Chapter 1

THUS far, there have been only pebbles. Look up. The avalanche is beginning.
Kosh Naranek, personal observation, dated November 25th 2259.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Violence.... gifts granted by God.... gifts misused, abused.... he knows so many ways to kill, and so few to live.... Sometimes he still remembers the sound of their screams. On very few occasions he remembers their names. All of them.
Oh, he can try to excuse himself. There were days when he did try. But most of the time he did not even care. The galaxy was insane. Humanity was insane. Everything was insane. What was a little more death among so much?
Violence.... bloodshed.... and yet.... beauty. An exquisite, violent, perfect beauty.
Death walks among you.
And then.... the face of God. The voice of God. Not the God in whose name he had killed, but the true God. The God of old. The God who had remade him, casting him in the true image, replacing zeal to rule with a zeal to serve.
Violence.... bloodshed.... death.... purgatory....
And a voice.... and a message....
Now. The avalanche is beginning. Now, we are ready.
Awake.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

"John, you look exhausted."
Her words were, as ever, soft and gentle, marked by a beautiful accent he never grew tired of hearing, no matter how tired he grew of everything else, or how tired he grew of himself. Her eyes were, as ever, filled with wisdom, and compassion, and a soft, unassuming beauty.
It seemed that John Sheridan had at last found his something worth fighting for, but why could he not admit it, even to himself? Why could he not just tell her...? More than human and Minbari, more than memories of loves lost and loves surrendered, more than grief, or pain, or fear, more than the war which surrounded them.... Not long ago, he had come to a realisation of sorts about where his future would lie, and how his past would relate to that future. It had not been easy, and now that he was here he was finding it harder and harder to accept what he had decided.
Anna....
Forcibly he brought himself back to the present, tearing his eyes away from Delenn's face. "I.... yes. The incursions have been getting worse recently. The Streibs have been getting stronger and more bold. I suppose you heard about their recent attack on the Llort homeworld?" She nodded. "They'd never have dreamed of doing that a few months ago. They had a bit of.... assistance though. From within. A number of the Llort generals were.... well.... co-opted, I suppose. It looks as if Londo's theory was correct." A look of quiet horror crossed Delenn's face, and he did not blame her. Keepers, they were called, apparently. A control mechanism of the Shadows. Londo Mollari had hatched a theory that a good number of the refugees who had fled Kazomi 7 in the early days of the Drakh invasion had been given these Keepers. It seemed that he had been right.
"The Streibs were driven off, but the whole League's in a mess. I think that what you're doing here is about the only hope any of them have." What she was doing here.... was nothing short of miraculous. A battered, destroyed colony had been transformed into a place of alliance between countless different races, all seeking to build something new out of the chaos. John knew just how many refugees were coming here, fleeing the conflict abroad, secure in the knowledge that this place had something other places didn't - a technomage to monitor the progress of the Keepers. It was a slow alliance, to be sure, and a difficult one, but it was something to hope for, and the galaxy badly needed hope at the moment.
"John, you are exhausted. You should rest."
He shook his head. "Nah, I'm all right. I just want to.... talk for a while." The words 'with you' did not need to be said.
She smiled sweetly, and nodded. John found his gaze drawn back to her, no matter how many times he tried to look at something else. There was no doubt that she was beautiful.... the mixture of human and Minbari only accentuated what had been there from the beginning, although it was not something he could have recognised before. Then, he had still seen a Minbari, no matter what might have passed between them. Now, he saw Delenn.
And yet, there was more than just the physical. She possessed a kind of.... inner serenity, a peace both within and around herself. John knew all too well the power and anger she could manifest at times - he'd seen it - but for the first time since he'd known her, she seemed truly at peace with herself.
She was a far cry from the powerful and majestic Satai he had first met in the Grey Council's Hall almost two years ago, but she looked just as proud in her ragged and dirty plain blue dress as she ever had in the official robes of Grey. She looked just as at ease carrying instruments of medicine as she ever had carrying weapons of authority.
Stop looking at her, you idiot! You said you wanted to talk.... so say something!
"Um.... how have things been here?" he asked, and then cursed himself for an idiot two seconds after he'd spoken.
She did not seem to notice. "Better. No one died yesterday. That is the first time I can recall that happening in a long time."
"I'm.... glad to hear that."
