Peter David - Out of the Darkness

To that notion, Vir had no response.

Note to historians: Although naturally the Centauri year is different from an Earth year, we have taken the liberty of adjusting the date and having it reflect a parallel passing of time, vis—a—vis Earth time, due to Londo’s passing reference to his anniversary with G’Kar, so as to avoid confusion for our Earth readers. We at the Centauri Historical Society are aware of the late emperor’s fondness for inhabitants of Earth, and feel that he would approve of our efforts to minimize anything that might leave those readers in a quandary. For chronological purists among you, we thank you for your indulgence.

G’Kar stood at the door, in the same way that he always did. Straight, tall” looking directly ahead. And I, seated on the other side of the table, gestured for him to enter just as I always did. “One would think,” I told him as he walked across the room, “that after all this time, you would see no need to stand on ceremony.”

“Ceremony, Highness, is all we have. Without it, you are merely an oddly dressed Centauri in clothing that picks up dirt all too easily.”

“You know what I like about you, G’Kar? You make me laugh.”

“You did not laugh just now.”

“So I didn’t like you as much. Sit, sit.” He never sits until I tell him to. I think he considers it a sort of odd game. “So… how was your day today, G’Kar?”

“The same as it was yesterday, Londo, and very much—I suspect—the way it will be tomorrow. Unless, of course, you decide to have me executed today.”

“Why today?” I asked. I signaled for the wine steward to bring me a new bottle, and he went off to fetch it.

“Why not today?” he countered. “Sooner or later, my amusement value will reach its end, and then…” He shrugged and made a throat-cutting gesture.

“Is that how you think I see you, G’Kar? As only having ‘amusement value’?” I shook my head, discouraged. “How very tragic.”

“Of all the tragedies in your life, Londo, I truly think that my opinion in this instance rates fairly low on the scale.”

“True. True.” There was a silence then, the comfortable silence of two old acquaintances. I do not know if, even now, I dare use the word “friend.” The new bottle was brought, glasses were placed in front of us, and the wine was poured. G’Kar raised his glass and sniffed its contents with a delicacy that provided an amusing contrast to his rough—hewn exterior. “This,” he announced, “is actually a good vintage.”

“Is not all my wine of good vintage?”

“Not of this caliber,” he said. “To what do I owe the honor?”

“If has been a year,” I told him. “A year since you saved my life and came under rotection. A year since we began our weekly dinners together. I am surprised. I would have thought the date would be seared into your memory.”

“There is a great deal occupying my mind at the moment, Londo,” he said. “My apologies. This significant date must have been squeezed out of its proper place of importance. So if we are to celebrate this anniversary, does that mean you will be “letting me go?”

“Why would I want to do that?” I asked. “Allow my most excellent friend, G’Kar, to simply depart? No, no… I am afraid I cannot, if for no other reason than that it would reflect poorly in the eyes of those who watch me most carefully.”

“Because I am a potential tool that might be used in the event that the current situation deteriorates.”

I hated to admit that he was right but, of course, he was.

True enough,” I said slowly. “My prime minister and his associates have made it clear to me that you will be allowed to live only if you do so here, under my protection. If I permit you to leave, it will seem as if I am granting you permission to violate the laws of Centauri Prime. Laws that ban visitors, that ban changeling devices. I cannot be seen as being lenient on criminals.”

G’Kar had finished his wine. The steward moved toward him to refill the glass, but G’Kar as usual, placed a hand over it to indicate that he wanted no more. “Why can you not?” he asked. “Be lenient, I mean. Certainly a quality such as mercy would be highly valued. Particularly when one considers the brutal actions taken by some of your predecessors. The people of Centauri Prime would likely regard it as a pleasant change of pace.”

I laughed curtly at that. “It is a nice theory, G’Kar. But people do not want a change of pace, pleasant or otherwise. They want no more and no less than what they are accustomed to. Believe it or not, there are still those who believe Cartagia was the best emperor we ever had. That he barkened to a day when billions feared the Centauri because we were unpredictable. There are many who believe that I will indeed let you go, and they will eagerly use such a decision to undermine my authority… to undermine me. As fond as I am of you, G’Kar, I consider your freedomtoo high a price to pay for a crisis of confidence that could cost me my throne… and of greater significance, my life. “But you know, G’Kar… all of this is very much beside the point. We should ponder other matters. A new topic!” I announced, and I tapped my spoon repeatedly on my goblet as if I were addressing a crowded room of reverlers. While we had talked, food had been laid out foor us, and it smelled excellent I started to eat hungrily, having had very little over the course of the day. G’Kar, as always, ate little to nothing. It was completely beyond me how he managed to maintain the energy to function, considering the small quantities he consumed.

“What new topic would that be, Londo?” he inquired.

I allowed a moment to finish chewing my food. It would hardly have been dignified to send vegetables spewing out of my mouth like a multicolored fountain “I think you should choose this time, G’Kar. I have done so the last few times, they have been stimulating chats, to be sure, but I think it time that you seize bull by the reins.”

“The what?”

I waved dismissively. “An Earth saying. It is of no importance.”

“No, that might be an interesting topic,” G’Kar said. “Your fascination with all things pertaining to Earth. I have never quite understood it. You research them, you quote from them. Their achievements pale compared to thoselaudable or otherwise—of the Centauri Republic. They are a relatively minor species. At least they started out that way.

“Yet the Centauri saw something in them. Some spark, some potential must have. If not for the Centauri, after all, the Humans would not have acquired the jumpgate technology. Or at the very least, they would have lagged far behind in acquiring it. It might have taken them decades, even centuries more, to become a true power in the galaxy.” Interest glittered in his one normal eye. “What was it about them, Londo? I have to admit, I didn’t see it, nor did any of my people. What was the fascination?”

I chuckled. “It was a little before my time… a hundred years or so, you understand. So I cannot exactly tell you firsthand. But… I have been doing reading. Comments, letters, correspondence from the emperor and the ministers the time, that sort of thing.”

“And what have you discovered?”

I leaned forward and gestured to G’Kar that he should do likewise, as if I was concerned that someone would overhear. He leaned closer.

“They thought,” I said, “that the Humans would annihilate themselves.”

“Really” I nodded. “They saw the humans as a opportunity for quick profit. And they thought that the Humans, once they had acquired the advanced technology, would move to quickly for their own good. My predecessors anticipated that there would be struggles and wars within the then—primitive Earth Alliance. Centauri Prime would secretly fund both sides, benefit from all concerned and—once the humans had more or less obliterated themselves—the Great Centauri Republic would step in and pick the pieces. It was a simple way to expand our control with no risk to ourselves, and nothing but profit to be had. It seemed the perfect arrangement.”