and had said little. She did not give any indication about where she was going nor any promises to return. She could not do that; not yet anyway. A small part of her cried out for her to return, to go to Neroon and beg his forgiveness for her betrayal, but the rest of her ignored these pleas, desperate to go to the Vorlons, to seek understanding, and maybe for once, the acceptance that she longed for.

As her flyer drifted through hyperspace she took little interest in her ship or anything around it, as they were there in her thoughts, calling out to her. The Vorlons spoke to her in riddles and at times she doubted she would ever figure them out. She was, however, relieved that despite their alien language that somehow she was able to comprehend it. She attributed this her genetic coding, certain that they had designed her to understand them. When she had first left the warcruiser she had spent the time trying to make sense of what they were telling her, to seek some form of enlightenment in their endless song. But instead she was faced with more questions and had long since become frustrated beyond comprehension. Her entire life had been plagued with mystery and the times that they had come to her had seemed only to assure her that they would eventually send for her, that there was a reason behind her existence that would be revealed when the time came. She now prayed that this was true.

Many times she had felt extreme anger toward the Vorlons. Her mother had been returned to the Minbari only weeks into her pregnancy, and had been given no explanation for what they had done. Once her pregnancy was revealed, the elders of the Warrior Caste had demanded to know who had fathered her child and Kelann lied saying it had been her Shai Alyt. Since a relationship between Kelann and Demarr had been suspected and all others aboard her ship had been lost, there was nothing to dispute her claim and the matter was dropped.

At least until Terann was born.

The elders of the Moon Shields clan knew instinctively that she was different. It was nothing that they could place their fingers on, simply a feeling that Terann was less than what they were being led to believe. Once again Kelann was called before them and questioned about her child. She knew that if she were to tell them the truth about Terann the consequences for all of them would be horrifying. Kelann would be killed for not only having lied previously but for not defending the purity of her race, by allowing Terann to be born. Terann would be killed as well, and this prospect frightened Kelann more than anything. She knew that the Vorlons had created Terann for a reason greater than she could imagine, and if something were to happen to her the Vorlons would seek vengeance. So once again she assured them that Demarr was in fact the child’s father. Not wishing to doubt the veracity of one of their own, they again dropped the subject. Their doubts, however, remained. Doubts that would echo throughout Terann’s life in the form of angered whispers and constant rejection, forcing her to prove daily that she was truly one of them. Only now, alone, with the Vorlons song as a reminder, did she truly understand the scope of her deception.

The proximity detector slowly worked its way into her thoughts and she stared at it briefly, oblivious to what it’s alarm was signaling. Quickly clearing her head and forcing the Vorlon’s call to the back of her mind, Terann moved to press the appropriate control, bringing up the scanner readings. What they told her was immediately accompanied by a wave of dread. Almost directly ahead of her and standing between her flyer and the jump gate closest to Vorlon space, were two EA Heavy Cruisers. Even with her ship’s stealth ability, she was certain that at this distance the humans had detected her, making any attempt to evade a pointless gesture. This was verified when the lead ship launched a squadron of Starfuries which immediately moved toward her.

"This is Captain Ellis Pierce of the Earth Alliance Heavy Cruiser Hyperion to Minbari vessel. You will surrender your ship... " The transmission was cut short when Terann slammed her fist into the controls, allowing silence to once again permeate the cockpit.

Her Minbari mind worked quickly. "Distance to jump gate?"

"Six minutes 27 seconds," came the response from the ship’s computer.

The Minbari cursed under her breath. She knew that her flyer could out run the Starfuries, she only needed to get past the cruisers. Once clear of the EA ships she could race the jump gate knowing the Vorlons would be waiting for her on the other side. Moving quickly to power weapons and to reroute all remaining available power to the engines, she aimed directly for the approaching earth fighters, hoping to make them think she was attempting to ram them. She varied her course slightly, every few seconds, just enough to make it impossible for the fighters to target her. As her ship continued toward them she focused on the lead fighter, targeting her thoughts on the insidious being piloting it. In her mind she saw his skull crack and then shatter under the pressure she was forcing upon it, causing bits of bone and brain matter to fly about his cockpit, splattering on the controls and the glass that encased him. Upon his death, his fighter careened out of control, colliding with two of his teammates before erupting in a violent explosion. Terann used the diversion caused by the destruction of the three ships, to maneuver between the others leaving them behind her. They quickly turned to pursue her but she had already put enough distance between them that they posed little threat. She watched the cruisers as they began to turn away from her, obviously anticipating her course to the jump gate and intending to follow her. Given that her flyer was meant only for short range reconnaissance and military transport she could only assume that the humans expected her to be meeting a capital ship on the other side of the gate. She grinned slightly at the stupidity of the humans, wanting to see their expressions when met with a Vorlon ship. Feeding her arrogance she set course directly for the Hyperion. It’s particle laser pivoted toward her, as they attempted to attain a weapons lock. Terann’s hands flew over the controls, targeting the Earther’s weapon, firing twice to destroy it. Coming in close to the cruiser, she banked hard to the right coming up and over the top of the Earth vessel. Using a technique Neroon had taught her, Terann skimmed the surface of the ship, staying less than a meter above the hull, well out of reach of the ship’s guns and too close to it for the other cruiser or the remaining five Starfuries to risk firing on her. Closing in on the ships forward guns she targeted each and destroyed them easily, clearing the way for her to make her run for the jump gate. Clearing the bow of the ship she once again checked her scanners for readings on the enemy fighters. In addition to the five that remained from the Hyperion, the other cruiser had launched it’s own compliment of eight Starfuries. Alarms sounded throughout the Arani’s cockpit as the Hyperion gained a weapons lock on the flyer with their plasma cannon. Unable to react quickly enough, Terann felt her ship shudder violently as the earth vessel scored a direct hit to her engines cutting power down to less than sixty percent. She looked at the damage readouts in confusion. The plasma cannon was the strongest weapon the heavy cruiser possessed and should have easily destroyed the small Minbari ship. It was obvious they had used less then their maximum power, but she was confused as to why. She refused to believe they were arrogant enough to believe that they would be victorious against whomever it was they assumed she was meeting on the other side of the gate. Even two EA Heavy Cruisers would be little threat to one Sharlin Class Warcruiser and it’s fighters.

With the damage to the Minbari ship’s engines the Starfuries easily closed the distance between them and their target. The lead ship targeted and fired on the flyer’s engines, causing the Minbari ship to shudder once again. Terann felt the Arani slow dramatically with the damage to it’s engines.

"Distance to jump gate?" Her voice only hinted at the fear she was feeling.

"Forty-three seconds," came the monotone reply from the computer.

As she prepped the ship for the jump to normal space she tried to understand why the humans would waste so much time toying with her. If they meant to destroy her they had adequate time to do so. She then realized that destruction of her ship was not their intention. With the attack on the colony at Orion VII only days before, she concluded that they intended to capture her, to target some of their anger at one of their enemy. It was a pleasure she was not willing to give them. She quickly rerouted power to the failing engines from life-support hoping to give herself the needed velocity to make it to the Vorlons. As she feared the added power did little to increase the distance between her and the approaching fighters.

A wave of relief washed over her when she saw the customary spark of the jump gate as it activated ahead of her. She entered the gate only seconds before the Starfuries and was soon engulfed in the stark order of the starfield. Her alleviation did not last when she realized that the Vorlons were not there.

She cursed them violently for once again abandoning her, then turned her attention back to the Earth Ships. Another shot fired from a Starfury brought her engine strength down to almost zero. She used what inertia she had to turn her ship, bringing it in line with the jump gate. She watched impassively as the squadron of Starfuries banked hard to return to their capital ships, as they came through the gate, leaving only two to ensure that she did not escape them.

"This is Captain Ellis Pierce. Your ship is disabled and you have no where to go. Disarm your weapons and surrender yourself as a prisoner of war."

The two remaining fighters slowed noticeably and the leader looked to be preparing to grapple onto the Arani. Terann had only seconds to think before they reached her. She could easily use her talent to destroy the oncoming Starfuries, but that still left the other fighters, to say nothing of the heavy cruisers. Even if she had the strength to destroy both of them she knew that her ship would not hold out long enough for her to do so. The unfamiliar feeling of desperation began to settle over her, and she resolved that she would have to force them to kill her. Her only concern was to take as many of them as she could with her. Targeting each of them individually was out of the question since it would take too much time and would allow the others to disable her while she worked. That left only the option of destroying several at once. An idea coming quickly to her mind she set about enacting it.

Routing what power she had left to the weapon systems of the Arani, she fired on the Starfury closest to her. Aware that a single blast was unlikely to destroy the Earth fighter she focused her talent on it’s engines, forcing them to critical mass the instant she fired on it. The resulting explosion severely damaged the other Starfury, crippling it’s engines and weapon systems. Almost instantly the retreating fighters circled back to aid their comrade and to capture the Minbari ship. A faint grin played at the corners of Terann’s mouth as she watch as the humans fell right into her trap.

"Minbari vessel, I say again, power down your weapons and surrender or we will open fire."

Terann fought the temptation to tell the insolent human captain where he could put his demands, but remained silent. She didn’t want anything to interfere with what she had planned for them. As the eleven remaining fighters approached she reached out to manipulate the engines of their damaged counterpart. The Starfury was far enough away that the initial explosion would not harm her ship, but if timed perfectly, it would claim the other Earth fighters. These subsequent explosions would most assuredly consume the Arani but Terann didn’t care. The concept of being tortured and murdered at the hands of the detestable humans was even less appealing than being obliterated in the destruction of her flyer. She could sense the panic in the human pilot’s mind, as his controls obviously told him of the imminent destruction of his fighter, but his communication system was damaged, making it impossible for him to warn the others.

Terann’s concentration was diverted from her current task by a violent shudder. A glance at the Arani’s sensor readings was immediately accompanied by a wave of relief. A jump point had opened almost on top of her ship and only moments later a Vorlon Warship came hurtling out of it.

The Vorlon’s made short work the Earth fighters before laying in a course for the Earth Heavy Cruisers. Terann listened dispassionately as Captain Pierce demanded that the Vorlons stand down and identify themselves. As she watched the Warcruiser close on the Earth Ships’ position, she began to wonder what, if any, response the Vorlons would give them. She was not forced to wait long as one beam of fire, then another cut evenly through each of the EA cruisers. Each erupted in a burst of flame until all that was left was field of debris.

Upon the destruction of the Earth ships, the Vorlon ship circled back and came to a stop just off her bow. Terann watched them, and waited, wondering what it was they were doing. She could sense nothing from them; nothing that would alleviate her curiosity. After what seemed like an eternity the Vorlons began to move, coming in close over her flyer. As the warship began to pass over top of the Arani it emitted a bright beam. The light seared into Terann’s mind overwhelming her senses. A sharp pain shot through her head, working it’s way deep into the distant crevices of her mind, threatening to consume her. When a wave of darkness began to wash over her, instead of fighting it, she found herself welcoming the respite that it offered.

 

 

Terann awoke to find herself lying face up on a cold, hard surface. As she attempted to lift her head to take in her surroundings she found that she couldn’t. It was as if some great force was pressing her down, preventing her from moving. Blinking hard against the throbbing pain in her head, she set about calming her mind, to help her remember what had happened to her and, more importantly, to determine where she was. She remembered leaving the Ingata, in fact, she remembered everything up to leaving hyperspace. After that everything seemed to blur together and she found that the more she attempted to make sense of it the more it eluded her. A wave of dread washed over her as she remembered the confrontation with the Earth ships and began to fear that she had been captured by the humans. What little she could see of her surroundings led her to believe that she was not being held by the Earthers. What she saw of the large room she was in was definitely not human in origin and as alien as it was it still appeared oddly familiar. She carefully reached out with her mind trying to connect to something tangible, anything that would give her a clue to what had happened. All around her was a familiar fluidity, a sense of a million minds linked together as one—the Vorlons.

Many times, late at night, when she had been in the place between dream and waking she had felt them there with her, holding her, protecting her. It was at these times that she could look away from the person she was, turn her back on the war and the millions of dead . Here she felt a sense of belonging, a sense that nothing else seemed to matter. Here she felt secure in her existence, confident about what she was. With the Vorlons she had no need to hide what she was, they had accepted her regardless of her heritage. They had created her for reason she was unsure of, but she had never questioned their wisdom in doing so. She knew so little about them yet she found herself willing to trust them.

Suddenly, she felt a strong presence intruding into her thoughts. At first she attempted to block the scan, but as she did an immense pain shot through her mind causing her to clench her eyes shut against it. She decided quickly to that it would be better to allow them to complete their scan of her thoughts. As they moved through her mind she found that they were focusing not on her recent experiences or military knowledge, but rather her memories of her home, her family and her mother. They pushed her back further, probing into the darkest recesses of her mind, triggering buried commands, things that she now realized had been implanted by the Vorlons, not in her mind, but in her genetic structure. Almost instantly her mind was overcome with the images of a thousand memories and countless dreams, not her own, but memories that had originated millions of years ago, race memories, memories that had been embedded in the minds of countless generations, so they would not forget.

After several moments she dared to reach out to them, and to her surprise, they embraced her. She found comfort and solace in them, unlike anything she had ever felt before. She could touch them and hear them as she never had before. It was as if a dark shroud had been lifted from her and for the first time she could see with clarity. She understood fully who she was and what she was. Yet she still didn’t know why? She knew the Vorlons had seeded hundreds of worlds, creating legions of telepaths throughout the galaxy but why? She fought through them, forcing them to hear her. Why? Why am I here? Why did you do this?

It was time

I do not understand.

She waited for a response, but none came. Instead she sensed that the force holding her down had relaxed, allowing her sit up. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. The metal table that she had been placed on was positioned in the middle of a sterile looking room. The only light in the room was positioned above the table yet effectively illuminated the entire room. Standing motionless in front of her were two Vorlons. Though they were concealed within their encounter suits they appeared to stare at her. She could not feel them within her mind and she was reluctant to reach out to them. She had so many questions she wished to ask and she did not want to upset them before she had some answers.

The darker, more ominous Vorlon turned and moved silently to the entryway. The other Vorlon hesitated before following him.

Come

She slipped off the table, her head still spinning from unconsciousness and the telepathic scan, and quickly fell into step behind them. They led her down a nondescript corridor much like the room they had just left. For being a race thousands of centuries old, they seemed to have no appreciation of aesthetics. The walls were a cold white tone and the floors were also white and highly polished. They came to an adjoining passage and the first Vorlon turned and moved down it, while the one directly in front of her continued down the original corridor. She hesitated, confused as to which of them she was to follow. She regarded them both carefully before the less ominous of the two turned, silently gesturing for her to follow. She glanced back at the other as he disappeared down the other passage before following.

They continued on for several minutes before coming to an entryway. Passing through it, Terann found herself choking back a gasp. Aside from its enormous size it contained what she assumed to be tens of thousands of glass containment units. Each was over two meters high and were spaced approximately a meter and a half apart. She stepped carefully past the Vorlon to stand before one of the units. Inside, floating in some kind of clear fluid was a Vree. The one next to it housed a Brakiri. She let down her defenses and was immediately besieged by countless minds. All seemed to be in various states of confusion and all seemed terrified. The strength at which they broadcasted their thoughts led Terann to believe that they were all telepaths. She walked past several tanks, carefully studying the occupants before stopping in front of one containing a small Centauri child, a female, perhaps five or six years old. Her small body was connected to several tubes, whose purpose, Terann was unsure of. Her gentle features were shadowed by her fear, and the Minbari was curious as to what the Vorlons were doing to her, and the others. She stepped closer to child, reaching out to place a hand on the cold surface of the glass. She assumed that the child would be relatively untrained at using her gift, making it easier for the Minbari to scan her without damaging her too severely.

Slowly Terann reached out with her mind, first to block out the thousands of other voices, then to touch on the thoughts of the little girl. She found herself fighting against the chaos in her mind then began to touch on her recent memories. She moved slowly through her mind, not wanting to add anymore stress. What she could see came in small frightened flashes and glimpses. The girl’s fear over-shadowed much of the images, forcing Terann to fight her way to something tangible. She became so desperate for answers to what was around her, that Terann began to forget about the fragile mind that she was sifting through. The child had little recollection of being brought to this world by the Vorlons but it was clear that she was a strong telepath before coming here. Her ability had made her somewhat of an outcast within her family, not out of hatred toward telepaths but because of the strength of her gift. Is that why they chose you? Terann asked, but the silence remained.

It was clear from the child’s hesitation that she was reluctant to have the Minbari so close to her. She could easily detect the girls fear and mistrust of the Vorlons. The child knew nothing of the aliens, only that she had been torn from her home and family, brought here to be part of some unknown experiment. Terann could feel that the child recognized her as one of them and she quickly set about calming her young mind. She searched for a point of reference, something the child would react positively to.

Anissa? The girls name. Terann whispered the name across the girl’s mind slowly and clearly. Anissa, I am not like them.

Yes, you are! I can feel you! The cold, hard emptiness. You are one of them!

The strength at which the response came surprised the Minbari, but she used it only to strengthen her resolve. Yes, they created me, but I am not like them. I will not hurt you.

Out of reflex, Terann felt herself stiffen as she felt Anissa enter her mind. She quickly dropped her guard allowing the girl to touch on things that she had kept buried, deep inside, her entire life. No one had been this deep within her mind aside from the Vorlons, and she found it to be incredibly unsettling.

As the girl touched on Terann’s memories of the war with the humans, the Minbari felt the girl recoil in horror. Anissa saw the faces of the countless humans, Terann had been responsible for killing. She could see the cold brutality the Minbari had used to exterminate them. She could hear them plead for mercy, and was sickened that she was powerless to prevent it.

You killed them. All of them.

You don’t understand…

Yes, I do! You tell me you are different. But you aren’t. You are just like them.

Terann felt the girl slip out of her mind, but her curiosity forced her to follow her back. Anissa could sense Terann’s attempts to enter her mind and tried desperately to block her. But the Minbari was too strong. Terann violently pushed her way into the child’s untrained mind searching for reasoning behind the Vorlons’ actions. She wasn’t even certain that she would find what it was she was searching for, but she no longer cared. Her entire life there had been nothing but unanswered questions, and now that she was here, on the Vorlon homeworld, she refused to leave without them.

