| A Dark, Distorted Mirror |
Synopsis |
Volume Four
A Future, Born in Pain
Prologue - The World Standing Still
THE galaxy awoke a very different place the morning after Delenn's departure from Kazomi 7. She had made the journey from the best of motives, and had left behind four messages to explain her reasons. She was not to know that three of these messages would never be received. Sheridan, under the command of the Vorlons, inexplicably deleted his. Those sent to Lyta and Lethke were intercepted and deleted. Only Sinoval received his, and discovered why Delenn had gone to certain death on Z'ha'dum. Unlike Delenn, he realised the true reason the Vorlons had insisted on that price: they wanted to turn Sheridan into a weapon they could use against the Shadows, using her death as the means of accomplishing this. He began to make plans to go to Kazomi 7 and warn the Alliance of what they faced.
Elsewhere, plans were developing slowly. Morden had escaped from his imprisonment on Centauri Prime. G'Kar's departure from Kazomi 7 was explained when he arrived in the Royal Palace, to convince Londo to come with him to the Alliance, to seek to join the Centauri and the Alliance together against their mutual enemy. Both were unaware that an enemy was rising on the homeworld itself. Lord Kiro was now leader of the Shadow Criers. Through a mixture of fear and deception he brought Londo's wife Mariel into his order, planning to bring Centauri Prime down in blood and fire.
Meanwhile Bester went into hiding, aware that the Shadows would be seeking him. Sanctuary was destroyed and he fled, ready to wait and watch, until the time was right to return.
And finally, Delenn arrived at Z'ha'dum.
Part One - The Fiery Trial Through Which We Pass
Delenn's arrival at Z'ha'dum was not only problematic for the Alliance. The Shadows had little idea of what to do with her now that she had landed in their laps. Sending her back to Kazomi 7 with a Keeper was impossible and they knew she would not willingly join their cause. Ambassador Sheridan was left to decide whether to send her to Proxima for trial as a war criminal and hence win a propaganda victory, or merely kill her out of hand.
On her arrival Delenn was shocked to learn that both Ivanova and Neroon were there. Neroon had not died on the Ranger mission two years before, but had apparently joined the Shadows of his own free will. This not surprisingly shocked her, but she resolved to continue with her original plan. She had asked Vejar for an explosive device, one that would be undetected by Shadow surveillance, and capable of destroying much of the city. Ready to sacrifice herself in this way, Delenn learned to her horror that Vejar had lied to her. The device was merely a message capsule. A time of great decision was coming for her, the one of which Elric had spoken to her. It was necessary that she be here to make that decision, and vital that she live long enough to make it, for it would affect far more than just her life. It would affect the future far more than she could possibly imagine. Learning of this, Delenn was left with no choice but to wait.
It was possible she would not have to wait long, however. Sheridan, believing she had been abducted by a Shadow agent, set off in the Babylon to rescue her. He and Corwin arrived at Z'ha'dum, expecting to have to fight their way to the surface. Surprisingly, they were met by Ambassador Sheridan. He explained to his son what had happened to him, how he had been captured by the Minbari, tortured by Jha'dur and eventually handed over to the Shadows, where he chose to serve them, hoping to help strengthen and protect humanity and achieve revenge on the Minbari in the process. He agreed to take John and Corwin to the surface to see Delenn and prove that she was alive and well.
There were problems on the surface, however. Neroon had come to Delenn, pleading with her to join the Shadows, concerned that she would be killed. She in turn tried to convince him to turn against them and help her escape. His dilemma was resolved when Ivanova arrived. There was someone on Z'ha'dum who could help them, someone who had been talking to her in her dreams. Neroon finally chose love over duty and helped them, as they made for the depths of the planet.
The Shadows tried to conceal Delenn's escape from Sheridan, but their attempts to do this only convinced Sheridan that she had been killed. He and Corwin fought their way from the surface to the Babylon. Shadow warships arrived to prevent them escaping, but in an astounding display of power, Lyta drove off the Shadow ships, and the Babylon managed to flee.
In the depths of Z'ha'dum, Delenn, Neroon and Ivanova were finally caught by the pursuing Shadows. Neroon was killed defending Delenn, and Ivanova fell into a vast chasm. Delenn was knocked out, and as she fell unconscious, she heard a strange and unfamiliar voice begin to speak to her.