"We are training up some good doctors, but more than that. We have a few who are.... simply willing to be there. Just to.... be a ray of light at the edge of darkness.... a hope at the moment of greatest despair. I.... know how much that can mean."
I know she does. She's been there, remember, and where were you, idiot? The other side of the galaxy, or you might as well have been. She needed you, and because you're such a paranoid, foolish, numb-brained moron, you ignored her. You.... Aw, I'm sorry, Delenn. I wish I.... could....
"Delenn, I'm...."
She smiled. "I know. I understand." There was a moment's silence, and John actually felt content for a moment, just being with her.... that was enough, for the moment. But it couldn't last. The more time he spent just looking at her, the more he thought of the things they had both endured, the things he had.... done.... to her.... to Anna.... He had to break the silence, just to give himself something to work with.
"I was talking with Taan Churok just after I got back," he said, awkwardly. Yeah, you remember.... for the hour or so you were too afraid to see Delenn. "He's got some good plans for upgrading the security of this place. A few captains from the Drazi and Hyach came here. Vejar's checked them out and they and their crew seem clean. They're working up a series of patrols, defence systems and so on. They asked for a bit of help, actually. G'Kar promised to send a few of his Rangers along to oversee things, but he's stretched pretty thinly these days. He's got something big on over by Epsilon Three, something he's not telling me about."
"Oh, that is interesting. I hadn't heard about that."
"Well, G'Kar's keeping the exact details a secret from just about everyone. I'm not sure that even Bester or Ben Zayn knows...."
"No," she said laughing. "I did not know about the arrival of the Drazi captains. I have not seen Taan Churok in a while, although I have heard him quite often. Generally when he and Vizhak get into a shouting match during a meeting of the Provisional Government here."
"From what I've gathered, you could hear those arguments on the other side of the galaxy."
"I would not be surprised," she replied, with deadly seriousness. "I pity poor Lethke. Always stuck in the middle. Still, he is apparently enjoying himself. He keeps telling me how much he wanted his own economy to run some day."
John smiled, but it soon faded. "Delenn.... Taan Churok wanted me to ask you when you were thinking of taking your place in the government here. They've been keeping it open for a while, but they can't do that forever. Vizhak is apparently already kicking up a fuss about it."
"I will not be taking up a place on the government."
"But, Delenn...."
"No, John." Her words were softly spoken, but delivered with all the force of an avalanche. "I have ruled before.... and made mistakes, mistakes that ruined your people, and nearly my own. I.... will not rule again. I work here." She rose to her feet and walked to the window. Looking out through it, John knew she could see the inner courtyard of the building which had been given to her as a hospital. Once, it had been a Trading Guild headquarters. A young Brakiri child was running and playing, watched over by an older Hyach, not entirely approvingly.
"I can do all I wish to do here. This is where I belong now, John. I help, heal, nurture, care for.... My days as a ruler are done."
"But your destiny.... your people?"
"Perhaps my destiny never was, and my.... people.... I will never see them, or my home, again. I have accepted that. Sinoval has made the Minbar he wanted, and that did not include me. I was not strong enough to prevent him, and so I stay away. The fate of my people is in his hands now."
"Delenn.... you've been offered a chance to lead this alliance here, and that might be the right choice. Oh, Taan Churok can handle defence, and Lethke trade and Vizhak dealings with other Governments, and if the Centauri ever get around to appointing an Ambassador here, then he can do something as well.... but only you can lead. Only you are untouched by factions.... you're a new element here. And what's more, you care. You'd do the right thing. Delenn, please...."
"No, John." She did not turn round from the window. "My place is here, now, and nowhere else. Please understand that."
He raised his hands in exasperation. "I do. I just think you're making a mistake."
"Perhaps.... but it is my mistake to make."
John took a deep breath. He did not want to have to tell her this. "I got the latest report of the war on my way back here. G'Kar sent it through. The Resistance Government attacked and took both your colonies in the Beiridain system. There wasn't even much of a defence put up. Apparently...."
"I do not want to hear this, John. Please.... do not tell me." There was a tremor in her voice. Her inner serenity did not run entirely all the way through. "Please...."
He nodded, although of course she could not see him do it. "I understand," he said softly. He did not want to hear it either. Throughout the war he had been able to reassure himself by believing that humanity were the good guys, the innocent victims, and yet now.... if even half of what he had heard about the way the Minbari were being treated, he wasn't sure he wanted to be a part of humanity any longer. The incident with the Babylon had only heightened his concern. He had refused to destroy his old ship, and yet the very idea of Drakh being on board.... of being allies....