The girls memories were severely fragmented, forcing Terann to piece together what had happened to her. After being brought here by the Vorlons, they had begun altering her, enhancing her abilities. But why? The girl, knew nothing of what was motivating them. Perhaps it was simply an experiment. An old race merely toying with the younger ones. Terann mentally shook her head, refusing to believe that the Vorlons would take that much interest in so many that were beneath them. There had to be a reason. She pushed further into the girls subconscious, hoping to find answers in her repressed memories. But the girl fought back. Terann was initially shocked by the girls brashness, then brushed past her attempts with little difficulty. She heard the girl cry out to her, begging her to stop, but the Minbari ignored her. She no longer cared about the young mind she was destroying. She had been left in the dark about the Vorlons intentions and if it meant killing the young girl than so be it.

Making her way deeper into Anissa’s mind, Terann began to become confused. The images that filtered into her mind did not seem real. They were like dreams, hidden and buried, not to be disturbed. She could sense a familiarity within the girl as a myriad of voices echoed between them. Terann attempted to make sense of what they were saying, dismissing most of them as simply those of the girl’s family. Then she heard her own voice, speaking softly to the girl, reassuring her. The Minbari focused in on it, cutting through everything else until all that remained were her and the Centauri.

She could see the girl huddled in a dark corner of her mind, frightened, the tattered fabric of her thoughts strewn around her.

Terann looked down at the girl, tired, remorseful of what she had done to the young child. I am sorry.

It does not matter. Came the weak reply. None of it matters, Terann.

At the mention of her name, Terann pulled herself from Anissa’s mind. She stepped back hesitantly, and gazed at the child as she floated, undisturbed, encased in glass, her young mind still swirling in confusion.

In Valeria’s name, I know you.

Guilt ridden she stared at the girl for several moments before sensing a presence behind her. She gently touched on the girl’s thoughts but quickly pulled back in horror at the state of the child’s mind. She instantly thought of the damage done to her Shai Alyt by the human telepath. Clenching her fists at her sides in anger, she began to wonder at the extent of the impact the war had had on her. She was slowly becoming as barbaric as the race she sought to destroy and the very thought of that nauseated her. She found herself unable to remember what life had been like before the war with the Earthers. Growing up on Minbar had meant countless hours learning to fight, how to serve her people, and to live up to her calling. Life had been confusing then. Being shunned by others around her, being forced to prove herself worthy of them everyday. Despite her efforts there were still those that disapproved of her. Saw her as a freak. Looking around the room at the thousands of telepaths being used by the Vorlons she began to wonder if the others had been correct about her. If she could step away from what she was and look in from the outside, would she not see things the same way. Purity was highly valued amongst her people. Even mating outside of one’s own caste was frowned upon by her caste. They wished to keep the bloodlines pure and unpolluted. But her impurity was far more severe than simply having a parent from outside of her caste. The arrogance of the Vorlons angered her. What right did they have to toy with the genetics of other races? To alter people without their knowledge or consent? Perhaps the other races did not see things as the Minbari did. To her race, what they had done to her could be seen as almost blasphemous. If the rest of her caste were to find out about her mixed heritage the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked of the Vorlon, while keeping her gaze fixed on the girl.

The Vorlon ignored her query, and instead turned to walk away from her. Overcome with anger, she stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "I asked you why? My entire life you have told me nothing, yet you have always been there. I can hear you, all of you. Yet I know nothing of why you did this to me. And now to them."

The Vorlon glanced down at her then started to push past the Minbari, but Terann would have nothing of it.

"Do not ignore me. I deserve some answers."

You deserve nothing. The Vorlon proclaimed.

Terann was stunned into silence as an invisible hand reached out to grasp at her throat. She was flung backward into the tank that house the Centauri girl, her head slamming into the hard surface with a sickening sound. Her hands flew up to her neck as if to pull away the strangling force of the Vorlon’s grip. Gasping for breath, Terann attempted to calm her mind enough to enable her to weaken the alien’s hold on her. As she stretched out with her mind, the tightness increased around her throat, causing her legs to go limp. She fought back furiously, only to have her efforts met with an agonizing pain. Her mind screamed out at the Vorlon’s assault and she began to feel blackness overwhelm her. Giving up her attempts, the Minbari felt the grip loosen only enough to keep her from losing consciousness. An intense numbness coursed through her body as the Vorlon moved closer to her. Towering over her, he finally spoke.

You live because of Us. You die because of Us. You are because of Us. You are nothing without Us.

He released his hold on her, then turned unsympathetically as she crumpled to the floor. She gasped hungrily for air as the feeling slowly returned to her arms and legs. She rose to her feet, and stood unsteadily for a few moments before following him.

They walked in silence for several minutes, passing row upon row of beings encased in glass. Her mind was weak from the scan of the Centauri and from the Vorlon’s attack. It was becoming increasingly difficult to block out the thousands of voices that screamed out to her in terror and confusion. Had the minds been familiar to her, the experience would not be so disturbing. But given that they were alien minds, the feeling was that much more disconcerting. The chaos only added to her own frustration. She had been called here, for reasons unknown to her, and all she was receiving in return was more questions.

The Vorlon came to a stop, and turned to face her. The iris of his encounter suit dilated as he silently studied her. He then gestured to the right, down one of the many rows of glass units.

There.

She looked at him doubtfully, then proceeded in the direction he had motioned. She stepped carefully, studying the occupants of the tanks carefully. She noted beings from almost every world conceivable. There were Drazi, Llort, even a Pak’ma’ra. A few worlds were lacking representation, such as the Narn, but she knew they had no telepaths. She searched for another Minbari, and was relieved that she could neither see nor feel any.

Coming to the end of the row, she stopped and gaped in horror. The unit before her held a human female with long red hair. A voice inside Terann screamed out in anger. Whether right or wrong, the humans were undeserving of the gift the Vorlon’s were offering to everyone here. They were only deserving of death and Terann set about seeing the woman before her got exactly that.

The Minbari quickly focused her mind on the glass that separated her from her enemy, and saw it shatter within her mind. She heard the implosion as glass collapsed in on itself and the Earther contained in it fell to the floor at Terann’s feet. The Minbari seemed unaffected as the fluid, that had protected the woman swirled, around her feet, she only stared at the human as she struggled to breathe, her only means of life support cut off. She was like a puppet with her strings cut; her movements completely random. Terann reveled in the agonizing death of the human and reached out to touch her mind, to feel her die, to watch once more as her enemy suffered.

She did not feel the Vorlon behind her, until it was too late. When the pain came, she felt it serge through her with astonishing speed. Every inch of her body writhed in pain as she fell to the floor. She summoned all of her remaining strength to lift her head. Her eyes met with the confused gaze of the human female. Blocking out the physical pain being exacted on her by the Vorlon, Terann focused on the thoughts of the human before her. At first their mutual hatred clouded their minds. Fifteen years of war had hardened both of them, in more ways then they had realized. Pushing past this, looking for something more concrete, Terann made her way into the woman’s mind. Lyta. Terann repeated the woman’s name, more out of reflex than anything else. During any interrogation, the Minbari had always centered in on her subject’s name. It gave her a point of reference, something she could hold onto. The Minbari could feel the human’s life slipping from her and her time to retrieve any answers from the human was growing short.

Why are you here? Terann asked of her.

The human’s mind had begun to swirl into the dark cold of death, but before succumbing she managed to reply. They called to me…I am one…As you are…As we all are.

Terann slipped out of the woman’s mind mere seconds before death set in. She refused to witness an alien death in such a manor, deeming it somewhat less meaningful than the death of one of her own.

With the connection between her and the human severed, she once again became cognizant of the excruciating pain being projected on her by the Vorlon. Driven more by her pride and arrogance, she forced herself to stand. Fighting hard against the projected agony she cried out. ‘Why? Why all this?" Then gesturing to the now lifeless body of the human named Lyta. "Why them?" Her voice was thick with contempt.

They are the key came the reply as the Vorlon’s assault on her ended.

"They are barbaric. They are a cruel, soulless people. They deserve only death." Terann spat back at the Vorlon.

They are the future

Terann was about to protest, when the Vorlon moved closer to her.

Remember

The helmet of the alien’s encounter suit lifted and a beam of brilliant white light emanated from the opening. As the alien escaped the confines of the encounter suit, he wrapped himself around the Minbari, filling her with an intense feeling of serenity. Terann lowered the weak block in her mind as she felt him enter her thoughts. She reached out to him and was comforted when he embraced her.

The Vorlon gently worked his way through her mind, wakening memories instantly transporting them, unhindered by space and time, to a point in history left long forgotten, to be remembered only as myth and legend. Here she could see a time when dozens of races, regardless of their differences, banded together to achieve a common goal—survival. It was a time of darkness, when the ancient enemy reeked havoc throughout the galaxy, manipulating one race while destroying another. She knew their pain and understood their suffering. Beyond all the horrid images, Terann didn’t understand what this had to do with the humans.

Sensing her confusion, the Vorlon brought her back to the present showing her a world believed long dead. As she studied the desolate planet she began to detect life on it, life unlike any she had ever felt before, yet she recognized it, knew what it was and what it stood for. Everything within her screamed out to destroy it and anyone touched by it. It was cold and evil and as the telepath attempted to lock on the small spark of life her head was filled with a blood-chilling scream. She pulled back quickly, clamping her hands over her ears, desperate to rid her mind of the horrible wail.

Sensing her distress the Vorlon guided her back allowing her to push the horrible sound from her thoughts. Free of the Vorlon’s hold on her, she cast a glance at the now dead human at her feet. Remembering the images from long ago she began to realize what it was the Vorlons were proposing.

Fighting back her disgust she spun around to face him. "You can not possibly expect us to side with these barbarians. If the Shadows have in fact returned surely there are others…"

No, they are the key.

"But the war…." She began.

It must be stopped.

"No!" She shouted at him, assuming her usual arrogant demeanor. "We will never end the war."

Then we will.

The Vorlon then turned, leaving Terann to contemplate his words. She stared after him, finding it difficult to believe that a race as primitive as the Humans could be as important as the Vorlons seemed to believe. Were the Vorlons really willing to use force to ensure peace between their two races? After fifteen years of unrelenting war Terann knew it would be impossible for the Earthers and the Minbari to unite against the coming darkness. She began to think the Vorlons mad for even suggesting such a thing. And how did they expect her to explain it to her people? How did they expect her to convince the Warrior Caste to end a war that they had fought so diligently, for so many years, sacrificing so many lives in the name of ridding the galaxy of the savage humans? Certainly, the Religious Caste would welcome the end to the war, embrace it, revel in it even. Why, if the Religious Caste had their way, they would never let the Warriors forget that they had almost wiped out the only race that could help them destroy ancient enemy. There was enough of a gulf between the Castes. To deepen it would only mean the destruction of the Minbari as a race. And still, Terann could not fathom what import the Humans could possibly be. They certainly were not as technologically advanced as other races, no matter how relentless they appeared to be in battle.

Then, an idea struck Terann. Relentless and undaunting were the best words she could use to describe the Human capacity for battle. Perhaps that was how they were meant to fight in a war against the Shadows – as fodder. While the Minbari planned and use their technological superiority to overcome the ancient enemy, they could send the Earthers in wave after wave against the Shadows, therefore saving their own people. After all, there were billions of Humans still left in the galaxy that needed to be exterminated. What better way than to allow someone else to do it. In the end, the Minbari would appear courageous and wise for ending the war with the Humans in order to save the galaxy, and the Humans would no longer be a problem.

Of course, there was still the little problem of convincing her people to go along with the idea. Even Terann relished the idea of wiping out the Earthers single-handedly. To hand that privilege to someone else seemed unfathomable. Yet, so was the idea of retaliation by the Vorlons. The Minbari were strong and resilient but even they would not be able to withstand a full assault by the Vorlons. And the warning they had given her had been clear. The Vorlons felt there were events in the universe much more important than the Earth/Minbari war. So Terann had only one course before her, and that was to somehow convince her people, and the Humans, that they must work together, end their own war, and win another. The idea was almost laughable it was so ludicrous. And Terann had not the simplest idea how to go about it. Obviously, she would have to work with the Humans first; they would be an easier sell on the idea of peace than the Warrior Caste. As distasteful as the idea was to her to actually lower herself to bargaining with the Earthers, she quickly made up her mind to work with the only other thing as abhorrent to her – the Religious Caste. They would be more than pleased to go behind the Warrior Caste and negotiate a peace. Then, once that was accomplished, with Terann’s blessing and, Valeria willing, Neroon’s blessing as well, by then the Warrior Caste should at least come around to accepting the already done fact. If the fates of the Universe were working with her, perhaps the Shadows would begin to show themselves and the capitulation of the Minbari and the Earthers would come about more quickly.

The universe stands alone…..

Who are you?….

Together or apart….

Terann…..

It is time.

 

 

 

Terann checked her controls once more then leaned back in her seat. After signaling the leader of the Religious Caste of her need to meet with him there was nothing left to do but wait. Dukhat had been understandably hesitant about meeting with her but she insisted. She could not risk informing him of the reason behind this forced meeting over an open channel, she only told him that it was important to the future of their people. All of their people. She had met Dukhat once and then only briefly. What she knew of him told her that he was typical of the Religious Caste. Smug, arrogant, believing firmly in his own superiority. She hated having to involve the Religious Caste at all. After all what could they possibly offer to the coming conflict? They did not need prayer; they needed people who were willing to fight and to die for the future of the galaxy. But, if they were to contact the Humans to attempt to end the war and, possibly, ally themselves with them, it would be best for that person not to be of the Warrior Caste. They had on several occasions tried to end the ongoing war with the Earthers and each attempt had met with disaster. As the warning beacon sounded she reminded herself that this was the only way.

The jump point formed in front of her and her ship passed silently through the gate. Her heart caught in her throat. As her homeworld loomed ahead of her flyer she became wary of the amount of time that had passed since she had been home. Gone were the ships that usually floated in orbit around Minbar poised to protect it from harm. Most likely they were off on the front lines advancing on the Humans. Or worse destroyed in some battle, long since forgotten. The planet hung alone in space, vulnerable to attack. It was all she needed to see to reassure herself that this must be done. She studied the readings before her trying to decide the safest place to set her flyer down. She did not need to alarm those in the city nor did she need them to attack her before she had a chance to complete her mission. After finding a secluded location several kilometers outside the City of Sorrows she set about bringing her ship to the surface.

It was still night, making it easier to conceal her arrival. After bringing the ship down gently, she shut down the engines. Terann sat for several minutes trying to organize her thoughts. She enjoyed the silence, and allowed it to help calm her mind. The meeting with the Vorlons had been stressful and she doubted this one would be much better. Moving to stand, she realized that she could not be seen in her uniform. After recent events, she knew there would be those of the Religious Caste eager for retaliation. She quickly removed her uniform, replacing it with an ill fitting light brown colored outfit over which she wore a darker tunic. She gathered up her denn'bok and after tucking it under her tunic, she pulled her hood over her head and stepped from the ship.

It was darker than she had thought it would be yet it took her only a few moments to get her bearings. As she headed toward the city she noticed an odd odor that hung in the air and she felt her stomach heaved as she breathed it in. Swallowing hard she forced herself to continue on toward the city. As it came into view, she felt saddened by what she saw. Tuzanor had once been a large city and home to many from all three castes, but now it appeared almost devoid of life. Only those from the Religious Caste still remained here, being left relatively alone to practice their ancient rituals. To her left she could see a crystal temple in ruins, an obvious victim of one of the attacks on the city. She had at one time felt pride in her Caste's progress at subduing the Religious Caste. After the various Warrior Caste clans had aligned themselves, the other Castes had had no chance against them. The Minbari were stagnating under the Religious Caste and it was up to her Caste to show them the way things should be. Since then they had become a presence in the galaxy. The younger races both respected and feared them. That was until the war with the Humans. Now the other races avoided both them and the Humans at all cost. Of course there had been rumors of the Narns supplying them with intelligence, even weapons, but Terann tried not to put to much stock in rumor. She doubted the Narns were foolish enough to oppose the Minbari. Surely they knew that once they had finished with the Humans they would turn their attention to the Narn homeworld. After the Centauri occupation, Narn had been left barren and desolate, with little ability to counter an invasion. Yes, with the Warrior Caste, her people were strong. With the Religious Caste in power, Minbar itself would be open to attack from the smaller powers. It was imperative that they maintain an air of strength.

Yet, as Terann walked through the darkened city streets she began to question the cost. Buildings and other structure lay reduced to rubble and the streets that once bustled with life were now deathly silent. She continued deeper into the center of the city. Though the air was heavy with dust and ash, moonlight was still able to penetrate it, casting an eerie glow, forcing Terann to cling close to the ruins trying to keep in the shadows. Coming to a corner, she cautiously looked around it. Down the adjoining street she saw a small, secluded building with an almost indiscernible light emanating from it. Suddenly, she felt someone approach. She smiled at how clearly he broadcast his fear. She could almost feel him trembling in her mind. Gently she reached out and touched his mind, she could see that he was trying to determine what to do to with her now that he had her. Terann fought the urge to turn on him and show him what one of the Warrior Caste was truly capable of, but she knew that she could not hope to gain Dukhat's trust with this acolyte’s blood on her hands. When he came forward and pressed the end of an energy weapon up against the base of her neck she feigned surprise. May as well give him some sense of victory she thought to herself as she reached out with her mind and loosened the power cell on the weapon. She could not take the chance that he would panic and kill her.

"You are alone?" He asked his voice calm, not betraying the fear behind his words.

"Yes." Terann told him plainly.

"Good." He said shifting to runs his hands over her searching for a weapon. She mentally laughed at him, thinking that she had tucked her denn'bok close to her breasts, knowing full well that, out of respect, no member of the Religious Caste would search her there.

