And there was one name on all lips. The name of the Gods that had saved them.
Vorlon.
One of those who saw was Kiro, once Lord, almost Emperor, once a Shadow Crier, almost sane.
He fled the palace. He fled in any direction he could, weeping tears of blood. He could see the ships of his Dark Masters, but he could not hear them. He saw his magnificent son fall in battle, but he could no longer hear him either. He saw the ships of his Masters die, one by one.
And finally he did not care. He watched the last ship avidly, even as the last fight was fought directly above him. And when the spine of the Shadow ship was shot away and fell to the ground, he closed his eyes as its shadow engulfed him.
His last thought was a prayer that in death he would at last find some answers.
He did not.
And thus it was over. Thence came the end, or at least its beginning.
It was strange, but for the Emperor of the Centauri Republic, Londo did not like the throne room. Not at all. It seemed every time he set foot in it, something bad happened. When he entered the room and saw the two bodies, his oldest friend holding the body of his daughter, crying her name over and over, a part of him was not surprised.
Marrago looked up as Londo entered, and in his eyes Londo saw not only the sheer grief, but the understanding.
You know, he thought. Oh, my friend, I wish there were another way.
But he said nothing. There was nothing to say. Londo moved to the throne and sat down on it. It had never been a comfortable chair, and it was even less so now. He would have given anything to be somewhere else. Anything at all.
There was no need for reports. They had won. The Shadows had been destroyed, their creature killed. The Shadow Criers had all been killed or returned to sanity. In any event the Vorlons and their 'Inquisitors' would find any that remained. The only reports coming in were death counts and property damage and economic losses, and all these could wait.
They arrived one by one, slowly. Durano was the first, despite carrying his arm in a sling. He walked with his usual dignified bearing, but even his fabled composure nearly broke at the sight of Lyndisty's body. Then there was Vir, numerous scratches and bruises on his face, but looking very inch a Minister. Virini came later, looking truly terrified. Carn was the last. He had to come from the Valerius of course, and he entered with a Narn wearing the formal uniform of a Warleader. That aroused some attention. Morden of course had been there all along, and he smiled and nodded at the Narn's arrival.
Two did not show up. Timov and Lennier. Londo knew Timov was still alive, which was enough. Better by far for her not to be here. Better by far for her to pretend he did not exist. As for Lennier, it was also better for him not to be here. In his case it would be better for him to be dead.
The bodies remained on the floor. Londo would not let the servants move them. Let everyone see the cost of this. All of them.
He looked around at those present and drew a deep breath. He did not know what to say. No, he did know what to say. Morden would not like it, not any of it, but he had some time. Their deal had not been finalised yet, so he had some time. He was still Emperor, for now at least. There was time to prepare, time to send people away.
"The homeworld is secure," he said, telling those gathered what they all already knew. "The threat was defeated with aid of the Vorlons and their liaison, Ambassador Morden here. The Vorlons have graciously offered us assistance in rebuilding, and for protection and so forth. To that end Ambassador Morden will receive a permanent post here, with the same status as any other Ambassador. A formal treaty will be worked out in due course.
"We will also recommence proceedings for joining the United Alliance. The war between ourselves and the Narn Regime can, I hope, be brought to a peaceful and amicable end. Ambassador Morden assures us the Alliance will be happy to work as mediators in the peace treaty.
"Of course we will need an embassy and diplomatic staff on Kazomi Seven. Minister Durano, you are to be our Ambassador there. Minister Cotto will serve as your second. I have the utmost faith in both of you to represent our interests fully."
Durano bowed formally, smiling, although it was clearly a false smile. He was being moved away from the homeworld, from the Court, further from the centre of power and away from his preferred occupation. None of that mattered. If Durano stayed the Vorlons would have him killed in no time. He would not be able to work with them, not without compromising his principles. Also, he must have known of Marrago's deal with the Shadows. Morden would punish him for that. Durano was not a friend, but he was a loyal Centauri, and he deserved to be kept safe, to be able to serve the Republic.
Then Londo looked at Marrago. His friend. One of his oldest friends. A man who had lost his daughter.
A man who would soon lose so much more. Londo did not want to do this, but he had no other choice. There was nothing else.
"Marrago." The Lord–General straightened, as if he knew what was coming. "You have been accused of bargaining with alien races hostile to the Republic, and in doing so jeopardising our situation with our allies, especially the Vorlon Empire and the United Alliance. You have been found guilty of all charges by your Emperor.
"You are stripped of all your titles, all your estates and holdings and ranks." Londo paused. Don't hesitate now. Continue. See this through to the end. "You are also exiled from Centauri space. One space shuttle alone will be provided for you, in memory of your years of service to the Republic. If, when night falls over this palace tomorrow, you are found in any world, station or holding of the Centauri Republic, you are to be killed on sight.
"You may leave."
Marrago's bearing was ramrod–straight. There were unshed tears in his eyes, but he said his last words with dignity, the last thing he possessed that Londo had not taken from him.
"As my Emperor commands."
He turned and left. The awed crowd stood aside for him.
Londo could not bear to look, so he shifted his gaze to Morden. He expected the 'Ambassador' to be angry about that, but if he was Morden did not show it. This was the only way. If Marrago stayed he would be interrogated, tortured and murdered. At least now he was alive. He could find something out there, something to do, someone else to serve as loyally and as well as he had served Londo.
At least he was alive.
"General Carn Mollari," Londo said, turning at last to his nephew. "You are promoted to Lord–General, in recognition of your valour in defending the homeworld. You have command over all the armies, navies, and warships of the Centauri Republic. Your first mission is to go to Kazomi Seven and aid the Alliance in their war with the Shadows. You are to offer the services of our fleet to the Alliance, although you will of course retain full control in matters relating to actual military deployment."
"Funds for rebuilding will be provided from the central treasury, and of course the Vorlon High Command has graciously offered us assistance. Minister Virini. You have overall responsibility for supervising the reconstruction efforts, as well as providing for displaced persons and refugees. You will have whatever resources are necessary for those purposes.
"That is all. You are all dismissed."
Then they left, one by one, just as they had come. Carn left talking with the Narn Warleader. The Narn was probably offended that Londo had not spoken to him, but there had been nothing to say. A formal meeting would have to be arranged later. Durano left with Vir, both already making plans for the provision of staff for their embassy. Virini wandered away, muttering to himself. The guards resumed their normal positions. Except for the bodies on the floor, everything was normal.