Meanwhile, on Kazomi 7, the Alliance Council was becoming fractured without Delenn. G'Kar and Londo arrived on the planet to begin preparations for Centauri representation in the Alliance. Sinoval also arrived, but rather than present his evidence of Delenn's 'abduction' to the Council immediately, he began talking to people to determine what they thought of her disappearance, and especially of the Vorlons. He spoke with Lethke, threatened Ambassador Ulkesh, received no help from Vejar and shared at least some of his concerns with Londo and G'Kar. They both requested more information, and he showed them Delenn's message to him. He also took them to the Well of Souls, where they each learned a little of the choices awaiting them.
Elsewhere, on Proxima 3, war hero Dexter Smith was finding out a little about the corruption within his former home, Sector 301, called the Pit. The local crime boss, Mr. Trace, sent one of his agents, Nelson Drake, to 'persuade' him not to interfere with what was going on in the Pit. During the fight Drake was killed, and Smith found himself charged with murder. Seeking somewhere to hide, Smith met up again with Talia, and the two formed a temporary alliance of necessity. Smith wanted to remove Trace's stranglehold from Sector 301, while Talia sought to uncover his involvement with the missing telepaths, including her partner, Byron.
They broke into Trace's nightclub, Tron, and found evidence that Trace was involved in the abduction and transportation of telepaths. They were interrupted, however, before they could discover more, and were forced to flee. What they had uncovered only strengthened their resolve to find out the whole story. Neither were aware that someone else was becoming interested in the two of them: Mr. Welles.
Part Two - The Opening of an Unexpected Door
While unconscious, Delenn was greeted by Lorien, the First One. Lorien questioned her about many things, making her aware that by her part in the destruction of Earth she had also doomed humanity's future, turning them into an angry, vengeful people, pushing them towards the Shadows, and ultimately, as a result, to their own damnation.
Lorien then presented her with the choice Elric had prophesied. He had the power to return her to Kazomi 7. She could marry John, have children, live happily and build a little haven of light against the Darkness, or she could endure a lifetime of pain and sorrow and misery, but create a brighter future by doing so. Tearfully, Delenn chose the second path, willing to go to Proxima and endure a war crimes trial there, hoping to make some small recompense for her part in turning humanity to the Shadows.
On Kazomi 7, Sinoval was at last ready to address the Alliance Council. His attempts to turn the Alliance against the Vorlons failed when word came that Minbari ships were attacking Drazi trading vessels. Sinoval knew this to be the work of Sonovar, but few others believed this. While he was trying to convince the Council of this, Sheridan returned, telling them that Delenn was dead. Sinoval saw the Vorlon manipulation within Sheridan's body, and in a fury he swore to destroy all the Vorlons utterly, an oath that was misunderstood by many to refer to humanity or the Alliance. In a rage, he left, destroying the data crystal containing Delenn's message as he went. Once he had returned to Cathedral, he spoke to the Primarch Majestus et Conclavus of an idea he had been developing for some time.
Meanwhile Morden returned to Proxima, following his escape from Centauri Prime. He met up with William Edgars, 'the old man', the secret head of IPX and a Vorlon agent. Edgars showed Morden the new device they had been working on - a device which held Byron trapped and unconscious. It was not ready to be activated yet, but it soon would be. The only other people who knew anything about this were Talia and Dexter, who were growing slowly closer, with Talia revealing Dexter to be a telepath, albeit a weak one.
On Kazomi 7, after Sinoval's departure, a new fleet of ships for the Alliance to use was provided by the Vorlons. The ships were called Dark Stars.
Part Three - A Universe of Majesty and Terror
Sinoval had been toying with an idea for some time, and the discovery that Sheridan had been influenced by the Vorlons finally gave him the conviction to complete it: he wanted to take a Vorlon soul. He returned to Tarolin 2 to gather his forces, and there he met Sherann, a cousin of Kats. She had come with a plea for help from Sinoval.
There were some who had been left behind on Minbar following the evacuation, and some who had been subsequently captured by the Vorlons. They were dying on Minbar, and she pleaded with Sinoval to come and help them. This was a trap by the Vorlons to lure Sinoval to them, but he did not care, pursuing his plan with a fanatical desire for revenge. He enlisted Sherann as bait, and set off for Minbar. The Primarch Majestus et Conclavus tried to dissuade him but failed, and Kats, disillusioned and heartbroken, did not even try.
At Minbar, Sinoval lured a Vorlon into the Temple of Varenni, using Sherann as bait. There followed an epic fight, a titanic struggle, where Sinoval broke open the Vorlon's encounter suit, from which it emerged as an angel. The Vorlon took Sherann, holding her hostage, but Sinoval, his mind passed beyond rational thought, killed her in cold blood.