Once convinced that she was unarmed he pushed her toward the lit building. As they moved slowly down the street she could easily feel his hatred toward her. It was an intense emotion, not one she would have expect from a Religious acolyte. She tried to determine why, but his thoughts were clouded by both fear and exhilaration, she knew that if she pushed too hard he may become aware of her attempts and panic.

Once they reached the entrance he ordered her to open the door. Slowly she did so and they entered into a fairly nondescript room. "This way," he said, pushing her in the direction of an adjoining room.

Once inside she mentally cringed. She had expected to be meeting only with Dukhat, but there were several other members of his Caste present. They encircled the large room, which she assumed to be the meeting hall of the Caste elders and, after the acolyte pushed her through the entrance, she realized that they surrounded her. Dukhat walked up to her and forcefully ripped her hood from her head. She began to wonder if she had underestimated him and perhaps he intended to harm her in some way. She mentally chided herself thinking that maybe she should have informed the Shai Alyt of her mission. Terann knew that if anything were to happen to her, the retribution for her death would be swift and painful. Terann doubted there would be little left of the already decimated city. She reached out to touch his mind briefly in order to determine his intentions and realized that she could pick up nothing from him. Mentally she searched the room registering at least six other telepaths present. She had to give him credit. Dukhat was not as foolish as she had originally believed.

"I see my reputation has preceded me," she stated smugly, not eager to allow Dukhat the upper hand.

He studied her carefully, as if trying to read her intent. He began to circle around behind her, finally speaking. "We have seen what you are capable of. Do you blame us for being cautious?" When she remained silent he nodded. "Good. Now...what do you want?"

Ironic question she thought to herself. "There is an opportunity. To end the war with the Earther's, but we need your help."

At this the assemble group laughed. Dukhat raised his hand to silence them and then resumed circling around her. "You must forgive them, but surely you understand that after years of endless slaughter endured at the hands of the Warrior Caste that we have welcomed the respite that your war with the Humans has brought us."

Terann refused to get into another philosophical debate with one of the Religious Caste. She had been sent here to do something and she intended to do it. "There is a greater threat to you than us, Dukhat."

This brought him to a halt. He stood before her staring deeply into her eyes. "And what exactly is this new threat?" His tone clearly indicated his disbelief at her claim. She looked around, wary of the people around them. She questioned whether she should risk revealing her knowledge of the coming shadow threat to so many. Dukhat stepped closer and towered over her, a move she resented intensely. "Well?" He shouted at her, clearly angered by her hesitation.

Taking a deep breath she explained. "The ancient enemy has returned. We must unite with, among others, the Humans, to fight the coming darkness." At this Dukhat allowed a laugh to erupt and the others followed suit. Terann clenched her fists at her sides trying to prevent the anger that threatened to consume her. "I see nothing funny here," she shouted at them.

"It is of no use. They will not listen." The voice behind her said.

As she turned to face the newcomer Dukhat said. "You should not be here Lenonn, you are not well."

Lenonn ignored his comment and proceeded to stand before Terann. "What do you know of Shadows, Warrior?"

"The shadows are nothing more than legends," Dukhat said before Terann could answer Lenonn's query.

"You are more blind than I thought, Dukhat," Terann spat at him.

"And you are more naive than I had thought, Terann!" He shouted back.

Turning back to Lenonn, who Terann believed to be the wisest of the lot she took a deep breath, and then proceeded. "Z'ha'dum has awakened."

As the old man's face paled with fear, Terann knew that nothing more needed to be said. "But...how...where...?"

"Yes Terann, where did you get this divine intuition from?" Dukhat asked, his tone mocking.

If success were not imperative she would simply force her way past the blocks set up by the other telepaths and have done with the lot of them. She had known the Religious Caste was ignorant and the last ten minutes only served to cement this belief. She swallowed hard, trying to control her anger. Forcing it down, she turned to Lenonn, deeming him the only one worthy of the information she had. "The Vorlons," she said simply.

"The Vorlons speak to no one," Dukhat told her now circling around her and Lenonn. "For centuries they have remained silent, and now for some reason they come to you. Of all people, they choose you. Why?"

"I..." She muttered unable to bring herself to tell him. No one knew. She had not even entrusted it with Neroon whom she felt she could tell anything.

Lenonn appeared deep in thought, and stared straight at the floor in front of him. "None of our ships sent to Vorlon space have ever returned. How...?"

Dukhat looked up, as if he had suddenly had a revelation. "Of course, your mother. She did return from Vorlon space, and mysteriously you were born shortly after her return." Crossing his arms across his chest, he allowed a smug grin to form on his face. "It appears the Vorlons have been more busy than we suspected. Your Caste does not know, do they? They will be pleased when they find out, will they not?"

Terann spun around to face him fully her features not concealing any of her anger at his apparent threat. "Not as pleased as they will be when I deliver your head to the Shai Alyt."

Dukhat eyed her, not doubting that she was fully prepared to follow through on her threat. Lenonn stepped between them eager to learn what the Warrior knew. "What did the Vorlons tell you?"

Terann kept her eyes on Dukhat for several moments then turned back to Lenonn. "Simply that the Humans would be needed in the coming conflict, and that we must ally ourselves before it is too late."

"What are you proposing?" He asked ignoring Dukhat and the others who had begun muttering to one another.

"A meeting between one of you and…"

"You expect one of us to meet with these Humans? You are truly insane, Terann," Dukhat informed her, not allowing her to finish.

"I will go," Lenonn volunteered.

"No!" Dukhat said, his tone sharp. "I will not allow this."

"It is my choice, Dukhat. I have studied the Shadows my entire life. I am the wisest choice."

"I agree," Terann interjected.

"Your opinion matters little to me, Terann," Dukhat snapped back at her.

"My mind is made up, there is nothing you can do to stop me, Dukhat," Lenonn continued then stepped toward the other man, his tone noticeably softer. "Trust me old friend, please allow me this one last chance to serve our people."

Dukhat’s eyes stayed with Lenonn’s allowing him to see a clarity within him that had disappeared long ago. Finally he nodded in agreement. Lenonn smiled briefly at Dukhat then turned back to Terann. "What exactly is it you wish me to do?" He asked her.

Terann gazed into his eyes, trying to determine if his soul was sincere. Once satisfied, she removed her gloves and held out her right hand for him to take. He hesitated at first then with a deep breath he placed his hand in hers. She tightened her grip on it to the point that he thought she would break it. Before he could protest his mind was overwhelmed with images and sounds, instructions from the Vorlons as to how he was to complete the task given to him. As the exchange took place between the two Minbari, Dukhat cast a questioning glance at one of the telepaths present, and then another. Both confirmed that they could detect nothing of what was happening between Terann and Lenonn.

After what seemed like an eternity, Terann released her hold on Lenonn’s hand. Once he had composed himself, he nodded to her his understanding, not having the strength to speak. Terann smiled slightly at him, showing her appreciation for his sacrifice. Then pulling her hood back over her head she proceed to the door, deeming the others unworthy of any parting words.

"Lennier," Dukhat said firmly, his voice halting Terann at the door, "Accompany our…guest…back to her ship."

"Yes master," the young acolyte replied. Terann noted that it was the same acolyte that had led her here. Lennier nodded to Dukhat, then moved to where Terann stood, gesturing to the entrance with a forced smile. "This way."

Terann turned and left the building, thankful to finally be away from Dukhat and his deluded followers. The two Minbari walked through the city silently, giving Terann the opportunity to probe gently at his mind. From what she could determine, Lennier’s anger concerned someone he cared deeply for, a woman, not a relation, but still someone very close to him.

"Who was she?" Terann asked her tone telling him that she did not really care who she was.

"Does it matter?" Came the response.

Terann allowed a small smile to cross her face. "Not really. She is only Religious Caste." Terann could feel his anger begin to swell, and she enjoyed the feel of it as it washed over her.

Lennier remained silent, his hand shifting slightly on the weapon he kept concealed under his tunic. Had it still been pressed to the Warriors head he would not have hesitated shooting her. He reminded himself that she was only baiting him, hoping he would give her a reason to kill him. That was after all what her Caste did best. They preyed on the weak and innocent, like her.

Terann stopped, causing a small amount of apprehension to pass over Lennier. "Does it really matter how many of you we eliminate anyway?" She asked, a smug smile on her face.

It was all the acolyte could take. Quickly he pulled the energy weapon out and pointed it squarely at her chest. Terann was taken aback by his brashness, yet she noticed how his hand shook slightly as he held the weapon. She took a step toward him, as if daring him to shoot her. She knew full well that the weapon was unarmed, but he did not and she enjoyed testing his resolve. When he attempt to fire, Terann moved quickly to knock the weapon from his hand. She then reached under her tunic to pull out her denn’bok opening it in front of her. "You are braver than you look, Lennier," she told him, moving to strike his head. The young man stumbled backwards but refused to allow himself to fall.

Lennier lunged at her, propelled solely by his rage. Terann sidestepped bringing her pike in at the last minute to knock his feet out from under him. He landed hard on his chest, rolling quickly onto his back to see Terann towering over him, the end of her pike aimed straight at his face.

"Now," Terann said, her tone calm. "What was her name?" She did not know why it mattered to her that she know the cause of the acolytes anger, she knew only that it did. In the beginning it had bothered her to take another’s life. Being a telepath, she found herself, sensitive to the emotions of the dying. She quickly learned to block such things out, and now she found herself so accustomed to killing that it had become almost as natural as breathing. Having now thought about it, it was a notion that bothered her. She lowered her pike, collapsed it and put it back under her tunic. She extended her hand to him, and hesitantly he accepted. As she pulled him to his feet, he swung around and slammed his fist into her face. "That was for Delenn!!" he screamed at her.

She recovered quickly, grabbing his hand, twisting his arm around behind his back. As he attempted to struggle, she yanked hard on his hand, causing a noticeable crunch as the bones in his arm snapped under the strain. "You would be wise to follow Lenonn’s example," she said through clenched teeth, trying desperately to prevent herself from simply killing him. Lenonn had offered to do something for her and she believed that by sparing this acolyte’s life she was in some way repaying him for his selflessness.

"Lenonn is an old fool," came the reply.

Terann forcefully pushed him away from her. "He may be. But he might be our only hope for survival." Quickly Terann spun around, leaving Lennier to gape after her.

 

 

The docking bay was silent and empty, as Terann had expected it to be. In truth, she wanted to get her return to the Ingata over and done with quickly, but she knew that she would not be so fortunate. She had directly disobeyed her commanding officers orders, and for that she would be punished. But that had not been her only infraction. She had also left at a time when her Shai Alyt had most needed her, abandoned her post in a time of war. To many, such an act would be considered treason and they would expect her to be punished according to her crimes. Terann held fast to the hope that Neroon would listen to her reasons, attempt to understand that what she did she had done for the good of their people. Beyond that, she had little choice in the matter. What the Vorlons wanted, the Vorlons usually got.

Terann moved through the corridors of the ship silently, winding her way toward Shai Alyt Neroon’s quarters. The closer she drew to her destination, the more the trepidation at seeing him set in. She was uncertain of what she was to say, uncertain of how to proceed. Should she tell Neroon everything? It was a prospect she did not look forward to. No one knew her secret, and it was far safer to keep it that way. The purity of the Minbari was everything and once it got out that her blood was tainted, she would lose everything she was, everything she had fought so hard to become. No, she could never tell Neroon the truth. She had to come up with another way; there was just no choice in the matter. And if he did not accept her at her word…No, Terann could not allow herself to think about that now. Not yet.

She hesitated at the doors to his quarters, not fearful but anxious. The Vorlons had made it clear that she must succeed in the directive they had handed her. They had made it clear that the fate of the entire galaxy rested in her ability to end the war with the Humans but did they understand what they had put her up against? Did they understand the lengths to which the Minbari would go to make certain that the Humans were wiped from the galaxy forever? She had tried to explain it to them, but they had refused to listen. Forever cryptic and condescending, they had simply ordered her to do as they said. Terann found herself believing that the older a race became, the more they tended to forget what they had been like in the earlier stages of their evolution. Much like parents who have forgotten what it was like to be a child, the Vorlons seemed to have forgotten how difficult it was to overcome the baser instinct of war, of annihilating your enemy. Terann took a deep breath and announced her presence.

It was a long silent moment before the door finally swished open, allowing her entrance. Terann hesitated a brief moment, hating herself for doing so, for showing her weaker side, then moved over the threshold. Instantly she was smothered by the overwhelming, barely-held-in-check anger that emanated from the presence before her, engulfing the room. She refused to allow her Shai Alyt’s upset with her to distract her from her main objective. Terann swallowed hard against the pride that screamed in outrage for a chance to defend itself and affected the humility she knew would be expected of her.

"Shai Alyt, I have returned," she offered with a respectful inclination of her head.

Neroon remained silent, his back to her, his immense shoulders appearing much more menacing in the soft light. Terann was beginning to believe he had not heard her when finally he spoke, his voice dangerously low:

"Shortly after you…disappeared…we were summoned to our shipyards on Dorados. Do you know what we found there? Nothing. Well, nothing living. Two million of our people, slaughtered where they stood by the Earther’s bioagent. While there, we happened across a portion of the Earther’s fleet. It was quite a battle but we destroyed them, exacted our revenge for what they did to our people." Neroon turned then to face her, his expression partly hidden by the shadows that played against the wall. "And where were you, my faithful Alyt? Where were you during one of our darkest hours? Where were you during our cry for revenge? Where were you, Terann?"

Now was her chance. Terann opened her mouth to speak but Neroon cut her off.

"No. I would rather not hear it." He turned away from her once more, to stare out at the starfield. "Do you know what I risked by taking you in my charge? Do you know the promises I made to prove that you were worth my time, that you were a true Minbari? You have failed me, Terann. And what is worse, you have failed your people. Leave my sight. I will deal with you when I am prepared."

Terann was at a loss for words. She felt her Shai Alyt’s anger and frustration, knew that he meant what he said: He wanted her to leave, he did not feel he could control himself enough to be in the same room as her. But if she walked away now, if she obeyed his orders, would she ever have the courage to get through this again? Would the Vorlons accept her excuse that she was simply obeying the orders of her commanding officer? Not that it mattered to her much anymore what the Vorlons thought. Terann realized that she was very close to losing the respect and admiration and, most importantly, friendship of the only Minbari besides her mother who saw fit to consider her worthy. There was no turning back now.

"Shai Alyt Neroon, I must speak with you."

Silence. Then, "I have already warned you, Terann. Go to your quarters."

"No."

Neroon slowly turned to her, his countenance darkening. He took a few steps toward her. "I caution you, Terann. Your value in my eyes has already dropped considerably. Do not threaten your position on this vessel further."

"If my value has truly lowered in your eyes, then I am already lost."

"Terann –"

"I am not leaving until you hear me, Neroon."

She did not see his fist coming. He knocked her hard to the floor. "You have disobeyed me once, Terann. Do not do it again."

The Alyt lay there for a moment, unmoving. Whenever she was attacked, her natural instinct was to retaliate in kind with her natural psi abilities. But she could not attack her Shai Alyt, never that. She forced herself to understand his anger, to accept it, then slowly rose to her feet once more. Terann lifted her gaze to his, opening her emotions to him, allowing him to see that she was not defiant or disobedient, only desperate. She took a deep breath.

"I meant no disrespect, Shai Alyt. Please forgive me."

Neroon’s fists clenched at his sides. Forgive her? Did she not realize that his true anger did not stem from her blatant disobedience, her lack of regard for the safety of her crew or even her unwavering defiance? She had left without a trace, leaving only the most cryptic of messages, making no attempt in the interim to contact him or even let him know if she were alive. More than once he had pictured what would have happened had the Humans captured her, the resulting torture and degradation she would have faced. Her disobedience could be easily reprimanded. The fact that she flaunted his command, or lack thereof, could be dealt with. But if the Humans had captured her, if she had been tortured and murdered by their loathsome, dirty hands, then her fate could not be erased. Such a fate would have haunted Neroon for the rest of his life, and that was something she could never be allowed to understand.

"Very well, Terann," Neroon replied, his decision coming quickly. "I only hope that what you have to say has to do with an explanation for your disappearance."

Terann nodded, briefly wiping the blood from the corner of her lip where he had struck her. There was so much to say and she could not fathom where to begin. Finally, she decided to deliver the most important part of her message:

"We must end the war with the Humans."

The area around them grew heavy with the ensuing silence. Even the ship that moved beneath their feet seemed to have quieted. Terann feared that silence. She had to fight as it was to keep the Vorlons continual message to her in the furthest reaches of her mind so that it would not succeed in making her crazy. Without outside interference, that task became more difficult, almost painful.

The silence was finally broken by Neroon’s chuckle. "My, my, Terann. You had me worried, for a moment there. I almost believed you had become some bleeding-heart Religious fanatic. We certainly could not have that…now could we?"

Terann lifted her chin, a hint of her defiance appearing momentarily. "This has nothing to do with the Religious Caste, Shai Alyt."

"No? Then what does it have to do with, Terann? From where did you suddenly develop this unwavering compassion for the Human race? This need to see them live out their evolution?"

"I would gladly see them destroyed the same as you, Neroon," Terann replied emphatically. "I too have dreams of crushing their skulls beneath the heels of my boots, listening to their cries for mercy as we annihilate their beloved homeworld beneath them. I have longed for the day when our people will be triumphant in wiping those barbarians from the galaxy. But as much as our hearts cry for vindication, for a reckoning for all those lives we have lost to the Human’s brutality and ignorance, I have been shown that our conquest can not occur."

Neroon regarded her thoughtfully for a moment. Then, "For a moment there, I thought the old Terann had returned. Only, her bleeding-heart twin once again overshadowed her. End the war with the Humans, you say? Do you realize what would become of you if anyone else heard you say that? Even now I am having to hold myself back from beating you until you retract that ridiculous statement."

His second-in-command nodded. "I understand, Shai Alyt. Beat me, if you feel it is right." She stepped closer to him, leaning up so that her face was inches from his. "But we must end this war. For our people’s sake as well as that of the galaxy."

Neroon raised his brow in disbelief. "And what does our war with the Humans have to do with the fate of the galaxy?"