"I'd better go and get some rest," he said, awkwardly. "Thank you, Delenn."
She nodded softly, her back still to him. He knew that she would not turn round until he left the room.
And she didn't.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

"I miss you."
"Yeah, I bet you do. You're off having the time of your life, being a young, gung-ho fighting champion, leaving me stuck here, doing boring old archaeological work and digging things up."
"Hey, any time you want to trade, let me know. You can do the getting shot at, terrorised, screwed over and put in dangerous situations and I'll do the rummaging around in the dirt."
Dr. Mary Kirkish laughed, and Commander David Corwin laughed with her. It was.... hard being away from her, but he survived. They both did. Neither had any choice. "Well, my mother always told me never to go out with a soldier."
"Why? Was she afraid of our charm, style, sophistication, devilish appeal...?"
"No.... She just knew the sense of humour you guys have."
"Hah hah. Have I told you the cat story yet?"
"Not in at least.... six minutes. So what's happening over there then?"
"What happened to not talking shop?"
"Anything rather than the cat story, please."
"Well.... not much at the moment. We got back off patrol. The Streibs attacked the Llort homeworld. Very nasty. Now we're.... loafing around for a bit. The Captain's gone down to the surface, while I'm stuck in charge of this here tin can. It's good to see him get a bit of a rest, actually. If anyone can manage it, Delenn can."
"So all's quiet on the Kazomi Seven front?"
"You could say that. What about Sanctuary?"
"Bester's up to something. He's been in a foul mood all week. Garibaldi's being run ragged, and Lianna's stressed. The baby's been ill. He's more or less okay now, but things looked a bit scary for a while."
"Have they decided on a name for him yet?"
"Still a bone of contention, although I half think they only argue about it to keep each other on their toes."
"Well, as long as they get one by the time he starts having children of his own, I suppose. I.... I wish there was an easier way of doing this. I haven't seen you in person for months now."
"I'll survive. We both will. We have to."
"That doesn't mean I stop missing you."
"That's sweet.... Has Captain Sheridan worked out that you're using the Gold Channel for these messages yet?"
"No.... what he doesn't know won't hurt him."
"As long as he doesn't see the phone bill." Corwin's link beeped and he muttered something under his breath. "I heard that," Mary said, smiling. He made a face at her.
"Yes?" he said, answering the message.
"Commander," it was Major Krantz, in charge of the bridge at the moment. "You'd better come up here and see this. It's.... heh.... well...."
"Well what?"
"You'd better call the Captain. You've seen Vorlon ships before, right?"
"Sure. There were a load at the Second Line."
"That's right, sir. There's also one here."
"I better had get the Captain, hadn't I?"
"You better had, sir."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Not the One. No, not the One.
It was dark here, but nowhere was the darkness more pronounced than in the bearing of Sinoval, Holy One of the Minbari and now Primarch Nominus et Corpus of the Soul Hunters. He sat, slumped on the chair which more and more resembled a throne. He sat, and brooded, and remembered, while all around him the Soul Hunters carried on their business, collecting and 'preserving' their souls, and waiting for him to die.
He hadn't seen the Primarch Majestus et Conclavus for a while now. He was off doing whatever it was he did. The leader in both politics and religion - or something like that - he was probably running this place, this mammoth spaceship they called Cathedral. Strictly speaking Sinoval should be in charge now, but he had never had much interest in running things. That had never been a part of his agenda. And now.... he had little interest in anything.
Not my destiny. No, hers.
Zha'valen.
He remembered her face, her twisted, alien face. Was that the face of the future of Minbar? Almost better to be dead than to see the future of his people become like that. Certainly better to be dead than to be here, like this.
Minbari did not like the dark as a rule. Their Hall of the Grey Council was often dark, but that was a metaphor, representing the courage of the light from within the darkness. Actually, Sinoval had never really minded the dark. Cathedral seemed dark everywhere; the Soul Hunters evidently did not suffer from the same disabilities as the Minbari, unless they kept it this way specifically to annoy him. For all that he led them now, there was still no love lost between Minbari and Shagh Toth.
Two of them were out there, in the darkness, watching him, waiting for him to die. Then his soul would be theirs, his payment for his rule here. He had hoped for time to devise a plan to escape such a fate, but then he had not anticipated hearing the news he had received on his arrival.