Only then did he realise what he had done. He had shed innocent blood within the halls of his people's holiest temple. He had doomed himself, and that was exactly what the Vorlons had intended. Trapped by his own plan, Sinoval was held within the Starfire Wheel, awaiting death, when the Primarch intervened. Sinoval survived and the Vorlon perished, its soul trapped. But when the Wheel was quiet, the Primarch was gone.
Returning to Cathedral to grieve, Sinoval discovered that he was the new Primarch Majestus et Conclavus, that this was his destiny. He was to become a Soul Hunter, connected to the Well of Souls. He also learned the history of the Soul Hunters, that they were members of the First Race who had sought to defy the universe by gaining immortality, and had plunged the galaxy into a terrifying war as a result. They were now dedicated to saving souls, not destroying them, and thus granting immortality of a sort to others.
With this knowledge, Sinoval dedicated himself to a new path. He had a new destiny to fulfill, but first he had to undo the damage that afflicted the Minbari. He had to deal with Sonovar.
Meanwhile, on Proxima 3, Talia and Dexter were continuing their investigations into the missing telepaths. They broke into Zack Allan's apartment and tried to interrogate him, only to be captured and arrested. Dexter was approached by a mysterious old man - William Edgars, unknown to him - who spoke to him of the dangers of telepaths. Edgars also offered Dexter a place in his organisation, and permitted him time to think about his decision before releasing him.
Talia was not treated so well. She awoke in a laboratory, trapped by strange, organic-like technology. Escaping, she found several telepaths in cryostasis, and was given a chilling message from one of the scientists there shortly before he died. "We created you. Now you are ours to do with as we please." She heard countless voices screaming in her mind, unknowingly tapping in to the Vorlon network. She eventually fled and was reunited with Dexter, more resolved than ever to discover what was happening.
While this was happening Ambassador Sheridan returned to Proxima, bringing Delenn with him. President Clark made much propaganda from her capture and began proceedings for a war crimes trial. Mr. Welles meanwhile spoke of his concerns to Delenn, particularly that humanity was getting involved too deeply with the Shadows, and that the war with the Alliance was a mistake.
Elsewhere Kozorr tried to adapt to life with Sonovar and his renegades and struggled to cope with Tirivail's romantic overtures to him, still hampered by his love for Kats.
Without Delenn, the Alliance was foundering. Many races were wary about going to war with the Shadows, especially the Narns, still preoccupied by their war with the Centauri. Sheridan threatened with expulsion anyone who did not help the Alliance fight the Shadows, and spoke of his intention first to take down their greatest ally: humanity. He led an attack on the colony world of Beta Durani and captured it, thus beginning the war. After this attack, Corwin found a newspaper containing a report that Delenn had been captured.
Mr. Welles meanwhile was making a shocking discovery. Delenn had been subjected to routine medical tests, and they had turned up something very interesting.
She was pregnant.
Part Four - A Future, Born in Pain
Clark ordered the forced abortion of Delenn's pregnancy for political reasons, not wanting any growth of sympathy for her once word of her condition became public. Welles reluctantly agreed, angry with Delenn for not knowing about it, and with himself for not being able to resist Clark's order. Delenn remained conscious throughout the operation, hearing her son's heart beating. Just before he died, she gave him a name:
David.
Part Five - The First Footsteps on the Road to Babylon
Sheridan continued to press home his assault on the human holdings, relentlessly attacking the Shadows wherever he found them. He refused to believe that Delenn was still alive, thinking that the evidence Corwin had uncovered was merely propaganda. Corwin began to worry about his health, and especially about the amount of influence the Vorlons seemed to hold over him.
Delenn was recovering slowly from the horrific operation performed on her. Mr. Welles, sickened at what he had done, made contact with Dexter and Talia. He made a bargain with the two of them - that with his help they would rescue Delenn and he would provide Talia with his files on IPX and guarantee an investigation into corruption in Sector 301.
They both agreed, as he knew they would, and managed to free Delenn from the military hospital where she was being kept, taking her to a secret underground clinic in Sector 301. Talia received the information Welles had promised, but he was arrested and imprisoned before he could launch the Sector 301 investigation. Talia left Proxima, after failing to convince Dexter to come with her. He resolved to stay and continue protecting Delenn.
Sheridan's campaign against humanity and the Shadows received an unexpected boost when he was mysteriously contacted by William Edgars, through his Dark Star. Edgars promised help when Sheridan attacked Proxima, but only if he moved quickly. For some reason Sheridan trusted this information and stepped up his plans, much to Corwin's consternation.
On Proxima Edgars had been moving quickly, taking advantage of the complicated political triangle between Clark, Welles and Ambassador Sheridan. Welles' arrest created a power vacuum, and Edgars also managed to separate Ambassador Sheridan from the secret conspiracy called the Round Table, leaving him alone. In desperation, Sheridan sent a Keeper to claim Clark, only for him to destroy it easily.