"We can not fight a war on two fronts. The ancient enemy has returned and we must prepare."

"Ancient enemy?" Neroon scoffed. "What, in Valeria’s name, are you talking about?"

Terann turned from him, moving around the room to quiet her rampant emotions. "The Shadows, Neroon. The Shadows have returned."

The Warrior laughed without humor. "They are a legend, Terann. Please, do not lower my opinion of you further by convincing me that you believe in silly legends meant only to frighten misbehaved children."

"It is not a legend, Neroon," Terann explained turning back to face him. "They are real. And, as foretold, they have returned to Z’ha’dum."

Neroon nodded in a condescending fashion while his expression still mirrored his mirth. "I see. And from where did you receive this…revelation?"

Hesitation.

"Ah. You can not even tell me who has been feeding you this nonsense and yet, you expect me to believe it."

"Very well," Terann answered. "The Vorlons. They were the ones who warned me."

Neroon leaned back against a table, folding his arms across his broad chest. His expression continued to mock her. "The Vorlons? Really? Of course, why did I not think of that? After all, you need one good legend to foster another, do you not?"

He did not believe her, would not believe her. His sarcasm and derision was growing by the moment and Terann was at a loss for how to rectify the situation. A part of her was prepared to abandon the entire attempt, to laugh along with Neroon and ignore the siren call of the Vorlons, to allow the war to continue and what came thereafter…what came thereafter would be dealt with in time. Do I have the strength? She wondered. Do I have the strength to knowingly and willingly defy the Vorlons? It was true that she considered the Minbari her people, but a part of her, a secret, dark, hidden part believed more strongly, more fiercely in the Vorlons. It was a part of her that longed to be with them, longed to be a part of their magic and mystery, away from the petty squabbles of the lower races. Her feet were firmly planted in two separate worlds and each was pulling desperately at her to make a choice. Walk among the stars with one, or perish in flames because of misguided pride with the other. The Minbari were her people; she loved them, she would follow whatever path they led her down. But first…first she had to save them.

"The Vorlons are not legends, Neroon. Neither are the Shadows. I…I know this because I was there…I went to the Vorlon Homeworld."

He pushed himself away from the table, crossed the few meters that separated them quickly. "Would you now lie to your Shai Alyt?" He demanded, his eyes flashing their anger.

"It is not a lie," she responded, her gaze searching his, showing him that she told the truth. "I was there. I walked with them among their cities."

"Lies!" He hollered once more, slapping her hard once more, knocking her back against the bulkhead. "No one goes to the Vorlon Homeworld and lives to tell about it. No one!"

"But I have!" Terann returned, struggling to regain her footing. She faced him once more, her defiance resurfacing at his accusations of her falsehood. "I was there, Neroon. I saw things that you can only imagine and dream of. I walked with them and talked with them and learned the horrible truth. We must end this war or it will end us!"

He lunged at her again, knocking her hard against the chair that stood behind her. She tripped and fell to the ground, unable to return to her feet before Neroon came at her once again, his expression livid with his anger. He grabbed hold of the front of her jacket, dragging her to her knees, his face leaning close to her own. "No envoy we have ever sent into Vorlon space has ever returned," he told her softly, his tone menacing, dark. "Now you tell me you walked and talked with them and I ask you, how? Why? Why, out of all the creatures in the universe, did the Vorlons wish to speak with you? Why, Terann?"

Terann’s heart was racing. The moment she had dreaded for so very long had finally come to fruition. She could not find her voice to speak, could not temper the chill that was racing through her veins. He would most assuredly kill her, if he knew the truth. She was unpure, polluted. She was an abomination among her kind. But she had been forced to hold the truth to herself for so very long, to keep the secret deep within her heart, unable to voice the one true nightmare of her existence and the simple idea of telling someone founded a feeling of elation. Just to voice it, once, even if it was to be the last words she spoke. Then, maybe then, he would believe her.

Her reply was a shaken whisper, almost unintelligible when spoken. "I am a part of them."

Neroon continued to have a hold on her, staring deep into her face. He showed no change of expression at her admission, no sign that he had even heard her. Terann tried once more to make him understand.

"Neroon, please understand. I never meant to mislead you. They wanted me to remain silent, knowing how difficult it would be, knowing that I could never be accepted as a Minbari if the truth were known..." She broke off as she watched his eyes slowly darken.

"You are…Vorlon?"

"And Minbari," she exclaimed. "Whatever part of them that they gave to my mother in my creation, you must know, Neroon, that my heart – my very soul – is Minbari."

Neroon dropped his hold on her, turning away briskly, his thoughts in turmoil. For all these years he had stood by her, supported her, denied the rumors and defended who she was and who she was trying to become. And this was what he received for his loyalty and belief in her? Deceit. All of it. Every word she had spoken, every deed she had performed. Everything! And what mockery would that make of him? He had sacrificed all that he had achieved for her, had come to care for her more than he could possibly admit, had believed her when she had uttered those words to his question so long ago:

"What is the truth, Terann?"

"I am Minbari."

"Minbari," he muttered, his rage all-encompassing. "Minbari!" He shouted into the silence of the room, rounding on Terann before she could move, slamming his booted foot into her ribs. "Minbari!" He stormed again, kicking her once, twice, three times until he heard the snap of bones.

Terann cried out, unable to keep her fear and pain bottled up any longer. She fought back the desire for retaliation, the need to defend herself, knowing that every blow she received was justified in Neroon’s anger, in his need for answers to questions that had none. She curled herself into a ball as his attack continued, only realizing her true danger when the Vorlon’s song finally cut through into the pain. Her mind filled with their insistent mocking, with their proclamation of her failure. Images flashed before her eyes of all the races dying by the billions, their lives extinguishing amidst the stars like tiny flames, and through it all the Vorlons continued to mock All your fault! All your fault!

"No!" Terann cried out as Neroon struck another blow. She had to try once more to reach him. "Neroon, please!"

The Warrior leaned down and grabbed his Alyt by her slim neck, hauling her to her feet only to slam her up against the bulkhead with head-spinning force. "Show me the Vorlon inside you, Terann. Show me who you really are! Go ahead! Use your alien-gifted powers on me!"

Terann used what strength she had left to shake her head. His grip on her was tightening, cutting off the flow of air to her lungs. Lights were beginning to flash before her eyes. "N-no, Shai A-Alyt. I would n-never."

Neroon brought his face against hers. "Give me one good reason why I should not break your neck this instant?" He whispered in her ear.

The Vorlon inside her raged against the pain and oppression. The Minbari inside her remained stoic, silent. Terann took a deep breath and replied, "Because I…am…M-Min..bar..i…"

The darkness began to overtake her when Neroon finally released his hold, allowing her to collapse to the ground at his feet. He watched impassively as she gasped for air, clutching at her throat as if to somehow open it. For a moment, he considered reaching down and simply snapping her neck in two. No one would ask his reasoning and if they did, he would give them the truth and they would congratulate him for his loyalty to the purity of his people. But the urge vanished as he continued to watch her, his rage slowly dissipated as he began to understand all that she had just told him. If she were telling him the truth, as he suspected, then the Vorlons were trying to become a part of something that did not concern them. Obviously, Terann was the Minbari’s only link to the ancient race and it would have to be through her that Neroon would tell them to go beyond the Rim and stay there. End the war with the Humans, indeed.

Terann finally raised her eyes to her commanding officer. Her gaze was questioning. "You will let me live?"

"All Warriors are all ready dead, Terann," Neroon replied, his expression telling her he was unsympathetic to her pain or fear. "I think it much more fitting for you to live out your life, knowing daily that you are an abhorrence to your race. Do you agree?"

Terann turned her face from him, fighting the tears that threatened. All her life, all she had wanted was to be accepted, to be respected, and to be a Minbari Warrior. And now? Now she had nothing. Everything she had fought for was lost and the only one whose opinion ever meant anything to her could now not even look her in the eye. Despair such as she had never felt almost overwhelmed her. She fought it back, tucking it away in the deepest recesses of her heart. You are stronger than this, she told herself. You are stronger than any of them. Do not care what they think, what they say. Never let them, or him, impede on your strength again.

Slowly, masking the pain she felt as she moved, Terann climbed to her feet. Her face was a blank, impenetrable facade. Her heart cold. "Now you know the truth," she spoke steadily in a monotone voice. "Now you know why we must end the war with the Humans. I have made arrangements – "

"No!" Neroon turned back to her, though his gaze remained just over her shoulder, refusing to meet her eyes. "No one will dictate to us what we shall and shall not do! Not even your precious Vorlons! You tell them where they can put their demands and warnings, do you understand me, Terann? You tell them that we make our own destiny, they do not do it for us. You tell them, Terann." His voice once more grew dangerously low, emphatic. "You tell them. You make them understand."

Terann remained silent, neither accepting nor rejecting his order. Instead, she quietly asked, "And then?"

"And then." Neroon shook his head, stepping away from her back to the window. When next he spoke, his voice sounded tired, defeated. "And then I will decide what to do with you, Terann. Return to your quarters and stay there until I say otherwise."

Terann lowered her head in acquiescence. "Yes, Shai Alyt." She turned then and left his quarters, following the long silent corridor to her own, her mind continuing to echo with the Vorlon’s song of failure. Once there, she stood unmoving in the center of the room, quietly listening to the notes that reverberated through her mind. She fought valiantly against the frustration and anxiety that threatened to consume her. A difficult decision lay before her; should she choose incorrectly, her people would suffer.

To betray the Warrior Caste was something that only days before, she would not have been able to fathom. Going against her Shai Alyt’s dictate would have been unheard of. But things had changed and circumstances had become dire. If she were to follow Neroon’s orders, to ignore the urgings of the Vorlons, then darkness would arise and the galaxy would go down in flames. If she were to follow his orders, as she had always done unfailingly in the past, then the Minbari would suffer under the anger of the Vorlons. As superior as her race was, she knew that there were those who could wipe them from existence without so much as a thought. Sadly, there was only one option she could take.

Terann forced herself to move over to the communications console and after entering the proper encoding, the anxious face of Lenonn greeted her.

"Terann, I have been waiting for your call."

She nodded. "I must make this quick, Lenonn. I have been met with…obstacles, and a certain urgency has now wrapped itself in this mission."

"The coordinates are set, Terann, and the agreement has been made on both sides. You have nothing to fear. The war will be over soon."

"I wish I could have as much faith as you." Terann forced her worries aside. "The Shai Alyt does not know that our current course will take us directly past the rendezvous. When we reach the area, I will cause the engines to malfunction – no, do not question as to how. They will be easily repairable once you have assured me that matters have been settled. You remember the secret transmission?"

Lenonn nodded the affirmative.

"Good." There was little more she could say. Lenonn knew as much as she how much rode on the success of this treaty. "I will be speaking with you again soon."

She quickly ended the transmission before anyone on the Ingata could notice and trace it back to her. Now the waiting would begin, and the fears over how Neroon would react once he knew she had betrayed him could mount. She was certain that once she showed him how dire matters were, he would understand and possibly forgive her. But, if something should go wrong and the situation did not turn out as planned…well, she had to prepare herself for such an event to take place. Her gaze turned to the window, looking out at the stars that passed by. Ending the war was now up to the Humans, and Terann found herself fearing such an enormous responsibility being left to such an insignificant race. In truth, there was little hope in her that the mission would succeed. If Lenonn should chance to fail, then Terann would seek her revenge among the Humans, and take Neroon’s advice of telling the Vorlons where they could put their demands and warnings.

 

 

 

"Approaching the rendezvous coordinates, Alyt Terann."

The Minbari Warrior nodded imperceptibly, her steely gaze focused before her. She firmly kept her emotions in-check, unwilling to allow those of her crew to see how upset she truly was over the forthcoming matter. She could not, for the moment, let on that she had anything to do with the meeting with the Humans, nor could she allow them to see her worry regarding Lenonn. He might be Religious Caste, but he was the bravest of his Caste that she had met, and she was the one who had sent him into this apparent trap. As the shuttle came to a soft landing, she readied herself for the coming trials.

Terann stepped down the ramp of the shuttle, blinking against the dust stirred up by the relentless winds. Looking around she found it hard to believe that even the Drazi would settle a colony on such an inhospitable world. Gesturing in the direction of the bunker designated as the meeting site, she led the others toward it. Though the terrain was rough they covered the distance quickly. Moving silently, Terann attempted to detect Lenonn in the bunker feeling a wave of dread pass over her as she felt nothing. All evidence pointed to the Humans being responsible for the bombing and, consequently, Lenonn’s death. He had been willing to sacrifice himself for all of them based solely on her word, she would see that his death was not in vain.

At first, all had appeared to had gone as planned. From what she could tell before she received the call that an attack had occurred, the Earther’s had arrived at the designated rendezvous and Lenonn had entered shortly thereafter, careful not to allow any unexpected surprises on the Human’s part. But something unexpected had occurred. Unexpected and unfortunate.

Only minutes after the meeting was to take place, a ship had apparently appeared out of nowhere, attacked the bunker and disappeared back through the jump gate. The twists of fate had the Ingata on the other side of the planet and unable to reach the area of attack in time to stop it or apprehend the attackers. When Neroon had entered Terann’s quarters, his expression less than pleased, she had known instantly that something had gone wrong. Not wishing to enter into a debate with him over her decision to ignore his orders, she had quickly put a team together and shuttled down to the rendezvous, intent on making the Humans pay for such an unjustified, cowardly attack. For the moment, Terann refused to allow herself to dwell on the actions Neroon might take against her for her disobedience. She knew that what she had done was tantamount to treason but she found herself hoping that the simple perfidy performed by the Earther’s would overshadow any wrongdoing she had done.

Aelora watched as Captain Sheridan knelt beside Lenonn working feverishly, trying his best to help the injured Minbari that lay before them. Aelora had tried to touch Lenonn’s mind briefly, feeling the coldness of death. There were those among the Corps that found it fascinating to be in someone’s mind at the moment of death, but Aelora that found the experience left her feeling cold and empty. G’Kar had stood, motionless beside her, holding her arm reassuringly. She was surprised at how close she had grown to the Narn. Despite the fact that he was simply a mundane and deserving little of her respect she found herself spurning what she had always been led to believe.

Aelora’s head snapped to the right as the door burst open letting in a cloud of particulate. By the time her eyes became accustomed to the glare a Minbari had already restrained her arms behind her. She watched as a Minbari female strode through the door heading straight for the lifeless man lying on the floor.

Without thought, Terann shouted, "Get away from him!" as she violently kicked Sheridan in the face, sending him careening backwards.

G’Kar moved quickly to help the injured Human but was prevented from doing so by two large Minbari Warriors. Another Minbari pulled Sheridan from the floor, and as the captain's head flopped backward, Aelora could see an enormous amount of blood pouring from his nose.

Terann could feel all eyes on her, as she placed a hand on Lenonn’s chest, confirming her fear. She remained beside him, rubbing her brow with her left hand trying to calm her mind. She did not know how she would ever explain this failure to the Vorlons, though she was certain their response would be unpleasant at best.

Aelora watched nervously, wondering what the Minbari would do to them. She had always been on the other side of an interrogation and she had found that to be quite disconcerting. A quick glance at G’Kar did little to ease her concern. She had not thought the Narn capable of fearing anything after she had learned of the atrocities caused by the Centauri, but now she could clearly see the anxiety on his handsome face. What is she doing? Aelora thought watching Terann. Slowly, she attempted to ascertain the Warrior’s thoughts. At first she felt nothing but extreme anger, then as she pushed harder she felt the Minbari put a strong block up, preventing her from going further. Aelora quickly pulled back, and saw Terann reach under her cloak pulling out a small black weapon. Before Aelora could identify it as a Minbari pike she felt it slam into the side of her head. She felt her head begin to spin, the only thing preventing her from falling was the Minbari holding her arms behind her. G’Kar instantly attempted to break free of the two Minbari, when Terann turned to him wielding her pike threateningly. "Stop, or you will be next, Narn," she spat at him striking him in the chest twice. The Narn reacted only slightly, refusing to give the Minbari any satisfaction.

Terann turned back to Aelora, stepping to within inches of the Human. She glanced down at the badge the Human wore on her chest, the symbol used by her race to identify their telepaths. The Human flinched as Terann reached out and ripped it from her uniform. Closing her hand tightly around the badge, Terann brought her eyes up to meet the Human’s for a moment before she spoke. "Do not attempt to invade my mind again, Human." Terann moved back slightly, bringing her denn’bok in to hit Aelora again, this time in the abdomen. Aelora felt her stomach scream in pain and as the Minbari struck her in the head again she welcomed the blackness that followed.

"Bring them," Terann ordered, heading toward the door.

"But what of him?" Morwenn asked, gesturing at Lenonn’s body.

"We will take him with us as well," Terann said her voice wavering slightly.

"But he is only…" His words were cut off by a stern look from Terann. "Yes, Alyt." He then inclined his head slightly to her, and returned to gather up the body.

Terann waited outside the shuttle while the prisoners and Lenonn’s remains were secured inside. She took this time to organize her thoughts and prepare for the tasks ahead of her.

"The prisoners are secure, Alyt," Tabari informed her from the ramp.

She nodded and followed him into the shuttle. Once inside she saw the Human telepath was still unconscious but the Human male and the Narn were completely coherent and glared at her with utter rage. Terann allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction and sat across from Sheridan. She could feel the anxiety radiating from him and she resisted the urge to scan him. She knew that it would be easier to enter his mind once drugs, pain or a combination of the two broke him. If she attempted to now the added stress may cause him to mentally shut down, leaving her unable to get anything from him.

Sheridan sat motionless trying desperately to conceal his involvement in the destruction of the Black Star. He pushed the memories deep into the far recesses of his mind hoping with all hope that the Minbari would not recognize him. He reached up to gently wipe some of the remaining blood from his shattered nose, and as he did he saw a smile play at the corners of Terann’s mouth. It took all his strength not to reach out and strangle the life out of the arrogant woman across from him. His eyes glanced to the unconscious telepath beside him and wondered what had happened between her and the Minbari. During the war he had picked up some of the alien’s language, but the alien had spoken too fast and with too much anger that he had been unable to discern what it was she had said.