Not my destiny. Hers.
Sinoval looked around him, feeling.... something. A signal of sorts. He was not sure.... how.... There was a lot about this place that he had not been told, but.... surely there was....
He started. Everything beneath the throne was suddenly swept away, covered by some sort of holographic display. It was the space around them, around Cathedral. It surrounded Sinoval, leaving him floating there on his throne, staring out into space.
Holographic imaging technology. Very like that which the Minbari had. Coincidence? Sinoval was beginning to suspect that there was a larger connection there than he was being told about.
But that was for another day. A ship was coming into view. A nondescript trading ship, such as could belong to any of the League races. But why would a trading ship be coming here?
He rose to his feet, and his two Soul Hunter guards materialised by his side.
"Someone is.... here?" he said. "A ship is arriving."
"It is not important," said the first of his guards. He was not even sure it had a name. He wouldn't have cared if it had.
"No.... it is. Take me to the docking bays." Something, anything to break the tedium, to break the darkness. Something.... someone.
But why did he seem to think that there was something.... strange about this new arrival? His warrior instincts, which had rarely let him down, they were screaming at him.
But were they screaming an alert.... or a warning?

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

"You're joking, of course?"
For all John's dumbfounded stare at the figure before them, Delenn knew that he was nowhere near as suspicious as he seemed. No, in fact he was.... afraid. Although he was not showing it. As for Delenn herself, she was afraid too.
The figure before them was human. He was unkempt, unshaven, dirty. He smelled too, not just of dirt and grease and sweat, but of.... of foulness, of a distinct and almost tangible wrongness like meat left out too long to go bad.
"What?" the human snapped. "Do you think I came all this way just to joke with you? No, I didn't. I was sent here to test both of you, to make sure that you are the two important people you're meant to be as opposed to the pathetic children you look like at the moment. This is not a joke."
"And you have proof of this, of course? Proof you're from the Vorlons?"
The arrival of a Vorlon ship had caused quite a stir here. Especially when a human emerged from it, a human who had demanded to see John and Delenn - alone, of course - and test them in some way. John had been suspicious and very doubtful, but Delenn.... she had been expecting something like this for a long time. She might have given up her place in the future, but the future evidently had not given up on her.
"Other than the fact that I came here in a Vorlon ship? Listen to me, you worthless, pathetic piece of crap! I'm here to test you, or to kill you. Maybe both. Are you going to agree to the testing, or am I going to have to arrange to have this planet blasted from orbit?"
"You're welcome to try, you...."
"John," Delenn said quickly. This was getting dangerously out of hand. "Please.... we cannot anger the Vorlons. Just.... do as he says."
"Delenn, this is insane. What gives him the right to...?"
"John...."
He groaned softly and stepped back a little. "Fine. For you." He then looked at the human. "This had better be serious."
"Oh, it is. Very very serious. I will need a place far away from other people. Somewhere quiet and dark and undisturbed. Preferably a building with at least two rooms."
"I know somewhere suitable," Delenn said, her heart slowly sinking. She had tried running from her responsibilities, and now they were running to claim her. "We will not be disturbed. But.... would you like some.... refreshment first? Something to eat...."
"I have taken neither food nor drink for many years, and your politeness is wasted on me. I am here to perform my duty. Nothing more."
"May we at least know your name?"
"No. Now take me to this place. And hurry. The sooner I am finished here, the sooner I can be on my way."
Delenn looked up at John. His face was filled with anger. She gently reached out to touch him, but he shrank away. He would not stand for this. He would react badly, she knew it. She whispered a silent prayer that he would survive this inquisition. That they both would.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Sinoval, not surprisingly, found a number of Soul Hunters waiting at the docking bays as the strange ship arrived. They formed an honour guard, similar to that which had greeted him on his arrival. An honour guard.... or a defensive force?
"You know who is coming?" he asked, unable to shake the.... feeling that this visitor was not going to bode well. The Soul Hunters did not speak. "You know who is coming?" Still silence. "Answer me or...."
"Violence is rarely the answer." Sinoval turned. The voice was softly-spoken, urbane, polite, in flawless, unaccented Lenn-ah. It was also coming from a human, who stepped out of the darkness. The Soul Hunters nearby suddenly snapped to attention.