Finally, as the Dark Star fleet arrived at Proxima, Clark and Ambassador Sheridan confronted each other and there the truth was discovered. Clark was possessed by a Vorlon. He escaped into the bowels of the Government Building, leaving Ambassador Sheridan to discover his simple message: Scorched Earth.
Desperate to stop whatever it was Clark was planning, Sheridan released Welles, and learned where the Vorlons would be based: the IPX headquarters. He ordered air strikes on the building, but too late. Edgars was ready. He awoke Byron and activated the node of the network that had been installed in an underground bunker.
The Vorlons unleashed the full power of the network in one instant, devastating the Shadowtech ships trying to hold off the Dark Star fleet, and allowing the Alliance ships access to Proxima itself. The Dark Stars themselves reacted strangely to this, but there was no time for Corwin to wonder. The human feet had been neutralised, and he pushed on to Proxima.
Welles and Ambassador Sheridan pursued Clark to a secret chamber, Welles recognising that the Vorlon within Clark intended to turn the defence grid on the planet, with Clark himself taking the blame. They arrived just in time, but were unable to stop him. The Vorlon within Clark tore itself free of his body, killing him, and severely injuring Welles and Ambassador Sheridan. Welles managed to crawl free and send out a desperate message to any who would listen, warning of what was happening.
Corwin heard it and moved to disable the defence grid, only to find his Dark Star would not carry out those orders. Lyta came to him and took his mind to the soul trapped within the ship - a human telepath named Carolyn Sanderson. She was bound to the Vorlon network, and each Dark Star had such a telepath within it. Corwin reasoned with Carolyn and was able to persuade her to break temporarily free of the network's control. This severed the Dark Star fleet from the network and they were able to move against the defence grid. Most of the other Dark Stars joined in, although victory only came through the sacrifice of one of the near-crippled Shadowtech ships - the Saint-Germain.
Elsewhere on Proxima, word of Delenn's presence in Sector 301 reached the ears of Trace, who sought political advantage in the situation. He gathered a mob to lay siege to the clinic, and they caught Delenn and Dexter trying to escape. The mob forced Dexter to shoot Delenn and, at her express request and with a plea for forgiveness, he did so, killing her.
The mob dispersed when word of the battle reached them, but Trace remained. He and Dexter had a score to settle. They fought, with Dexter being beaten almost into unconsciousness, but Zack Allan intervened, ultimately shooting Trace.
Before their eyes, just as the battle overhead was ending, a glowing light surrounded Delenn. She had chosen wisely at Z'ha'dum and had paid the price. As a reward, Lorien returned her to life.
Word soon spread that Delenn had survived, and a cult worshipping her grew quickly. While Sheridan was busily trying to restore order to Proxima, including arresting a badly-injured Welles and trying to find his father, who had disappeared, Corwin followed Delenn's trail. Sheridan still refused to believe she was alive, but after he and Corwin had a fist-fight, he agreed at least to investigate the scene.
At the place where she had died and been resurrected, he found her, and they were at last reunited.
Away from Proxima, there were great things happening. Sinoval's recent ascension and experiences had left him determined to undo the chaos he had brought to the Minbari. That meant dealing with Sonovar. Sinoval prepared a trap, finding the lost Babylon 4 station and restoring the soul of Marrain into a new body in a forbidden ritual. Marrain, although insane, agreed to return to the place where he had first met Valen.
Sonovar's relationship with the Tak'cha was growing even more precarious, as they sought Valen, unaware he had travelled backwards in time. News reached them of the location of Babylon 4, and they interpreted this as a sign of Valen's pleasure. They were determined to go there and reclaim their holy place, as Sinoval had known they would. Sonovar planned to go himself, but his mysterious advisor Forell convinced him not to, and he sent Tirivail and Kozorr instead.
Sinoval took Marrain to Babylon 4, and Kats insisted on coming as well, not wishing to fail a second time in her duties as Sinoval's conscience.
On Babylon 4 Sinoval set his trap in motion, finding the first Hall of the Grey Council where he planned to force the vision he had seen in the time-slips, of himself fighting Sonovar and eight of his followers. Marrain took his rightful place at the Shrine of the Z'ondar, where Valen had long ago banished Ramde Zarwin.
Both traps were baited. The Tak'cha came to Marrain, and he managed to overcome his memories and his madness, offering to help the Tak'cha understand why they had been banished. They accepted, and together they left the civil war, taking Marrain to their worldships to speak with their leaders.