The shuttle trip ended without incident and stepping from the ramp, Terann was surprised to see Neroon waiting for her. She quickly saluted him, and then proceeded to report. "We found two Humans and a Narn on the surface. Lenonn, unfortunately, appears to have been killed in the attack."

Neroon did not respond to his executive officer, instead his eyes moved to the shuttle where the prisoners were being dragged down the ramp. He found nothing remarkable about the Human male or the Narn, what caught his eye was the Human female.

Terann watched as a smug grin formed on Neroon’s face. "What is it, Shai Alyt?"

Neroon glanced back at her briefly. "You may have found a way of redeeming yourself," he said pushing past her to stand in front of Aelora.

The telepath had just begun to come around and as she opened her eyes she prayed that she was in the middle of some insane nightmare. As the fog cleared from her throbbing head, she realized that her eyes had not deceived her. Ah hell! she thought, trying to prevent Neroon’s eyes from meeting her own.

Neroon reached out and held Aelora’s head in his hand, forcing her to look at him. She could feel his arrogance, the same arrogance he had maintained during the scan. "We meet again, Human," he told her, his voice bordering on a laugh. Turning to Terann he ordered, "After their interrogations we will execute them. That one," he said pointing to Aelora. "I will deal with myself."

Terann nodded her acknowledgment to him and as Neroon walked away she cast a quick glance at G’Kar. "Shai Alyt," she called out, stopping Neroon. "Perhaps we should turn the Narn over to the Centauri. I am sure the Emperor can think of a creative use for him."

Neroon studied his Alyt briefly. "Good thinking, Terann," he said looking back at the Narn, noticing with pleasure the fear that quickly fell over the Narn’s face.

After Neroon was gone, Terann turned back to the officers still restraining the prisoners. "Put them in the cells," she ordered them, then gestured to Aelora. "No one is to be alone with her." She knew they did not understand her concern but she did not feel like explaining herself to them. They would simply follow her orders, no questions asked. Until she knew the full extent of the Human’s capabilities she was not going to place any of her people in danger. The Human had tried to violate her, an act that angered Terann beyond comprehension. The only thing that helped to calm her, was the knowledge that soon the Human would fully understand the scope of her error.

Terann remained in the shuttle bay long after the prisoners had been taken away. She felt a small wave of sadness pass over her as the body of Lenonn was brought from the shuttle.

"He will be returned to his Caste on Minbar." She told the Warriors that were assembled. "I will prepare a message that you will deliver with the body." She had no obligation to explain Lenonn’s death to the Religious Caste, but after the man’s sacrifice, she felt she owed it to him. Ignoring the questioning glances that passed between the Warriors, Terann turned and headed out of the shuttle bay.

She quickly headed to her quarters, hoping to steal some peace before having to interrogate the prisoners. She had been in the minds of thousands of Humans and had never felt any apprehension at the prospect. But the Human female seemed different, more defiant than the others did. She was definitely a strong telepath; Terann could sense that from her attempt at entering her mind. It was not that she was worried about getting into the Human’s mind, it was simply that something told her that this Human was more important than she could possibly expect.

 

 

Neroon made his way silently through the corridors of the Ingata oblivious to those he passed. His mind was on one thing, and one thing only--the Human female now being held in one of the ship’s interrogation chambers. He no longer cared about any information that he may be able to get out of the prisoners. Things had been set in motion, assuring the Minbari that they would be victorious, against the Earthers, within the month. What he cared about was exacting his revenge on the insolent female that had violated him so dishonorably. He found himself amazed at how the universe worked. He had resigned himself to the fact that he would never be able to punish the red-haired woman for her assault on him, and yet, here she was, practically handed to him. A small smile formed on his face as he thought of the pain he would inflict on her. He wanted to make her realize the scope of her crime, to see her smug arrogance replaced by true fear and desperation. Yes, he thought, he would enjoy this immensely.

Lifting his head, he slowed his pace. At the end of the passage he saw the entrance to the quarters of his second in command, and an immediate wave of anger washed over him. She had secured herself in her quarters shortly after her return from the planet. He understood her unwillingness to be seen around the ship. Word had spread quickly, amongst the crew, concerning her impurity. There had always been speculation regarding her background, but now that the truth had been revealed, those who had otherwise remained silent, had become more vocal. At first he found himself in full agreement with the others, willing to shun her as the freak she was. But now standing here, alone, he found himself full of pity for his Alyt. She was not responsible for the Vorlons creating her, for using her for their own purposes. She didn’t ask for anything other than to serve. He shook his head, his anger at Terann returning. She had betrayed her post by leaving when they needed her, by forcing the peace initiative on the very brink of their victory. And she had betrayed him by hiding the truth, regarding her heritage, for so long. She had led him blindly, assuring him that her heart and soul were Minbari. It was a mistake he would not let go unpunished.

His temper flared, he strode to her door and opened it with neither signaling his presence nor awaiting her permission. Stepping across the threshold, he found his breath catch in his throat.

Terann sat, before him, cross-legged on the floor. The single candle set before her, flickered slighting in the sudden gust caused by his hasty entry. Her customary uniform had been replaced by a simple black gown. Her frame was surprisingly slight, far more fragile than he had ever noticed. He found himself taken in briefly by her attractive form, but he quickly set his mind about what he was there to do.

"Alyt Terann!" He barked at her.

The startled woman quickly extinguished the flame and jumped to her feet calling for the lights. She blinked slightly against the harshness of the lights and quickly saluted him.

"Shai Alyt, my apologizes. I did not hear you enter."

"As I can see," he told her blandly. He noted the disturbed look on her face but chose to ignore it. If she wished to feel sorry for herself then she would do it alone. He cared little about her self-pity. "Are you prepared to return to your duties?" He asked her.

She hesitated briefly before replying. "I am afraid I will be unable to do so."

His eyes narrowed and he took a step toward her. He noted, with pleasure, the way she subtly cowered before him, telling him he had not lost all control over her. "It was not a request, Terann."

"I have no choice, Shai Alyt. The Vorlons…"

He grabbed her arm violently, pulling her toward him until her face was within inches of his. "The Vorlons are nothing. You are Minbari. At least that is what you have been telling me."

She winced slightly as his fingers bit into her arm through the thin fabric of her gown. "I am Minbari," she told him. "But things have happened. Things which I must answer for."

He pushed her away from him, casting her a glare that effectively told her that she was beneath his contempt. Her expression remained as impassive as ever and this only served to increase his anger.

"You would return to them out of some misguided sense of loyalty and ignore your responsibilities to your people here?" He accused.

"I am doing this to ensure a future for our people."

"How?" He questioned, his tone growing in aggressiveness. "You are chasing legends. I had thought you smarter than that. But then it would appear there was much that I did not know about you."

"You do not understand," she said softly, not wishing to fight with her commanding officer.

"I understand that your loyalty is now divided and that you are now useless to those you swore to serve and to protect. We will finish this without you."

He flashed her one more angered look before turning to leave.

"You are still planning to attack the Earther’s homeworld, despite my warnings," Terann called after him.

Neroon stopped short of the entryway, hesitating before turning. Her tone was condescending, and he needed a moment to calm his mind before turning back to her. Had he not done so, he was certain he would have torn her apart piece by piece.

"Your warnings mean little to me. If the Vorlons mean to interfere, then so be it. We will die as Warriors." He let his last comment pass with not just a small amount of accusation.

"As Warriors or as fools?" She threw back at him.

Terann did not have time to regret her response before Neroon struck her across the left side of her face. Almost instantly a red, swollen welt began to form on her cheek, but she refused to turn away from him. Somehow she had to convince him that there was no choice. The Minbari had held their own against the Earthers but if hostilities were to erupt between them and the Vorlons, they would have little hope for victory.

"You forget your place, Terann," he spat at her, stepping towards her threateningly.

"No Shai Alyt, I am simply trying convince you to act for the best of our people. We…."

"Do not speak to me about the best interest of our people. You, who would run away to the Vorlon homeworld instead of staying here to fulfill your obligations. Your cowardice is nauseating."

Her Shai Alyt’s tone stirred not only a small amount of fear in Terann. There had been times when he had used lethal force in punishing a crew member for insubordination, and she was beginning to think he would do the same to her. There had been times, before this, when she overstepped her bounds or stretched the limits forced upon her, but she had never been so brazen to defy one of Neroon’s orders. But now, with the Vorlons threatening to make war over this, to enforce peace with the Minbari and the Humans, she had little choice. She had an obligation to protect Minbari lives and she would do so no matter the cost. Perhaps by returning to the Vorlon homeworld she could convince them that there were alternatives. She had to try.

"It is not cowardice," she said, her eyes avoiding his. His anger was very near the surface and she was finding it increasingly difficult to block it out. As she focused her mind on blocking out her commanding officer, she slightly lowered the shield she had built in her mind, to block out the ever-present echo of the Vorlons. The result was quick and intense. She clenched her eyes shut against the noise as they called out to her. Their request had long ago stopped being gentle. They knew of her failure with the peace initiative and she could tell from the strength of the onslaught that they were not pleased. Since returning to the ship, it had taken all of her strength to block them from her mind and she was growing tired from the exertion. Her legs began to feel weak beneath her and she was forced to steady herself by grabbing hold of a nearby table.

Neroon watched in fascination as Terann’s attention seemed to drift away from him. Her face became flushed and her eyes darkened. He watched as she started to collapse. His concern for her well-being forced him to reach out to steady her, but she quickly regained her senses and pulled her arm away from him, looking more angered than he had ever seen her.

"Do you not see? They are there. They have always been there. No matter what I do, I can not block them out. They are too strong. If I do not go back to answer for my failure, they will kill me. At least this way I can go to them and perhaps convince them that there are other ways to end this." She paused, stepping closer to him. "I assure you, if they mean to make war with us, I will stand at your side."

"You assume that I want you there," he told her pointedly. "You will fulfill your obligations here by completing the interrogation of our prisoners. Then you are free to go wherever it is you feel you need to go. If the Vorlons want you, let them deal with you."

With that he left, taking little notice of the hurt that slowly spread across her face.

 

 

 

A chime at the door, broke into Terann’s thoughts. She glanced around her quarters unaware of the amount of time that had passed since her Shai Alyt’s visit. A quick check confirmed her fears that in fact over two hours had passed. She had spent that time in contact with the Vorlons, taking advantage of the Ingata being in hyperspace to increase her telepathic connection with them. She was certain she had been able to appease them, if only long enough to complete the interrogation of the humans and the Narn.

She called out for the door to open and Tabari stepped across the threshold, giving the customary salute to her superior officer.

"Alyt, I apologize for the intrusion, but Shai Alyt Neroon is anxious to complete the interrogations."

"I understand Tabari, I will be there shortly"

The young officer nodded then quickly left to allow Terann to change and prepare herself for the task ahead.

A few short minutes later, Terann emerged from her quarters, heading in the direction of the interrogation cells. Her mind was incredibly at ease and she was relieved for this respite from the constant intrusion by the Vorlons. She only hoped they remained at bay until after the interrogations were complete.

"It would appear our Shai Alyt is more of a fool than I had thought."

The snide voice behind her brought her to a stop. She turned to face the speaker feeling her temper instantly flare.

"Something wrong, Dakorr?" she asked, her tone not betraying the emotions that stormed through her.

Dakorr was one of the few crew members from the Wind Swords Clan, that were serving on board the Ingata. Neroon had always been hesitant to recruit them. Their unwavering loyalty aside, their temperaments had always been erratic making them difficult to deal with.

Dakorr had been on board the Ingata for over a year when Neroon had requested Terann being added to the crew and he had never hidden his dislike for her. Initially, he had approached her with a keen interest, believing that a bonding between the two of them would be in the best interest of both their clans. However, Terann knew he was only attempting to serve his clan’s own purposes, assuming that any children born of their mating would be a strong telepath, loyal only to the Wind Swords. That was they way with them. What they couldn’t control by force, they created through manipulation. That was one of the reasons they had sheltered Jha’dur for so long. In exchange for sanctuary she had provided them with weapons and technology so brutal in nature that the caste elders had banned their use. There had been rumors, however, that the Wind Swords had disobeyed these orders and had in fact used them against humans they had taken prisoner.

When Terann had been promoted to the rank of Alyt, and given the position of first officer, Dakorr had openly protested. It was always assumed that Neroon would choose him, above all others, to fill the vacancy left by Alyt Eitann, when he was killed almost two years ago. When Neroon had gone against conventional thinking, by choosing Terann, he had enraged many in their caste. Terann had always been seen as an outcast, someone to be looked down upon. Because of this it was believed that she would run to the security of the Religious Caste where they seemed to welcome the unwanted and those shunned by the rest of society. Dakorr resented the fact that tradition and duty forced him to obey and submit to her, and now with the truth about her mixed heritage being public knowledge, the very idea of deferring to her was unthinkable.

"Yes, Terann," he spoke her name as if it were ashes in his mouth, purposely omitting her rank. "I always find there is something wrong when freaks are permitted free reign aboard a Minbari ship."

"You forget your position, Dakorr. Despite what you might have heard, I am still your superior officer."

"It is only a matter of time before you are removed from the crew. At that time I will become Alyt and I will see to it that I rectify the error made by my commanding officer."

"And what error is that?" Terann asked him, taking a step toward him to let him know what she thought of his attitude toward her.

"Allowing you to live." He spat at her. "Had I, or any other Wind Sword, been in command, when the truth was revealed, you would have been killed instantly. But instead, the Shai Alyt allows you to remain here, to wear that uniform, to serve along side Minbari. You are an affront to everything we fight and die for."

Terann regarded the warrior before her, her eyes narrowing. "You seem pretty certain of your abilities, Dakorr. Do you really believe yourself capable of surviving a confrontation with me?"

"I would die trying." He laughed back at her.

Terann reacted quickly pulling her denn’bok out from under her cloak and opening it in one movement. She swiftly slammed it into the side of his head, causing a faint trail of blood to form on his temple. When he moved to bear his own weapon she prevented him by bringing in her pike to crush several of the bones in his left hand.

Dakorr continued to stare at her, his anger evident on his face. When he appeared unwilling to oppose her further, she collapsed her weapon and put it back under her tunic. She nodded slightly to him, not out of respect but to ensure his understanding of her position then turned to walk away.

As she started to move away she felt his mind shudder slightly. She instantly turned back to him as he set to lunge at her. She caught a brief glimpse of a knife in his hand and without a word she used her talent to slam him into the bulkhead.

"Are you such a fool that you can not accept defeat even when it is staring at you?" She asked taking a step toward him. She could feel him struggle against her but he was powerless to release the hold she had on him. "I do not wish to kill you but if you undermine my authority again I will do so with little remorse. Am I understood?"

He hesitated, and she could sense him fighting with his own pride. "Yes, Alyt Terann."

She continued to eye him for several seconds to cement her point before turning to head toward the interrogation cells.

Usually she would not allow Dakorr’s ignorance to bother her. Since they had met there had been unspoken hostilities between them. But now it appeared that he was more willing to speak his mind, as if the fact that she outranked him meant nothing. She was aware that Dakorr had assumed her role after the Shai Alyt had relieved her of her duties, but now it appeared that he had become far too comfortable in her position. She only feared that Neroon intended for Dakorr to replace her. Dakorr was a fine officer, always ready to serve his people but sometimes he proved to be over zealous about his duties and on several occasions both she and Neroon had been forced to punish him. Terann did not feel he was ready for the responsibility of being first officer on the flag ship of the Minbari fleet, and she began to wonder if Neroon was offering him the position merely to underscore his anger and disappointment with her. She mentally shook her head at the thought. If Neroon had chosen Dakorr to replace her, she was certain he had legitimate reasons and decided to leave it at that. To doubt his wisdom was inconceivable.

Coming to the door of that chamber that held the Narn captive, Terann nodded at his guard. She was a small woman that Terann recognized as Kelann. She was a Moon Shield, as was Terann, and was in fact a distant relation. She bore the name of Terann’s mother, who had been killed when the Prometheus attacked the Solaris and thus started the war. Her mother had been a proud, honorable woman who lived only to serve her people. Thinking about her now, being murdered, without provocation, by the Earthers, only fed her already flaming anger. She passed the guard with little more than a slight nod, determined to get the interrogation of the Narn done so she could move on to making the human prisoners suffer.

She stepped across the threshold into the darkened room, blinking against the drastic change in lighting. When her eyes became accustomed to it, she stopped to take in the Narn. He was suspended from the ceiling in the customary fashion, his arms held over his head, his feet barely touching the floor. Terann had never understood the custom of doing this to a prisoner. She preferred to deal with them unrestrained. By doing this, she allowed them a sense of freedom and thus wounded their ego more when she showed them the error in that belief.

She watched as two large warriors took turns slamming their pikes into the Narns chest and stomach. When they got no response from their victim they struck him again, this time about the head. Still nothing. One of the warriors, named Tannier, cursed violently at the Narn, for his stubborn refusal to cry out at their assault, then stepped back, preparing to attack again.

"That is enough." Terann said softly, yet firmly.

"But Alyt…" the other, named Linell began to protest.

"I said enough. You will get nowhere with the Narn. They are not like humans who will beg for mercy. They have courage and honor that would rival even a Minbari." She glanced up at the Narn. His face was bloodied and bruised, yet he remain stonily silent. Terann found herself oddly impressed with the Narn’s strength yet she was also challenged to break that strength, to find a weakness in him, and to exploit it.

Terann turned back to the two warriors who were awaiting her orders. "Cut his restraints," she told Tannier.

The Minbari paused briefly before doing as he was ordered. Much to the surprise of both Linell and Tannier, the Narn simply stood there. He neither tried to attack them nor run. When Terann was sure of his intentions she dismissed the two warriors. They both saluted her then left to wait in the corridor, in case the Narn decided to attack their superior.

Once they were alone, Terann crossed her arms across her chest and began pacing around the Narn. She had not yet touched his mind, preferring to build up his anxiety. When she was once again before him he spoke.

"You know much about my people."