"It has always served me well enough in the past," he spat. "Who are you?"
"A very dangerous question to ask," replied the human, smiling. "What is a Minbari doing in Cathedral?"
"Running the place. What is an Earther doing here?" Sinoval was readying himself for battle, slipping his dagger from his belt. He doubted he had anything to fear from a human, but this one.... there was something about him that appalled his senses. This one did not look like a warrior, but there was still an element of danger in him.
The human's composure cracked for a moment. "You're in cha...? Well, that explains a lot. Some sort of invasion, was it? A military coup?"
"Far from it. I offered them a deal, and was accepted. Now, who are you?"
"Who are you?"
Sinoval started, standing bolt upright. He knew the significance of that question. Oh, it was a simple enough question, but the way the human said it.... Now he knew what it was he had been sensing about this human. "I am.... who I am. You will come with me." Sinoval looked up at the Soul Hunters, openly daring them to defy his authority. They did not, and stood aside as the human walked up to Sinoval, and nodded briefly.
"Of course. I am sure the Primarch Majestus et Conclavus will be able to sort out this little.... misunderstanding."
"I doubt it. What is your name, human? So that I can mark it on your soul jar when I give your soul to the Shagh Toths here."
"I can't see that happening, but in the interests of cross-cultural understanding.... the name is Morden. A pleasure to meet you."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

"Right, now what the hell is this about?"
John Sheridan looked around the darkened room and fought down the urge to run away, to shout, to scream. He did not like darkness. Too many paths in his life had led him there. Always to darkness. And this time there was no Delenn to bring him light. She was in the next room, waiting.
The nameless Inquisitor fished something out of a pouch at his belt, and handed it over. It was a collar. "Put it on," he ordered.
"Like hell!"
"You will put it on. Some of my colleagues prefer manacles, but I think a collar works better. There's.... appropriate symbolism there. Put it on."
"Not until I get some answers. What is this test meant to prove anyway? We don't owe you or the Vorlons anything!"
"Oh? Well, they might not agree with you. You have fallen from the path. Both of you, although she more than you. You were never destined to be very much, really. Oh, perhaps you could have been, but that was when humanity actually meant something in the galaxy. Now, you're nothing. Worse than nothing. What you've done.... well, it's going to take a lot of hard work to undo. Perhaps you'll be able to help undo it. Perhaps not. That's what I'm here to find out. From you, anyway. From her.... well.... that's more serious."
"What do you mean? What do you need to find out from Delenn?"
"Find out from her.... Not a great deal. At least you had the excuse of being ignorant. That or stupid. She.... she has no excuse. None at all. She knew everything, and she still screwed up spectacularly. She's going to need a big hand to get back on the path. That.... or help digging a grave for herself off it."
"If you hurt her, by God I swear I'll...."
"You'll do what? Kill her, like you did Anna, when she fell from the path? Yes, I know about that, you needn't look so surprised. I know everything. Now put that collar on. The sooner it's on, the sooner I can get this finished and go home."
"Why you? Why did the Vorlons send you? Why didn't they come themselves?"
"Who said they didn't? And as for why they chose me.... I'm.... a fit vehicle for the testing and torture of others. Now put.... on.... the.... collar!"
Glaring at him, John snapped the collar shut around his neck. "There, now I've got this fascinating accessory on, what happens next?"
The Inquisitor held up something in his hand. A control panel of some kind. "This happens." He pressed a button.
John's world dissolved in pain - complete, utter agony. His body convulsing, he tumbled to the floor, almost falling into unconsciousness as he landed. Only dimly aware of anything, he did know that he could not move. He could hardly even breathe.
"That was very satisfying," said the Inquisitor. He got something else from his pouch, and placed it beside John. "There, I'll get back to you later. After I've killed the worthless reject on the other side of the door. Maybe you have some excuse. Maybe you can even be redeemed. I can't see that happening with her though. She knew what the stakes were and she screwed up big time.
"I'm going to have to kill her. See you later."
John watched helplessly as he left, walking into the room where Delenn was waiting. The door closed behind him and for a while there was nothing. Then, there was a scream. And another, and another.... and many more. He could not move, could not even twitch his finger. Nothing.
Except his eyes. These he could move. It was worth it just to look at anything other than that door. The door he could do nothing to get to.
His eyes fell on the object the Inquisitor had placed on the floor beside him.
It was a black rose.