Although if the Captain wants to work out a little personal anger on Bester, who am I to argue with a superior officer?
“What the hell game are you playing?”
“Captain Sheridan,” Bester said, walking around his desk slowly. “I really think you’re…”
“Just answer the question. You’ve known about the Shadows all along, haven’t you? This… all of this… it’s all to use against them, isn’t it?”
“Who else can fight them, Captain? Oh, the Minbari have their Rangers, but they haven’t been organised for a long time, and after the battle, they won’t be again. No, someone has to hold the line, so to speak.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me the truth? Why send me into the middle of a war zone with no idea of who I was meant to be fighting?”
“You had to choose your own path, Captain. I cannot hold your hand all the way. We needed to be sure that your loyalties were in the right place. I must admit I was wrong about you. That does not happen very often, Captain. Enjoy it while you can.”
“We? Oh, of course. Who else can order Narns around? Who else has Centauri… Narns… everyone working for him?”
“Well done, Captain.” Sheridan stared angrily at the corner of the room where G’Kar appeared. He inclined his head and walked forward, through Bester’s table.
“So, you’re working for G’Kar?”
“With G’Kar,” Bester corrected him. “I don’t work for anybody.”
Sheridan shot G’Kar a look. “And you trust him?”
“Bester has been most useful to me, Captain. It was through him that I gained the telepathic DNA I needed to begin creating Narn telepaths again. It was through him that I gained a second base of operations for my Circle of Light. Here and Epsilon Three. He has been a great help.”
“Yes, and he’ll want to be paid back as well.”
“Worry about that later,” Bester said smugly. “To all things there is a time, Captain Sheridan. You’ve done well. We’ve proved that we can defeat the Shadows. The Minbari will no longer pose a threat to humanity, not with their fleet destroyed and the Grey Council dead. Give us enough time and we can win this.”
“Since when were you a tactician?” Sheridan spat. “You’re going to regret allying yourself with him, G’Kar. Believe me, you will.” He stalked towards the door and then turned. “And next time, come out and tell me what needs doing. I’m not a child, so don’t treat me like one.” He left.
Bester looked at the holographic image of G’Kar. “Better the devil you know?” he asked.
G’Kar shrugged.
And I suppose I’ll have to get to her eventually. Delenn. Sometimes I think this is all her fault. Before she got here, things were… well, not normal… but certainly not this bad. I don’t know. I’m probably just blaming her for nothing, but I still don’t like her, and I definitely don’t trust her. I’ve seen the way she looks at the Captain, and the way he looks at her. I could just be jumping at shadows here… and God knows, the Captain still hasn’t got over Anna yet, but… what if she is using him?
Susan would laugh and say I’m being paranoid. Well, the old Susan would. It’s funny, but I never was paranoid when she was around. I always felt safe then. Times change, all right.
I don’t know… maybe I am being too hard on Delenn. She did come back after all, although if what she said is true, then it was probably because she didn’t have any choice. Besides, judging from her expression today, she got some bad news earlier. Some very bad news…
“We were on a mission to a Drazi colony at Zagros Seven. G’Kar has a small base there, using it to funnel information from the Non-Aligned Worlds to here, and to Epsilon Three. Somehow, Shadow agents had infiltrated the base, and the Shadows launched a full scale attack.
“Neroon… insisted on helping the people escape. We were almost ready to leave, when we discovered one life-form left inside the complex. Neroon told me to get those we had helped so far away from the colony. I had just broken orbit when the Shadow craft arrived. The entire complex was destroyed. Completely. Not even ashes left. I… I never saw his body, but he must have died. No one could have survived that.
“I… He knew that this might happen someday, and he asked me that if he ever did die, I would tell you certain things. I know that Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar gave you a message from him last year and… he said so many things. All Neroon wished you to know was that he loved you. That you were the other – and better – half of his soul. He was a good friend, and his death was… as you would say… an honourable one. He will be missed.
“I am sorry, Satai Delenn.”
Ta’Lon rose and pressed his fists against his chest. He could not look at Delenn’s tear-stained face as he left.
Delenn, I don’t know about… but the one person who’s surprised me more than any other is Minister Mollari. Now very little can surprise me about this any more, but a Centauri here! Working alongside Narns! It’s a wonder they haven’t come to blows yet. I haven’t seen much of Londo, but I have met his nephew Carn. An intriguing person, if a little bewildered. From what I gather he joined the military back when it was still ceremonial, and didn’t actually involve fighting anyone. Well, if he wasn’t surprised by having to fight the Narns, I’ll bet he was by the Shadows. They’d frighten anyone.
As for Londo himself. Well, according to Carn, Londo is a very spiritual and religious person. This might have worried me, until I remembered what the Centauri religion consisted of.
I think he’ll be fine…
Londo was drunk, and not just slightly drunk. He was bitter, angry and depressed drunk. He was also drunk on Narn liquor – which he loathed – the Valerius having run out of brivare! (And Sanctuary didn’t actually have any civilised drinks.) On the other hand, Londo knew that he would have to do some major thinking sooner or later, and it would be better to get all this tedious drinking, passing out and throwing up stuff out of the way first. Although not necessarily in that order.
G’Kar may have just lost his chief agent on Centauri Prime, but he had others. Londo had just received one very disturbing piece of news from G’Kar, via Vir Cotto. Ambassador Refa had left Minbar and was returning to Centauri Prime. It appeared that Emperor Marrit had rescinded the various secret and hush–hush charges against Refa, dealing with minor matters such as treason, murder and having ambition that extended beyond his patriotism. Londo couldn’t imagine Lady Elrisia having anything to with that. She hated her husband. It must have been Marrit’s own idea. Who knew he actually had a brain, even if it did tend to work in the wrong direction?
Unfortunately it was the last thing Marrit ever did. It appeared the jhala he had drunk before going to bed a few nights ago had done horrible things to his stomach. A tragedy, of course, and the Royal Court was in deep and very insincere mourning. Lady Elrisia was reportedly quite furious, especially as the next heir to the throne – albeit through a circuitous family tree – was none other than Cartagia, who was also acquiring delusions of independence. And with her husband returning… things were not going well for her.
There was someone at the door. Londo roused a little from his stupor. Surely he would not have to start thinking just yet! “Open!” he barked. “I am afraid I am a little…” He stopped.
“Hello, Minister. A pleasure to see you again.”