"What I know I have gathered from the hundreds of humans I have scanned during this war." She kept her tone pleasant. If she showed anger her victim would expect hostility. A warrior must be unpredictable—Neroon had told her several times.

"You are a telepath," he stated blandly. When she nodded he continued. "And you are here to scan me for any information I can provide about the Earthers. That is the only way I will betray them."

"Betray them? I was unaware that your people had formal ties to the Earthers. Aside from the occasional weapons transaction and information exchange, I was under the impression that the Earthers had rejected Narn’s bid for an alliance."

"My association with the humans is not congruent with that of my government." He then crossed his arms across his chest and turned away from her, telling her that he would offer her no further information.

Terann sighed, not out of frustration but out of boredom. Interrogating humans always proved to be entertaining as they were so easily riled. The Narn before her was far from angered. His expression remained unchanged from when she had first laid eyes on him at the planet’s surface. Even the beating he had been given at the hands of Tannier and Linell had done little to affect him. This, in itself, did not anger Terann, if she had wanted him to scream she would have little problem doing so telepathically. But it was not the same. She was determined to find a way to provoke the Narn, to have him attempt to attack her. What good was trying to kill an enemy that refused to fight.

Drugs were out of the question because they only produced an artificial effect. Pain was also out of the question. She had already seen it’s lack of results. Then her mind began to work. If she could not wound him physically she could wound him mentally. She breathed deeply, and dove into his thoughts. She touched on his recent memories, and as she did so a smile formed across her face. It was all too easy.

"I see you have finally decided to scan me." He accused.

She was surprised by his ability to detect her in his mind. As far as she was aware, there were no Narn with psi ability, yet he had detected her. "Yes G’Kar." She spoke his name calmly, allowing her plan to fall into place. "I see you are familiar with telepathic ability. Is that something you picked up from Major Sinclair?"

G’Kar spun around to face her, a hint of anger on his brow. "What have you done to her?" he accused.

"Nothing." Terann told him plainly.

G"Kar nodded, a sigh of relief escaping him. "She is a very strong telepath. I doubt you would be able to get anything from her even if you tried."

Terann smiled coyly. "Yes she is very strong. For a Human. But that is not what interests me. I see an infinite number of other uses for her, other than the minuscule amount of information she may provide us." The Minbari then looked out the door into the corridor where Tannier and Linell were standing quietly. When she called to them she felt G’Kar bristle slightly, clearly aware of her plan.

"Yes Alyt." Tannier said as both came to attention before her.

"Bring the human female here" she said her eyes not leaving G’Kar’s.

"But the Shai Alyt has demanded that he deal with her personally." Linell countered.

"I am aware of the Shai Alyt’s wishes. I will not harm her severely." She assured them.

They both nodded to her then rushed to do her bidding. Terann studied the Narn ambassador before her and could easily sense his fear for Aelora’s well being.

"You care for her deeply, don’t you Narn?" Terann teased.

G’Kar stared hatefully at the woman before him. It was taking every ounce of his strength not to simply kill her where she stood. He wanted to fight his way to Aelora and escape with her from the ship. He knew his chances at success were slim, at best, and decided it would be best to wait. He knew an opportunity would present itself, it was only a matter of biding their time.

"My feelings are not your concern, Alyt."

Terann was amazed at his continued complacency, it was as if he did not care about his current situation. If she did not know his race so well she would be inclined to think him mentally defective.

"Are you prepared to watch her die?" She asked pointedly.

"I would die trying to save her." He responded coldly.

"Good," she said with a slight grin. "That is what I am hoping."

Her attention was diverted when Linell and Tannier came in dragging a much more agitated human. They dropped her on the floor in a heap, and despite her wrists being bound, she was able to quickly jump to her feet, striking out with her leg at Tannier. Her foot connected with his stomach and he prepared to retaliate when Terann shook her head at him. He looked confused, then nodded. He and Linell then withdrew to the shadows leaving Terann to deal with the Human and the Narn on her own terms.

Aelora watched as the two Minbari warriors moved away, surprised that they did not fight back. When she caught G’Kar out of the corner of her eye she no longer cared for their reasons. She ran toward him and launched herself into his awaiting arms. She kissed him hungrily, savoring this moment with him. Only when she finally pulled away from him, did she stop to take in his haggard appearance. What she saw made her heart sink in her chest.

His face was severely bruised from having been apparently beaten by the Minbari. Blood had crusted on his uniform from the various cuts that marred his face. His nose appeared swollen and she was certain that it was broken. She stepped back slightly, but not so far that her hands escaped his. She felt that if she were to let go of him she would, in a way, be letting go of herself, succumbing to the madness that had engulfed her. He was solace in the storm that ravaged around her.

"Are you all right Shon’ur?" he asked her.

Up until that point she had overlooked her own well-being, finding herself more concerned for G’Kar. She had already given up hope for herself and Sheridan. But G’Kar was to be taken to Centauri Prime. His death there, at the hands of Emperor Cartagia, would be brutal beyond imagination.

"I am fine, G’Kar." It was not a lie. In fact the Minbari had left her alone for much of her time onboard their ship. Perhaps it had something to do with her last encounter with the one named Neroon. She allowed herself a small grin as she thought of his own telepaths being unable to undo all the damage she had caused in his mind. Sure he appeared fine, but what they couldn’t see was the obscure command she had buried deep in his mind where no one would find it. It mattered little if they did. Removing it would only kill him, and she doubted any of them would be willing to do that to their Shai Alyt.

A rough hand pulled her from her reverie. Tannier had appeared behind her and began pulling her away from the Narn. She struggled reflexively against him but gave up quickly, deciding that her attempts were futile. She was confused when he released her arms and she quickly moved to return to G’Kar. A Minbari pike pressed against her chest stopped her short.

"Stay where you are, human," Terann told Aelora in almost perfect English. "This is not the joyous reunion you think it is."

Aelora looked at the Minbari in confusion. Why was she brought here? Then a wave of dread washed over her. They must have found out about her relationship with G’Kar and had brought her here to watch him die.

"Though I would take great pleasure in killing the ambassador, that is not why I sent for you." Terann stated as if she had read Aelora’s thoughts, though the human had felt nothing from the Minbari telepath. "What is your Psi Corp rating?"

"Fuck you!" Aelora spat back at Terann. She refused to offer any information to the Minbari, even something as unimportant as her psi rating.

Terann nodded slightly, collapsing her weapon and then crossing her arms across her chest. "Such anger." Terann admonished. "I have done nothing to you, save for the incident on the planet surface. And G’Kar, here, will attest that I have done nothing to harm him. Yet I ask a simple question and receive animosity in return.

"I was assuming since you have been used in a combat setting that you would be a P-5 or a P-6. Your government is hesitant to send high rated telepaths into a situation where they may be killed. However," Terann continued, pacing between the Human and the Narn, her eyes not straying from the Earther’s gaze. "from what you did to the Shai Alyt it is clear you are far more than a simple P-6."

"I am a P-12," Aelora said arrogantly. "Strong enough to block out even a Minbari telepath."

Terann was not surprised by the human’s smugness, after dealing with them for so many years she was accustomed to their belief in their own superiority. She was, however, surprised by the strength of the telepath she was facing. She had interrogated only one other P-12 and had been less than successful. The telepath had been captured by the warcruiser Joran, after his Star Fury had become lost in hyperspace. When he was brought onboard he was able to mentally kill three warriors before being subdued. He had been kept sedated until the Ingata arrived. He was brought before Terann and immediately set about destroying her mind. When he realized the telepathic strength the Minbari possessed he quickly retreated into his own mind. Terann was able to follow him and watched in horror and fascination as he tore at his own consciousness, wrapping himself up in his own mind. Before she could stop him, he committed a form of telepathic suicide, leaving her unable to retrieve anything from him. Terann mentally shook her head. The human before her seemed far too cocky to attempt the same thing.

"We shall see, Human," Terann stated blandly then turned back to the Narn. "She is very emotional. I find it difficult to believe you have anything in common with her."

When it became apparent that G’Kar was not going to submit to Terann’s goading, the Minbari set about doing what she had planned.

"What I want from you is simple, G’Kar. You will cry out in pain. You will beg for mercy from me. Your impenetrable pride will be torn from you. You will understand true fear and helplessness. I do not wish information from you. If I did, I would have it. We can not harm you physically. You feed off our anger like a leech feeds off blood. You grow stronger, more defiant with every blow. Yet perhaps, there is, an alternative"

Terann stepped back, her eyes locked with G’Kar’s as he tried to determine what it was she was planning. The Minbari quickly opened her pike and slammed it into the side of Aelora’s head. The human fell backwards only to be caught by Tannier.

G’Kar took a threatening step toward Terann, who appeared please by his sudden change in demeanor. He still refused to harm the woman before him. Doing so would only cement his and Aelora’s deaths.

"Very good Narn. I can feel your anger growing. You care for her deeply, I can see that now. But how deeply? She is only human, a barbarian. Are you willing to die for her?"

G’Kar sighed deeply. "Your prodding will only prove futile. Aelora and I have resigned ourselves to the fact that no matter what we do, you will kill us. There is no point in co-operating with you."

Terann grinned slightly. "I do not want your co-operation. That I could force upon you telepathically. I want true desperation."

"Then you will get nothing," he stated blandly.

"We shall see." She glanced back at the human, who now stood obstinately behind her. Terann swung out with her pike, bringing it hard against the human’s ribs twice. The second blow echoed with the sound of bone crunching. Aelora fell forward onto her knees, coughing violently, she lifted her head in time to see G’Kar move toward Terann.

"Don’t G’Kar," she said as firmly as she could. Her chest screamed in pain as she forced herself to stand. Once on her feet, she felt the vile of bio-agent dig into her leg. She seriously contemplated using it, if only to kill the detestable Minbari telepath. She then calmed her mind, assuring herself that it would be best to bide her time, that she would be given the opportunity to make the Minbari suffer for what she had done to G’Kar. "You can’t save me, so don’t try. I love you, and could not die in peace if I knew I was the reason behind your death."

"I cannot see you in pain, Shon’ur." He began to protest.

"I am going to die. The Captain is going to die. We cannot avoid it."

"But I cannot stand idly by while these monsters torture you."

"How touching," Terann commented with feigned empathy.

"Go to hell," Aelora snapped at her. "If you mean to kill me, then do it. Leave G’Kar out of this."

Terann moved to stand in front of the Earther, who moved back slightly, afraid of what the Minbari was going to do to her. Tannier stopped her, forcing her to within inches of Terann. Their eyes locked briefly and the Minbari reached out to gently probe at the humans mind. Aelora put up a hasty block, causing a frown to form on the Minbari’s face. When she pushed harder, determined to enter the Human’s thoughts, Aelora reacted in anger and swung out with her fist which she had managed to free from it’s restraints. Terann caught her hand, using the direct contact between them to work her way deep into the Earther’s mind. She searched quickly for a weakness that the human possessed, ever conscious of the human’s attempts to rid her from her mind.

At the deepest corner of the human’s mind, Terann found something. It was deeply hidden in Aelora’s subconscious and Terann doubted that even the human was aware of it’s presence. She dropped the human’s hand and stepped back, a coy smile forming slowly across her face. She studied the human for a moment longer, reaching out to confirm her suspicion then turned back to the Narn. His face had returned to its usual placid appearance, and this pleased Terann. It would make his defeat that much more enjoyable.

"I am assuming it is yours," Terann said smugly.

"What is mine?" G’Kar asked in confusion.

"The child she is carrying," Terann said plainly.

"What?" he asked, though his question was directed at Aelora.

The human looked first at the Narn, then at the Minbari. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "She lies," she spat. She quickly ran through her mind, trying to determine if there was any way that the Minbari was correct. Sure she had been preoccupied with the war and the peace initiative but she doubted she would not notice something as important as her possibly being pregnant.

"To even accuse a Minbari of lying means to court death," Terann told her. "See for yourself. Touch it’s mind. As undeveloped as it is you must be able to sense it. It feels human but not quite. There is something alien about it. It can feel you. It is a telepath. A future for Narn, who for centuries has been without telepaths."

Aelora calmed her mind enough to do as the Minbari suggested, and after several moments she felt it. It was immature and hard to lock on to, but there nonetheless. An immediate wave of horror crashed over her as she realized that her death would mean her child’s death. This child was G’Kar’s child, conceived out of love, only to be killed by it’s mothers stupidity.

G’Kar carefully watched Aelora’s face as it filled with dread, confirming in his mind what the Minbari had said. Everything seemed to change instantly. Where his hope had disappeared there was now a sense of determination, a drive to survive this. He swore to himself, at that moment, to protect Aelora and the child she was carrying from anything that threatened to harm them. Regardless of what lie ahead of him, he was determined to see her live. To have her free of the Psi Corp, free of the war and free of fear. He had been unsure of his feelings for her, but now seeing her battered and bruised, in fear of her life and that of her child, he found himself more certain than he had ever been before.

"You harm her, and I will kill you where you stand," G’Kar told Terann his voice dangerously low.

Terann’s face lit with a smile and it was clear that she was beginning to enjoy herself. "You are upset G’Kar. You wish to lash out at me. I can feel your hatred. How long have you kept it repressed. For years your kind has lived oppressed by the Centauri, and yet you remained stoic. They killed your kind mercilessly by the tens of thousands, yet you still controlled your rage towards them. And now something so small and simple has made you eager to kill. You have spirit, I will give you that."

"What do you want from me?" G’Kar asked, his voice shaky with his growing desperation.

"I want you to show me what your hatred has done to you. How it has made you what you are," Terann began.

"You will never understand what hatred and anger and hunger for revenge have done to me. It is beyond your comprehension." His voice was full of contempt.

Without turning Terann swung her pike around and struck Aelora hard across the face. The Human had been ill prepared for the blow and fell backward against Tannier. She quickly pulled herself from his grasp, wishing she could do something to end this.

"You would be surprised Narn. Show me how much my hurting Major Sinclair hurts you." She glanced down at her weapon and cast it aside, holding her empty hands in front of her. "I approach you empty handed. You can easily kill me, what holds you back?"

G’Kar’s face remained indifferent and Terann gently touched his mind, probing at his thoughts. She quickly recounted his recent memories and experiences before being faced with a brick wall.

"She’s scanning you." Aelora warned, after putting a block up to protect her and the Narn from the invasion.

"It does not matter human. I got what I wanted." Terann focused her eyes on the Narn before her, determining that there was only one way to get what she desired from him. "You were at the colony at Ventaca, were you not G’Kar? It is where you found Major Sinclair. But she wasn’t all you found there was she?"

"If you have a point…" Aelora called out, a raised hand from Terann effectively cut her off.

"What do you know of a Human General by the name of Franklin?" Terann inquired, her tone sounding almost bored.

"I know nothing of him. He was brutally killed by your warriors…"

"Wrong!" Terann shouted at him, her voice echoing throughout the chamber. "I killed him. Slowly and painfully I reduced his mind and body to a mass of blood and bone, indiscernible as human if not for his uniform"

Aelora was confused. "You did this telepathically?" she asked incredulously .

"After a fashion." Came the reply.

Aelora could not imagine the strength of the telepath required to do what G’Kar had described had been found of General Franklin. She found herself doubting what the telepath was saying. If it were true she would not have spent so much time babbling aimlessly. She could sense that the Minbari was over- confident, believing herself capable of holding Aelora’s ability at bay indefinitely. So Aelora worked quietly, centering her thoughts. The pain she projected on the Minbari would not last long, but it might buy them enough time to over power the guards and make their escape from the chamber. Once out of the cell she was certain she could use the fear of the bio-agent she carried to ensure their safe departure from the ship.

Aelora reached out confidently and strongly, attacking the pain center of the Minbari’s mind. Terann clenched her eyes shut briefly against the humans attempt but retaliated quickly.

G’Kar had difficulty comprehending what was happening between the two telepaths. From what he could see, the two woman were engaged in some kind of telepathic battle. He had difficulty determining who exactly was winning until Aelora doubled over in pain grabbing at her abdomen. When she fell to the floor, Tannier moved to pick her up but Terann’s voice stopped him.

"Leave her!" She shouted. The Minbari was barely conscious of the moaning behind her as she moved toward a still confused G’Kar. She held out her hand to him, her fingers slightly curled as if she held something. It then dawned on him what was happening.

"Let her go!" He ordered taking a step toward her, urging Terann to tighten her grip.

Aelora screamed out in pain behind her, feeling as if her insides were being ripped from her body. In essence she was right.

"Can you see this Narn?" Terann asked holding her hand out to him. "This is your baby. I can feel it’s heart, so young and vulnerable, yet a hope for the future of your people."

G’Kar kept his eyes focused on the Minbari’s hand. He imagined his child, so small and fragile, unaware of the force that threatened to destroy him. Slowly a faint outline formed in the Minbari’s palm. He knew she was projecting the image telepathically into his mind but he didn’t care. What he saw awed him. Encased in a delicate membrane was a tiny infant; neither human nor Narn. He could see it’s heart beating beneath it’s still transparent skin. It was a strong heart; a Narn heart.

He saw the small child jump and heard a loud gasp from Aelora as Terann tightened her grip. His heart screamed in agony, aching to kill the Minbari who threatened his child, but he restrained himself. He knew if he made any movement toward her she would have plenty of time to kill both Aelora and the child. "Why are you doing this?" he begged, his voice hinting at his desperation.

Terann stepped toward him, her hand merely inches from him. "I want to know you can be broken. I want you to feel anger and fear and desperation like you have never felt before."

"By G’Quan, do you not have a soul!"

Terann’s face hardened even more, a slight sneer forming on her face. "I was genetically engineered, Ambassador. Do not go looking for something you will not find." She locked her eyes on his defiantly and closed her fist. G’Kar screamed out as he saw the tiny bones of the fetus, disintegrate within the Minbari’s hand.

Ignorant of the screams that came from Aelora he lunged at the Minbari, smashing his fist into her smug face. He landed two well placed blows, both of which would have crushed a human’s skull, before Linell and Tannier pulled him from her.

