Gareth Williams - A Dark, Distorted Mirror. Volume 4. A Future, Born in Pain

"I need to free her. I can hear her all the time. She's trapped somewhere in the heart of my ship, in constant pain, in agony, losing her mind! You can help me free her."

"Maybe I can, maybe I cannot. We have heard whispers about the Vorlons' 'network' for some time, but its power is beyond our own. How can I say I will not kill this.... Carolyn in the process of trying to free her? How can I say this will not draw the Vorlons down upon my own head? I have no wish to die.... not yet."

"Then you're afraid."

"Of course I am. If you knew what I know, you would be afraid too."

"I see. I am going to free her. You know that."

"I know you will try. You will probably fail."

"Well, at least I will have done something!"

As Captain Corwin left, Vejar sighed again. He did not want to have to turn him away, but the time was not yet right. The war was not yet over. The Vorlons had not yet moved in force.

"You're afraid."

Vejar had power. He could cast sorceries that few could even understand. He could summon demons, hex computer systems. He could kill with a glance. He was probably the most powerful mortal being on Kazomi 7, and even the definition of mortal did not truly fit him.

But yes, he was afraid.

When he thought of the Vorlons, how could he not be?

"It is easy for you to talk, Galen," he said softly. "You don't have a Vorlon only a few hundred metres above your head."

No, but Vejar knew that that would not stop Galen even if he did.

True love is like any addictive drug, he had read once, in that it is boring and yet dangerous at the same time. John Sheridan had little doubt that his feelings for Delenn of Mir were true love, but while he had plenty of evidence to justify the dangerous part of it, at no time had their relationship ever been boring.

He did love her, he knew that. He knew also that he had become something very different while he had thought her dead. It was as if he was a poor sinner who had found there was a heaven after all, only to be thrown out of it after a few, glorious months.

And now he was doubting if he would ever see heaven again.

He could not look at Delenn now without thinking of their son, their son who had died before he had been given even a chance at life, their son who would be the only child either of them could have. A dark rage filled him, a determination to seek only revenge. But on whom? All the people to be revenged against were gone.

"John," Delenn said softly, and as always a tremble went through him when he heard his name spoken in her soft, beautifully accented voice. "We have to talk."

He nodded, his throat suddenly very dry. "You're right. I'm.... I'm sorry.... the way things have been...."

"Hard, I know. But we are together now.... and we may never be so again. The last battle is coming, we all know it. We have both been far too lucky thus far. We may not be lucky again."

"Lucky?" he said with a whisper. "Good God, Delenn, how can you call what has happened to us luck?"

"We are both still alive. We have known great love. We have known good and loyal friends. We have endured hardship and adversity and we are both still here. We have both triumphed far more than we have failed. That sounds like luck to me."

"When you put it that way...."

"None of us knows how much time we have, John. We must think of the present first. John.... I am sorry about our son. If there had been any other way.... but there was not. You have to believe me."

"Sorry? Delenn.... I don't blame you." The lie burned in his throat. "I could never blame you. How could I...?"

"Still, I am sorry, and I always will be. I think.... sometimes I wonder if there was anything else I could have done...."

"Delenn, I don't blame you!" Each time he said it, the lie hurt more. "It is.... done. Delenn, I watched one woman I love collapse because of tragedy, and I couldn't do anything about it. I ran away from Anna because it was my way of coping with.... what happened, and because I was too busy running away I didn't see her destroying herself.

"I was running away from you as well, Delenn. I didn't want to face.... I couldn't.... but I don't want to run away any more. I love you, Delenn. I never want to see you hurt, or upset, or in pain again. I want to protect you and keep you safe from harm, and I know I can't, and that scares me and.... I'm sorry, Delenn, I just...."

Gently, she reached out and took his hand. Her skin felt so soft against his. "We do not have the future. We only have today. We love each other, and surely.... surely we can find a way."

"You're always so much better at this than I am," he whispered. "How is it you're so much better at this?"

She smiled. "I don't know," she said. "I am trembling so much I can barely stand."

"Then sit down."

Quietly, she sat down next to him. He put his arm around her, naturally, and held her close against him.

Then they kissed.

Today is all there is.

For tomorrow we die.

The arguments had been long and tortuous, and had grown heated on more than one occasion. Some, like Takier, preferred to remain autonomous. The Minbari had survived for centuries without asking for help from anyone else. Why should they do so now?

Tirivail recognised the necessity of a military alliance. The civil war had cost them all greatly, and the Minbari needed allies, there was no doubt about that. However, she questioned whether committing fully to the Alliance was necessary in itself.

Gysiner and Chardhay, speaking, as they often did, as one, reminded the Council that the leader of the Alliance was the Blessed Delenn herself. By joining the Alliance they would in effect be making her the leader of the Minbari Federation, as she should have been so long ago.

It was the votes of Kats and Lurna which had swung it. Takier and Tirivail had bowed, accepting defeat.

And so it was that Kats found herself standing in the Alliance Council Chamber, looking at the diverse members of the Council. Sinoval had told her a little of his meeting with the Council almost a year ago, and already it had grown larger.

With these people, she thought, there lies the power of half the galaxy.

Of course an Ambassador would be needed, and that had not been fully finalised yet. Many in the Council wanted Kats herself to take on that role, arguing that she was the most suitable. She had refused, not wanting to leave Minbar, and especially not wanting to leave Kozorr. Already she missed him, her heart burning.

But someone was needed to come to speak for the Federation in the opening meetings, to resolve the treaties and trade pacts and all the other necessities of diplomacy. Takier and Tirivail had brought the ships to aid in the final battle at Z'ha'dum, and Kats had come along as well.

She missed Kozorr, and she remembered their final night together before she left. She also remembered their final morning, as she had awoken to see him staring at the sunrise. She had gone to him, and they had spent the morning in silence, fingers brushing, looking over the new world that they would create together.

Then she had left, with no words spoken. None needed to be said.

Unlike now, when many words needed to be said. A great many words.

"Friends, Ambassadors, Council Members," she began, "as representative of the Grey Council and the Minbari Federation, it is an honour to be here, and an even greater honour to bring the Minbari Federation into the United Alliance of Races...."

We will send aid.

No, none is necessary. They will fight this battle themselves.

And if there is no battle?

There will be, a battle of words if not of weapons. They understand now.