And innocent blood would be shed.
"Hello, son."
Ambassador David Sheridan had been on the Babylon once or twice before, diplomatic affairs during the final stages of the war with the Minbari, and on its return to Proxima at the end of the war. He didn't like the ship, for the same reasons that Dexter Smith had not. The entire ship was touched by his son. John was everywhere here. Despite the year and a half or so Smith had been in charge, and the extensive Shadowtech overhaul, the ship was still John's.
David Sheridan felt a chill in his spine as he walked into the ready room to see his son. John was standing. He looked well. How had this been done? What had it cost him?
Still, he covered up his shock as well as he was able. He was a career diplomat after all, and despite his one blind spot concerning his son, he had plenty of experience at hiding his emotions.
"Hello, son."
"Dad," John said. He sounded cold. "So.... you are still alive, then. You.... came to see me at Kazomi Seven, didn't you?" David nodded. "I thought it was just a dream. Delenn told me it was just a dream."
"Delenn must have told you a great many things." Ambassador Sheridan looked around at the others in the room. Commander Corwin he recognised of course. There were two Narn security guards — remnants of the infamous Narn Bat Squad from the Parmenion no doubt. And there was her.... the telepath. She stank of Vorlon. "I think we should talk alone." He had come up to the ship alone.
"We stay," said one of the Narns firmly. It was the female.
"No," said John. "Ko'Dath, G'Dan.... I think you should go. David, Lyta.... you too. I'm not in any danger."
"If you say so," muttered Commander Corwin as he left. The two Narns made angry faces. The telepath said nothing.
"It's good to see you again," Ambassador Sheridan said, sitting down. "I'll admit to being surprised.... what happened?"
"I could ask you the same thing. Are you really my dad?"
"Yes, of course I am." He sighed. "Do you remember the time you were studying for your exams.... and you couldn't sleep because it wasn't raining? I went outside, and took up the hose...."
"And made it rain on the roof," John finished. "I remember."
"And every Sunday.... we used to go for a drive."
John nodded. "It is you. I.... don't know if that's a good thing or not. How could you work for them, Dad? Where's Mom? And Liz? Why didn't you let me know...?"
"I would have.... if I could. When I got to Proxima.... you'd gone.... up and left. I wasn't sure what to think, and there wasn't any way of getting in touch with you. As for your mum.... and Elizabeth.... they're both dead. I was the lucky one."
"What happened?"
He sighed. "Some of us tried to get away from Earth before the end. We weren't getting much news in from the Line.... just what we could see above us. But.... there was a moment.... a hesitation in the battle. Some of us tried to get away. We didn't get anywhere of course. The Minbari picked us up easily. They weren't sure what to do with us, for a while....
"Then one of their leaders came in. He gave us to one of his allies.... Warmaster Jha'dur."
"Deathwalker," John whispered in horror.
"She was more than happy with the gift. She hated humans.... all of us. It was her who brought us word that Earth had been destroyed. She was so pleased about that." He shook his head sadly. "Your mother and Liz died there.... in her lab. I don't know what of, exactly. I think your mother was infected with some sort of cancer cells, but I'm not sure. I didn't even see Liz for most of the time, only her body.
"Someone came to see us a bit later on. I don't know how long I was there.... months, probably. Maybe years even. I'd.... been left alone. I don't know why. It doesn't matter. This person came up to see me, a human, which surprised me. He gave his name as Shryne, and he asked me a simple question.... 'What do you want?'"
John sighed, and placed his hand over his eyes.
"An easy question to answer, isn't it, son? I heard the reply you gave to Ivanova. I don't blame you. My answer wasn't too different. I wanted.... I wanted to be free of that place. I wanted peace. I wanted my family revenged, my people revenged. I wanted my people to be safe.
"That seemed to satisfy him. I was set free and brought here, to Z'ha'dum. That's where I learned the truth about the Shadows, about the Vorlons, about this whole conflict of theirs. It's been going on for longer than anyone can say.
"Well, that's me.... What happened to you?"
"I was healed. It doesn't matter. Dad.... come back to Kazomi Seven. You don't owe the Shadows anything. It was their agent that killed Mom and Liz, remember."
"Deathwalker wasn't working for the Shadows. She was.... an independent operator. She had her own goals entirely."
"She infected me with a terminal virus.... She was going to use me to wipe out humanity!"
"That was not our decision, John. She did that all by herself. We just got wind of it later and managed to get hold of a cure. The virus was only intended for the Minbari, not us. The Shadows are very fond of humanity, you know. They want to help us. We can be.... right on top of things this time. They're going to make sure we're never threatened by anyone like the Minbari ever again."
"Where's Delenn?"
Ambassador Sheridan stopped as if physically struck. "What?"
"Where is she?"
"On the surface. John.... she's one of them. She's a Minbari. She's the enemy."
"I love her."
"John, listen to me! You're the only surviving member of my family now. You're my son, and I can forgive you a lot. You.... fell apart a bit. I can understand that, fighting them all for so long. Long-term combat stress. A nervous breakdown of some sort was inevitable, even without her influencing you. I can understand why you betrayed your people, why you fought against our allies.... what you did to Anna.
"But she played a part in all of that. She's a Minbari. It was her people who destroyed Earth, her people who hid Deathwalker for so long and let her inflict her tortures on both of us. Remember where your loyalties are.... to your people. Not to her!"
"Where is she?!"
Ambassador Sheridan sighed. "She's on the surface. We haven't decided what to do with her yet. I was thinking of sending her to Proxima for a war crime trial. She'd get a fair hearing, I promise you that. It's even possible she'll be acquitted."
"I want to see her."
"John, listen...."
"I need to make sure she's all right."
Ambassador Sheridan sighed. "Fine. You can come down to the surface to see her, if you like. It will also give us a chance to explain just what it is the Shadows are doing.... just what their plans for all of us are. Give them a chance, and you'll find they're nothing like what you've been told. G'Kar, her.... all of them, they've been leading you astray from the beginning."
"I want to see her. Then.... then we'll see."
"Good. You can even bring some of your men if you like. Not the telepath woman, but as many of the others as you wish."
"Just David will be fine. Come on. Let's go."
Delenn looked into the eyes of the man she had once believed she loved. Her experience with John had now convinced her that what she had felt for Neroon had not been true love, but an exceptionally deep and abiding friendship; a love that had not been romantic or passionate, but a real, lasting affection.
To see him like this....
"I am sorry, Neroon," she said softly. "I do not think we have anything to talk about."