G’Kar fought against them violently and only lessened his attempts when his gaze caught Aelora. She lay on the floor, huddled in a ball, a large pool of blood spreading around her. Only the occasional moan gave evidence that she was still alive. He whirled his head around to face Terann, his face enraged beyond comprehension. The Minbari had pulled herself from the floor, blood pouring from her obviously broken nose. She wiped it with the back of her hand and stepped toward the delirious Narn, her eyes hateful.

"Centauri whore!" He shouted violently at her.

Terann lifted her eyes to meet his, a smile forming on her face. "That is all I wanted."

She turned and headed toward the door. "Take her to the medic. The Shai Alyt will want her coherent." She instructed Tannier and Linell. "Oh and prepare him for his trip to Centauri Prime."

They both nodded to her, unaffected by what they had just witnessed.

Terann left the chamber, her mind joyous of her success with the Narn. She only hoped that the human female survived long enough for the Shai Alyt to deal with her.

 

 

 

After the encounter with the Narn, Terann returned to her quarters to calm her mind, before beginning the interrogation of the human male. It was not that she was apprehensive about the scan. Quite the contrary. She was almost certain that his confidence and arrogance had been successfully beaten out of him by whomever was assigned to weaken him. She was only worried that she would be unable to quiet the Vorlons long enough to complete the interrogation. Unlike most encounters with human subjects, this one she would do quickly, if only to allow her to focus her attention on keeping the Vorlons from her mind.

Now she sat huddled in a dark corner of her room, repeatedly slamming her head against the bulkhead behind her, as if the sound her bone crest made when it hit the wall, could somehow keep her from being lost in the constant barrage. The song of the Vorlons had become deafening, and the more she begged at them for peace, the more their insistence grew. After over an hour of fighting against them she decided the only way to silence them was to do as they demanded.

Summoning her remaining strength, she stood, taking a moment to straighten her uniform, then left her quarters. As she made her way through the corridors of the ship she was oblivious to those she past, as they cast her cruel looks and whispered derogatory comments. She was well aware that they viewed her as an insult, but she no longer had the strength to fight their anger. She assured herself that someday they would realize that what she was doing, she did for the good of her people. Even if they never accepted her, she would remain loyal to them. They were her people and betraying them would be unthinkable.

Coming to the cell that held the human, she paid little attention to the guard that stood by the entryway. She was eager to get this interrogation completed, only then, could she find peace from the constant invasion. Stepping into the dark room she looked, unremorseful, at the human that was suspended from the ceiling. His clothes were torn, his hair soaked with sweat. His bloodied face and arms showed the severity of the beating he had been given. He mumbled randomly, giving them basic information—his name, rank and serial number. This hinted to Terann, that he was only reciting what he wanted them to hear as opposed to the truth.

Without acknowledging the two warriors assigned to subdue the human, she stepped toward him. She regarded him with disgust. Being this close to him she could easily smell the stench that radiated from him. She grabbed the front of his hair in order to steady his head as he floated on the brink of consciousness and as his eyes met hers, he narrowed them in anger. From his expression, Terann could see that he had been spared severe damge to his head. With the Vorlons still quietly nagging at her, she shuddered at the thought of having to fight her way through the human’s mind.

She focused her thoughts and regulated her breathing. Diving into his mind, the Minbari frowned as the human attempted to divert her by singing songs and repeating rhymes. She pushed past the nonsense and focused on basic aspects of his being. What she found chilled her blood and caused a strong desire for revenge to course through her.

Letting go of the human’s head, she watched unsympathetically as it slumped to his chest. She stepped back, trying desperately to calm the urge to tear at the human, to cause him suffering as he had never known, to make him pay for his abhorrent crime. It was several moments before she found the strength to speak and then her voice was weak and barely audible.

"Get the Shai Alyt."

The warrior named Torvell, inclined his head slightly then left to do her bidding. As she waited for the arrival of her commanding officer, Terann was unable to move her eyes from the human before her. Such death he had caused, yet that was not what upset her the most. The method he had used was dishonorable and for that alone he should suffer incredibly.

After what seemed like an eternity, a very agitated Neroon entered the interrogation chamber. He cast a quick, uninterested glance at the human before him then turned to Terann, his anger apparent. "He is still alive." He admonished coldly. "Have you truly lost your hunger for blood, Terann?"

She barely heard what he said, unable to move her eyes from the human. She spoke only two words, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Star Killer."

Shai Alyt Neroon turned to the human, swallowing hard against his rage at Terann’s revelation. His initial instinct was to tear the human’s head from his body, then he gathered his senses. The human before him deserved far more than a simple death, and Neroon was only too happy to give it to him.

"Out!’ He shouted to Torvell and his companion, who respectfully saluted before withdrawing quickly to the corridor.

After the door slid closed, the room became heavy with an almost intolerable silence. Terann stepped back to the edge of the shadows as Neroon paced around Sheridan, his arms folded across his broad chest. Terann could feel his intense emotions as they filled the room, threatening to smother her. Neroon kept his eyes on the human as he spoke to Terann, his voice full of contempt.

"Do you see now, Terann? Do you see how foolish you have been? How the Vorlons have misled you? Is it now clear that the Earther’s had no intention of ending the war, that they sent this miscreant as an insult?"

Terann shook her head slightly. She had been assured of the Earther’s sincerity towards peace. She had been told that it would have been only a matter of time before the Humans approached the Minbari themselves, to make an effort at peace. Her Vorlon half remained calm, trying to come to an understanding for the Earther’s reasoning. Her Minbari side screamed out for vengeance; to take the Star Killer’s presence as the blatant insult that it was, to drag the Human before her back to his homeworld and force him to watch as they obliterated it, leaving it a barren, lifeless wasteland. Through this debate she remained silent, causing her Shai Alyt’s anger to increase at her apparent defiance.

Neroon regarded Terann for a moment. Her features were colder and her eyes darker than he had ever seen them. Gone was the Terann he knew and cared about, the Terann whose confidence often crossed over into stubborn arrogance, the Terann who would openly and proudly question his every action. The woman that stood before him now, was not the same woman he had recruited as his Alyt, she was alien to him, and now he was surprised he had not noticed before. Her face remained complacent, as if she was distracted by something and cared little about what was happening around her.

"Have you completed your scan?" Neroon asked, startling Terann slightly.

Terann quickly composed herself focusing her attention on her commanding officer. "No Shai Alyt. I knew you would wish to deal with him yourself, and I was afraid that if I scanned him too deeply I would harm him. I can complete it now if you wish."

"No!" He barked harshly. "I have no further need of your alien abilities."

Terann focused her eyes on the floor, fighting the urge to defend herself and her talent. It was these abilities that made her what she was and never had she felt shame or embarrassment over them. But now she could sense her superior viewed them with disdain and repulsion.

"Give me your weapon, Terann," Neroon commanded

She cast her Shai Alyt a questioning look, before reaching under her tunic and removing her denn’bok. She handed it to Neroon then quickly stepped back, unsure of his intentions.

Neroon studied the weapon his Alyt had handed him, a look of realization falling over his face. Several times he had asked Terann about the markings on the grip of her pike and every time she had brushed him off. "This is Vorlon," he stated rhetorically. "What does it mean?"

Terann quietly sighed then softly replied, "Together or apart."

She was surprised when he only nodded, not pressing further. He began circling around her, studying her with a degree of disgust. "Together or apart," he repeated under his breath, more to himself than for her benefit. He then turned back to her. "You are more disassociated than you are willing to admit. You have forgotten what you were born, what you were trained to be. For too long you have relied upon your strange Vorlon abilities. You leave me questioning where your heart truly lies. The rest of our caste contested my decision to bring you under my charge, told me to shun you as so many others had, but I saw something in you, something the others did not. I was naïve. I assure you it will not happen again." He paused for a moment, studying the hurt that quickly fell over her, then turned his attention back to the Human. "I will show you, Terann, how a Minbari defeats an enemy."

He watched the Human with great interest. What strength he showed. Even after the severe beating he had already received, he still showed an arrogance and pride that surprised even Neroon. He would enjoy breaking him of it. He opened the denn’bok and noticed with pleasure the way the Human flinched in anticipation of what was to come.

Sheridan had felt some of his strength returning to him, and found some comfort in this small respite from the continuous attacks he had been forced to endure. He watched in curiosity at the exchange between the two Minbari. He knew it had not taken the telepath long to determine who he was, but he had expected a different response from her superior. Here she had delivered the one known as the Star Killer to him, and he reacted with only minimal gratitude. He was certain he would never understand their race.

Warily, Sheridan straightened his legs, attempting to bear some of his weight if only to ease some of the discomfort in his shoulders. The Minbari reacted quickly to his movements, bringing the pike hard against his right knee. Sheridan yelped in pain at the tearing of ligaments and the breaking of bone. He slumped forward against his restraints only for a moment before defiantly standing on his left leg.

A slight grin played at the corner of Neroon’s mouth. He preferred his victims to struggle and fight, as he found little enjoyment in killing someone that simply gave up on the hope of living. Swinging around with the pike he struck the Human in his left forearm, this time purposely holding back so as not to break any bones. Not yet anyway. Lowering the denn’bok, he took a step toward Sheridan, his eyes narrowing as if he were studying an interesting insect before crushing it into non-existence.

Captain Sheridan met the Minbari’s dark eyes, refusing to show weakness to him. He was going to die, of that he was certain, but he refused to make it anymore enjoyable to the Minbari than was possible.

"You’re very confident when facing a defenseless and bound Human." His voice was deep and ragged, more for effect than due to his injuries.

"Defenseless you say." Neroon laughed without humor. "Is that what you would have us believe? We have seen the destructive ability of defenseless Humans. Your own dishonorable attack on the Drala Fi is proof enough of your savagery."

"We only did to you what you would have done to us," the Human retorted.

"It is not the result of your actions that I question, it is your actions themselves. You are the epitome of your pathetic race, and you above all others deserve the death that awaits you."

"I do not fear my death," Sheridan commented. "Unlike you, it is the death of my people that I care most about. Arrogant pride has never gotten in the way of that."

Neroon whirled on Sheridan, a roar of rage issuing from his mouth as he slammed the pike hard into the Human’s face, the crack of bones signaling the shattering of his right cheekbone. "How dare you question my loyalty to my people, you pathetic excuse for a sentient being! Minbari live and die for their people. We do so with honor, with courage, and with the strength to do so with our heads held high, not hidden behind the shame of our cowardly acts like the Humans."

Sheridan blinked back the threat of darkness that attempted to cloud his mind. He turned his gaze to the female Warrior who at one time had seemed intent upon killing him with her own hands but now seemed somewhat distant.

"And what of you?" He asked, the pain he felt evident in his voice. "You did not seem too surprised when you discovered us down there at the bunker. Perhaps you knew that this meeting was to take place? Perhaps you understand that this war must end or both of our peoples will suffer. Perhaps you see something the others do not."

Terann’s eyes narrowed dangerously. She felt Neroon’s gaze on her but was unable to meet it, knowing that it was accusatory and distrusting. Instead, she focused her anger and frustration on the Star Killer. "The only thing that I see is a cowardly Earther grasping at any means to stall the forthcoming termination of his life. There would be more honor in begging, Star Killer."

Neroon continued to watch his Alyt in silence for a moment longer, noting the coldness that continued to emanate from her, as if within her there existed no rational thought, no true spark of life that was Minbari. He saw the danger that lurked, and for the first time since he had met her, Neroon found himself doubting the intelligence of having her so near.

"Terann, you will leave this room and wait for me in the corridor."

Terann turned to face him, shocked that he would not allow her to be a part of this execution. "Shai Alyt, you can not mean –"

"You will leave this moment, Terann, without another word."

The telepath found herself struggling not to scan the Warrior before her. It quickly became clear to her exactly how estranged they had become, how much her obedience to the Vorlons had damaged the place she had began to build for herself among her own people. As she silently exited the room, coming to a halt in the middle of the corridor, it occurred to her that perhaps she had been fighting for so long to belong to those who never had any intention of accepting her. Whereas the Vorlons had always treated her as a part of them – separate, but a piece of the whole – she had always been nothing but an outsider to the Minbari. In truth, those that she considered her people regarded her no better than they regarded the Humans. This realization stunned and hurt her beyond a capacity she was adapt at experiencing. If it was true that she had wasted her life fighting to belong to a people who would never accept her when all this time the Vorlons had been there, hovering, waiting for her to turn to them, then what allegiance did she owe the Minbari? The simple fact that her mind formed such a question frightened Terann beyond belief and so consumed her that she did not register the screams of the Star Killer which erupted from the cell behind her, nor did she notice the ensuing silence that followed minutes later.

Only when Neroon exited from the cell and moved over to her did Terann return her thoughts to the reality that stood before her.

"You have strayed from us, Terann," Neroon stated without preamble. "When we return from attacking the Earther’s homeworld, you will resign from your position aboard the Ingata."

It was the final straw, and caused that last thread in Terann’s mind that attached her to the Minbari, that claimed her as one of them, to snap. The gaze she focused on Neroon was not so much Minbari as it was Vorlon. It was harsh, cryptic, and held in it all of the mystery and anguish of the Universe.

"You are, simply because of me. And without me, you become stumbling, blind fools. I will leave when the time beckons, and I will stay to watch the final crumbling of this Empire you so foolishly believe you have created. The time will come when all of this will be reduced to particles that are scattered amongst the stars, and it will be me, the Minbari, born of Minbari but not Minbari, who will walk amongst those stars, laughing as your glowing ashes dissolve into nothingness."

With that, Terann turned and strode away from the Warrior who had been her Shai Alyt, from the one being she had looked to for so many harsh years for respect and acceptance. And in her wake, she left only the feeling of hopelessness and futility.

 

 

 

 

After her encounter with the Minbari telepath, Aelora had been taken to their medic to be treated. In actuality, he had done little more than run a scanner over her abdomen confirming what Alyt Terann had done to her. Then, still bleeding and in agony, she had been brought back to her cell to await execution. Not that she cared. She had become numb to the fear of them hurting her further. Several times since she had been brought to her cell she had tried to reach out, to feel the infant that had been so brutally ripped from her. She could no longer feel the tiny spark of life that had once been there, instead she was met with the same disheartening emptiness. The Human twisted her wrists against the bonds that held them. Her arms were no longer sore; they had become numb over an hour before from the strange spread-eagle position they were bound in. She hung approximately two feet from the floor in some alien imprisoning contraption that brought to mind images of the Crucification. Aelora found the comparison slightly ironic. Here she was, suffering torture and coming execution because she had been foolish enough to make an attempt at peace. The only logical conclusion that she could come to was that the Minbari they had met with, Lenonn, had been mentally damaged and was truly the only one of his kind who knew what the word peace meant.

Another gasp escaped the telepath as one of her torturers slammed his pike once more into her abdomen. She focused her left eye, which was not swollen shut like the right, onto her assailant. She had an immense urge to fry his brain like an egg on Venus. Aelora kept her temper simmering though, refusing to use her abilities just yet. She needed to wait for the right moment, and she was going to need every ounce of strength that she had. She wiggled her foot against her bonds, checking to make certain the vial was still tucked safely in her boot. Yes, she had promised G’Kar she would not use it, and she had never planned to do so. But that had been before everything had gone wrong, before someone had obviously sabotaged the meeting, before she and G’Kar had been tortured with a maliciousness she had believed beneath even the Minbari. Her hatred towards her enemy was now cemented deep within her soul and she no longer gave a damn about her promise. She had lost so much that she found herself only caring about living long enough to see that those who had hurt her and G’Kar so severely paid for their crimes. To see them suffer horribly while she watched impassively, unwilling to help them. Her attention was diverted from her musings when she felt the presence of another enter the chamber, a presence she recognized and dreaded.

Neroon strolled into the room, an intense emotion of sheer elation moving through him. He had dreamed of this moment, pictured every minute detail down to the fear he would glimpse in the Human’s eyes as he exacted his revenge for her rape of his mind. He clenched his hands at his sides, barely nodding to his Warriors who stood at attention upon entrance. His gaze roamed over the Human female before him. One of her eyes was severely swollen and blood ran from her nose and the corner of her mouth. Her cheeks were cut and bruised, her hair a disheveled mass of tangles and sweat. Blood crusted her uniform from her recent time spent with Terann. Such filthy creatures, he thought with a derisive snort. With their hairy, odor-giving bodies. What an abomination they were to the galaxy, to sentient beings of all kinds. Yes, he was going to enjoy ridding the galaxy of their kind, wiping their existence from the known universe. And he would start with the one before him, the one who had dared to look into the depths of his mind, to seek out his darkest secrets and blithely throw them back in his face. He would make her feel pain that she had never imagined. He would make her beg for her own death.

As Neroon approached the Human, he found her one eye on him, watching him carefully with a defiance he had not expected. He glanced back at the two who had been assigned to continue her torture, to bring her to the brink of breaking. After what his Alyt had done to her, he had expected to find her groveling, begging for mercy. It appeared to him that she was stronger than he had believed, which pleased him. He would enjoy breaking her himself.

"You will not appear so arrogant in the very near future, Human," he commented in her language, saying the word Human with a sneer.

Aelora felt her teeth grinding together. She should have killed this one while she had the chance. Best to not make that mistake twice. "You attempting to intimidate me, Minbari? It’s not working. Nothing you or any of your people could do to me could frighten me now."

Neroon’s eyes narrowed as he contemplated the haughty attitude before him. Something was not right but he could not quite grasp the reasoning behind this feeling. Some small part of him whispered that perhaps he should have Terann in attendance with him, but his anger at her still overpowered any consideration at having her by his side. He had already been too lenient with her punishment. He could not let the crew see any weakness on his part, or favoritism toward his Alyt. Especially when she blatantly ignored his command. No, he would deal with the Human on his own, and someday Terann would come to learn her place and join him once more.

"You remain belligerent," he remarked, circling around the prisoner. "I assure you, your death will not be an easy one, nor will it be swift. I intend to show you what pain really means."

"There is no pain that can touch me beyond what has already been done," the Human replied without feeling.

Neroon stopped his movement, contemplating her for a moment. "Ah. You refer to your treatment at the hands of my Alyt. Yes, she does have a way of getting you right where it hurts the most, does she not?" He remained silent for a moment, tiring quickly of the bored expression that had been present on the Human’s face for the past few minutes. "I wonder if the Narn is going to enjoy his punishment at the hands of the Centauri any better."

Neroon felt a smile creep across his face as he watched the Human’s face transform from boredom to rage. A curious twitch appeared in her jaw, her eyes blazed in their anger.

"Bastard," she growled.

The Warrior chuckled. "Ah. Now this has become more interesting. Perhaps we should continue with this conversation, give me some reason to make your pain linger a little longer, to make you scream a little louder. I hear that accessories made from Narn skin is all the rage among the Centauri Court."

The prisoner struggled, trying to get at her captor. Her bonds cut deeper into her wrists, the blood beginning to trickle down her arms. She appeared oblivious to her self-inflicted wounds, all her attention centered on her enemy as he goaded her deeper into a frenzy.

In truth, Neroon did not consider the Centauri anymore civilized or useful as the Humans. The only difference was that the Centauri rightly remained fearful of the Minbari, stayed away from them, groveled like the pathetic little beings they were. But after what Terann had reported to him of her findings about the relationship regarding the Human and the Narn, if the idea of this particular Narn being tortured and executed by the Centauri upset the Human so, then he would have fun with it.

"Perhaps I should put in a request to have some boots made for myself," he commented, turning to face her with a smug smile.

"Sadistic fucker!" The Human hissed at him then made a strange hocking noise in the back of her throat and proceeded to spit into his eye.

Neroon’s anger came quickly. He balled his hand into a fist and proceeded to launch it toward the Human --- only to come to a mind-numbing halt inches from her face. A slow panic began to seize him. He clenched his fist once more, took another swing, only to find himself stopping before touching her. While his heart screamed Yes!, his mind was screaming No! at the last moment. He stepped back, confusion threatening to suffocate him. Determined to prove his fears wrong, he pulled out his denn’bok and opened it, preparing to lunge at her with it. He whipped it around viciously only to pull away at the last few seconds, his traitorous mind refusing to allow him to harm her. Neroon dug his fingers into the sides of the pike, his panic growing as he watched the slow smile that spread across the Human’s face. If possible, she appeared even more arrogant than before.

"What have you done to me, Human?" His voice was treacherously low, his anger mounting by the second.

"Nothing, compared to what has been done to me."

"There is no honor in this!"

The Human laughed without humor. "What the hell does honor mean to those who murder unborn children? Stop acting so goddamned sanctimonious, you Minbari bastard. Honor died the day this war began. It has been forever erased from my memory by your murdering telepath."

Neroon took a step toward her. "Remove this – this inhibitor from my mind!"

Her eye narrowed. "No."

The Warrior screamed out his rage, whirling around to slam his denn’bok across the head of one of his men. The resounding crack of splitting bone echoed throughout the chamber as the Minbari crumbled in a motionless heap at the feet of his comrade. The other looked with no small amount of fear at his angered Shai Alyt, praying for a way to calm him before he too suffered death at his Captain’s hand.

"Shai Alyt, perhaps I shall call for Alyt Terann…"

Neroon spun around to face the one called Linnel, his face a mask of rage. "I do not need her help! If not for her and her Vorlons, none of this would have happened!"

Linnel stepped back into the shadows, effectively out of the Shai Alyt’s range. He did not understand what was going on, only that the Human telepath had done something that made it so Neroon could not harm her. If that were the way of it, then she was a powerful telepath indeed and he suddenly understood Alyt Terann’s reasoning for not wanting anyone alone with her. Why she had not done anything when only he and Morenn were in the chamber he did not know, unless she had been preparing herself for the Shai Alyt’s arrival.

"Linnel!"

The Warrior hurried forward at his leader’s call.

Neroon cast a quick glare at the prisoner. "I want you to…" He stopped, unable to speak the order he wanted so very much to utter. His anger mounted to such a state that it actually began to hurt. He turned to face the Human. "I demand that you stop what you are doing to me!"

She smiled calmly at him. "I am doing nothing, Minbari. What you are experiencing I took care of at our last meeting. Assurances, you see."

Neroon tossed his denn’bok angrily, narrowly missing Linnel who ducked just in time. As the Minbari stood back up, he decided that although he did not understand completely what was going on, he would offer his Shai Alyt the assistance it appeared he needed. He removed his own denn’bok, opened it and stepped toward the Human, preparing to met out the punishment she, and the rest of her disgusting race, deserved. Just as his weapon swung around to connect with her temple, Neroon’s hand reached up and stopped it in mid-flight. Both Neroon and Linnel stared at his hand in abject wonder. It was difficult for Linnel to understand why his Shai Alyt, so bent on bringing the prisoner pain, would now not let him do so. He was even more surprised as Neroon yanked the weapon from his hands and proceeded to slam it into his forehead, bringing about a smothering wave of darkness.

Aelora looked on in fascination as the Warrior let loose a string of Minbari curses she had no chance of interpreting. He began slamming the borrowed pike in to the wall of the chamber in anger, his curses increasing as his anger continued to be bereft of an outlet. She had been hoping for more of an emotion bordering on helplessness but was beginning to give up hope for such a thing. He would be difficult to control, but once they got out of this chamber and she had him captive, there would be little need to have hold of his mind as long as he could not harm her or allow others to do so.

"Neroon," she called out softly.

The destruction stopped. An uneasy silence filtered throughout the room.

Aelora focused all her attention on the angered Minbari, easily pushing her way into his mind once it recognized and accepted her. There she grabbed control of his actions, his thoughts and carefully steered him toward her, telling him what it was she wanted. He fought fiercely within his mind, struggling to free himself from her grip, fighting against what she was forcing him to do. Aelora continued to maintain a rigid control of him as he released her from her bonds. She dropped to the floor, fighting the pain that coursed through her, forcing her mind to focus on the task at hand. She then continued to guide him as she requested his dagger from his boot then wrapped her arm tightly about his neck, the sharp blade positioned so closely against his pale skin that it quickly drew blood.

"Now we are going to go through the door, Shai Alyt Neroon, and you are going to take me to G’Kar. And we had best get there before he leaves for Centauri Prime or I am going to be bathing in your blood, understand?"

As they passed into the corridor, Aelora slowly relaxed her hold on Neroon’s mind, knowing she would need her concentration for more important matters. Though her physical pain was great, the simple chore of walking almost more than she could bear, she was able to force it aside. What loomed to break through, what she had to concentrate on continually, was the flood of emotions inside her. Hatred, rage, pain, fear, hopelessness – it all threatened to swallow her whole if she did not keep it at bay. She continually told herself that there would be a time for reckoning, a time for grieving, a time for reflection. Until then, her objective remained clear: Find G’Kar and get the hell out of Dodge. Her eyes searched the area as they moved through the ship, her mind occasionally grabbing a hold of Neroon’s once more to make certain he guided them through empty passages. When they finally reached the cell where G’Kar was being held, Aelora was pleased to discover only one guard present. When the Warrior noticed her Shai Alyt being held by a Human, her reaction was automatic. She moved for her weapon only to be halted by Aelora’s voice:

"I wouldn’t it I were you," she warned in Vik. "Or your Shai Alyt’s head is going to become separated from his body, and that would be really messy."

The Warrior halted in her movements, watching her leader for any sign of what to do. Confusion mounted when he remained silent and motionless. Why was he allowing this Human to get away with this? Why did he not simply toss her over his shoulder, kill her and be done with it?

"Open the door," Aelora instructed her.

The Warrior hesitated a moment, looking once more to her Shai Alyt for direction. When she realized none was forthcoming, she made the decision that something was terribly wrong and to go with her gut instinct. She ignored the Human’s order.

Aelora frowned. In truth, she knew she did not have the nerve to kill the Minbari leader. The idea of slicing a blade through his skin and feeling the warmth of his blood run over her hands did not appeal to her as it might to some. As long as no one realized that, she was safe. Besides, she was saving her true rage in hopes of coming across Alyt Terann. She truly doubted she would have any compunction against killing that one. A part of her wanted to destroy every Minbari on the ship, slowly and painfully, and relish each and every last dying breath. Aelora was still sensible enough to realize the wish and the attainment were two different things. She leaned close to Neroon’s ear:

"Make her open that door or you will experience such shame that will make this seem like nothing in comparison."

Neroon wanted to kill her. He wanted to rip her flesh from her bones with his bare hands and stomp around on her innards. He wanted to slam her head into the floor until it cracked open like a ripe fruit and the brain matter splattered around him. He wanted to squeeze her throat until her eyes bulged from their sockets and her lungs exploded within her and she choked on their mass. Mostly, he just wanted to hear her beg for mercy on her knees before him.

"Open the door, Kelann."

The Minbari stared at her Shai Alyt for a moment in surprise then turned to do as she was bid. Aelora pushed Neroon ahead of her, stopping for a quick moment to send a message to the female Warrior to sleep, then hurried in after him, making certain to step on the collapsed form of the "sleeping" Warrior as she passed by. G’Kar was staring in surprise at the Shai Alyt when Aelora entered the cell. His attention turned to her and the relief at seeing her again was immediately evident in his eyes.

"G’Kar!" Aelora launched herself into his embrace, mixed feelings of relief and anguish tearing through her. She pressed her mouth hard against his, ignoring the pain that almost assuredly meant she had a broken jaw.

G’Kar held her away from him, unable to mask his anxiety and fear for her well-being. He touched her face tenderly. "I feared of ever seeing you again," he whispered to her, kissing her face gently. "How are you holding up?"

"I don’t know, G’Kar," she replied with a shake of her head. "When we get out of here, ask me again," she finished quickly, casting a meaningful glance at Neroon who was watching them with a mask of casual indifference.

"And how do you plan to do that?" G’Kar asked in disbelief. "We are two against hundreds. They are not going to let us just stroll out of here, no matter who you have as a hostage. Besides which, you look as if you can barely stand on your own, much less battle your way out of a Minbari Warcruiser."

"Maybe not," Aelora agreed. "But I don’t need him any longer." She bent over to reach into her boot and grabbed hold of the vial. She straightened up, holding it in the palm of her hand triumphantly.

The Narn shook his head. "Shon’Ur, you promised. You can not seriously be considering using that? It goes against everything you claim to stand for."

"Dammit, G’Kar!" Aelora whirled to face him. "Don’t you think I know that? But I don’t care anymore, do you hear me? I don’t care! How the hell can you stand there and preach to me after what those bastards have done? I think I have every right in the goddamned universe to do whatever the hell I want and don’t you dare get in the way of my doing it, G’Kar!

"I made the proper attempt at peace but obviously there are those out there more interested in not seeing it take place. I did what I could and it is over. All of it! I don’t give a fuck anymore what happens to Earth or Minbar or the whole worthless galaxy!"

Their attention was diverted from the argument when Neroon saw his chance and darted out the door for his escape. It mattered little to Aelora at that moment for she had what she needed to assure her and G’Kar’s safety off the vessel. Once they were in space…well, she would think about that when they got there.

"Aelora, we went through this back on Earth." G’Kar spoke calmly unperturbed by her outburst. He understood the anguish she was feeling; was he not allowed the same pain? But he knew that he could not allow her to act according to her anger, to do so would mean to destroy the person she was, the woman he had fallen in love with. He placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "If your people and the Minbari destroy one another, there is no hope for the galaxy. Running to Narn will not make you anymore safe than remaining here. You have the power to make an attempt at peace once more. Show them your good faith. Make them listen to you. Aelora, this is your chance to save your people."

The telepath shook her head. "I’m tired, G’Kar. I am tired of trying to make people listen. I am tired of being frightened about what will happen to you, about being forced to watch them kill you. I am tired of fearing my own death. I hate what they have done to us, what they have taken from us. Please, let me get us out of here. What comes after that is welcome. At least then I will be with you and I will know that I went down fighting."

G’Kar shook his head. "You Humans are much more Narn than you tend to believe, do you know that?"

Aelora smiled and leaned into his embrace once more. She allowed herself to enjoy the safety of his arms around her before finally pulling away, the realization that she might never again know what it feels like to be held by him sending a chill down her spine.

G’Kar followed her out the door, allowing her to lead him through the corridors. She had a fairly keen sense of direction and they made their way through the ship’s structure quickly with no resistance. Aelora was beginning to believe that perhaps Neroon had decided to let them go, had figured that they were more trouble than they were worth. She was certain he did not want the rest of his crew to know the humility of his inability to harm her. It was not much further to the docking bay and the telepath quickened her pace just slightly, her fist closing tighter around the tiny vial.

The prisoners came to a screeching halt around the next corner. There, over a dozen Minbari stood, awaiting their arrival. The fight began instantaneously, and Aelora realized quite quickly that two against twelve were not fair odds, even with a Narn on her side. She was slammed against the bulkhead just as she noticed three Minbari holding G’Kar down while another continually rammed his denn’bok into his stomach. Aelora tore away from her attackers, her body threatening to collapse from exhaustion and pain, throwing herself into the middle of the group and holding up the vial for all to see. She called out in her loudest voice:

"Stop! Or I swear to whatever fucking god you believe in, I will open this vial and kill every last one of you." When she knew she had their attention, she continued. "Do you know how this stuff works? Hmm? It melts your skin off your bones like candle wax and implodes your insides. Oh, it’s some really nasty stuff and I brought it along just for such a party as this." When she felt the fear from those around her begin to permeate the air, her confidence mounted, and an almost sadistic glee took hold of her. She considered using the bioagent even if they did let them go. "Good. I think you understand. Now, let him go."

They stepped away from G’Kar and Aelora watched with unsuppressed anger as he climbed unsteadily to his feet. She could not explain it, even to herself, but she found that she blamed herself for all of this, especially for getting G’Kar involved. If only she had kept her wish for peace to herself, if only she had rejected General Hague’s plan, and most importantly, if only she had ended the relationship with G’Kar before he had become so important to her, before…. Her thoughts trailed off. No, she mentally shook her head, she could not allow herself to be overcome with anguish. She swallowed hard, focusing her anger at the Minbari around her. She did not want to open the vial in her hands, she did not want to witness the destruction and pain and terror it caused. But she knew she was desperate. She knew she was fast approaching the thin line of her sanity, that she need only be pushed just a little farther and all reason would escape her. The war had finally taken over. Aelora knew what drove both sides to continue on with the insanity of total and complete destruction. She was no longer fighting for her life. She was fighting to prove that she was alive. Little mattered beyond that.

"Feeling trapped, are we?"

Aelora whirled around to face Neroon who had silently stepped out of the shadows and was approaching her. "Don’t come any closer! I swear to you I will open this!"

Neroon stopped, though he appeared at ease and completely in control. "Oh, yes. We are feeling very brave now that we hold mass destruction in the palm of our hand, are we not? How very typical of your race."

The Human lifted her chin defiantly. "Goad me all you want, Minbari. But I have won. Now that you are here, you will not allow any of these people to harm me. You should have stayed away. One of your Warriors may have been brave enough then to try and stop me."

Neroon chuckled. "Do you actually believe I would put my ship and my crew in jeopardy if I did not have a plan? Foolish Human, but you are forgetting one little fact…I may not allow anyone I see harming you to do so, but I can not see what they are doing to your mind, now can I?"

It was then that Aelora felt the presence of the female telepath but it was too late for her to do anything. Terann had reached into her mind before she could effectively set up a block and she was suddenly fighting to keep control of her own sensibilities. Slowly, she turned to face her attacker, their gazes locking as the Minbari stepped out from around the corner.

Drop the vial, Human.

Go to Hell, you demented bitch.

Drop it, or G’Kar will be next.

Aelora felt the pain of the telepathic hold on her mind and for a brief moment was stunned by the power behind it. Never had she felt a mind so strong, so overpowering, so forceful. She fought against it with every ounce of strength she had but she felt her control weakening against the continuous onslaught. She finally let go of the vial in desperation, clasping her hands against her temples tightly, praying that the pain would subside. Dimly, she heard G’Kar call out to her, somehow she recognized that Neroon had caught the vial before it had hit the floor and shattered, in another corner of her mind she heard a weaker part of herself calling out for surrender, begging her to give in just to rid herself of the pain. Instead of giving in though, Aelora fought more fiercely against the attack. Beneath her hatred she was fascinated by the telepath who was tearing at her mind, and the scientific part of her wanted to know more, wanted to see where the power came from and how she controlled it. Instead of continuing to fight the mind that was invading hers, carefully she began to welcome it, slipping inside it here and there, maneuvering around it until it became incomprehensible as to where one mind began and the other ended.

When the Human first began her cunning invasion, Terann did not notice, so quietly did she accomplish it. The Minbari was focused on destroying the Human the way she had attempted to destroy Neroon. She wanted to show her the same pain and fear, she wanted to rip from the Human’s mind every bit of memory and emotion she had stolen from Neroon and leave nothing in it’s place. She believed there could be no more fitting punishment for the Human telepath than complete absence of mind and being. So as she worked, she did not notice that her enemy worked as well, not until the two minds were almost completely intertwined. Then, as she fought to untangle herself from the alien conscience that had latched onto hers, she heard voices whispering to her, calling her, beckoning her forward. Terann allowed them to pull her into deeper, to follow the twists and turns and tangled curves of the linked consciences, soon spinning through a pathway she feared had no road for return. The voices continued to whisper to her…

One seeks what the other can not find
We were meant for something, Human. Do you not see that?...
If I have to spend my life on sleepers then so be it…
…Here the Vorlons are, these supreme beings with incredibly advanced technology, who have been around for ages, and they’re asking for help from races who have barely begun to learn to stand on their own, let alone walk…
Together or apart. One must sleep for the other to survive

Red alert klaxons began blaring through her mind.

Understanding is a three-edged sword. Yours. Theirs. And the truth

…Terann smiled, reaching out to squeeze Aelora’s hand. "Together then. For the future."

"For the future," Aelora repeated…

 

 

Episode 6, A THREE-EDGED SWORD - PART THREE,
"THE TRUTH" coming soon......