Elsewhere on Babylon 4, Kats and Kozorr were finally reunited in a difficult meeting that was complicated further when Tirivail intervened. She attacked Kats in a fury and would have delivered a killing blow had Kozorr not thrown himself in the way. Kozorr was mortally wounded. Aghast at what she had done, Tirivail went with the other warriors to find Sinoval, leaving Kats and Kozorr alone to share his dying moments.
Tirivail and the other warriors fought Sinoval in the place he had foreseen, although he was puzzled as to why Sonovar himself was absent. Sinoval defeated all his opponents but Tirivail, who had him at her mercy. She was unable to kill him, however, and he let her and her companions leave. As she left, she encountered Marrain, who recognised her as the reincarnation of a woman he had known in his time - a woman named Berevain.
Sinoval used the power of the Well of Souls to heal Kozorr, although there were limits to what he could do. He could at best give him a few months more of life, but it was time he and Kats would spend together. The two of them returned to Tarolin 2. Sinoval's plan had not gone exactly as he might have wished, but he had stripped Sonovar of his greatest military asset, and he could now pursue the man himself.
Meanwhile, the Narn / Centauri War was progressing. Lord-General Marrago was planning the assault on the Narn-held world of Tolonius 7, while trying to hide a deadly secret: that it had been he who had asked the Shadows for help during the assault on Centauri Prime last year. The Shadows sent a Drakh emissary to remind him of the price to be paid for that service: a package was to be delivered. But Marrago was not to deliver it himself. His adopted daughter Lyndisty had to do it.
Marrago made ready for the attack on Tolonius, knowing that Warleader G'Sten had stepped down and the Narns had a new Warleader, Na'Tok. The battle was hard and, in desperation, Marrago called for aid from the Shadows once more. Their arrival turned the battle and Tolonius was retaken, but a Narn captain recorded the presence of the Shadows there.
Armed with this information the Kha'Ri went to the Alliance Council, demanding aid against the Centauri. G'Kar was privately sceptical, but the Alliance found the recordings to be genuine. The Alliance banished all Centauri ships and people from their space and threatened war unless they broke off their alliance with the Shadows and permitted observers to confirm this.
Londo was convinced that this was a trick by the Narns or the Shadows and was furious that his old friends G'Kar and Lethke could believe him capable of such a thing. Minister Durano, however, assigned to investigate the matter, quickly realised that Marrago was involved. He gave the Lord-General three options: he could tell Londo, or Durano himself would tell him, or Marrago could take the honourable path: suicide. Marrago refused all three, and Durano gave him little time to decide.
Lyndisty meanwhile had delivered the mysterious package to a nameless nobleman, being injured in a attack on the way. The nobleman was later revealed to be Lord Kiro, and the package a red flower, within which a creature was growing, one that would soon be born into this world.
Part Six - The Disassembly of Shadows
Proxima was in chaos after it was taken by the Alliance. Several of the captains of the fleet had disappeared, including Captains Tikopai and Barnes. Ambassador Sheridan could not be found. Mr. Welles was in hospital recovering from his injuries and awaiting trial.
One night, Welles requested that Delenn come and talk to him. She was also recovering slowly. They talked throughout the night, as he requested confession from her. He talked of his past and his long-dead wife, and he finally apologised for what he had done to Delenn. She apologised in turn, and they were able to forgive each other. Once she had gone, Wells manipulated his life-support controls to deliver a lethal dose of painkillers, ready at last to embrace whatever lay beyond.
Corwin and Sheridan also spoke that night, Corwin desperately trying to hold on to some belief that what he was doing was right. He was shaken by the news Sheridan gave him: about what had been done to Delenn and her baby. He also heard the terrible revelation that on some subconscious level, Sheridan blamed her for what had happened. Ultimately Corwin's faith was shaken even further.
Part Seven - That Which Man Hath Brought Together....
The Shadows were now very much aware that they had lost the war. The younger races were all united and working for the Vorlons. A grim resolution set in amongst them. They had lost, and this time not just for a thousand years, but for ever.
But they were determined to bring as much of the galaxy down with them as they could. Kazomi 7, Centauri Prime, everywhere that had rejected or defied or denied them.... they would suffer.
Proxima 3 was slowly recovering from the war. Dexter Smith and Zack Allan were working together to rebuild Sector 301, removing corruption wherever they could, aided slyly by William Edgars. He had his own plans for Dexter, and encouraged him to seek office in the new Senate, hinting at even higher office than that.
Corwin was trying to come to terms with what was happening, particularly with the presence in his Dark Star. He spoke to Carolyn as much as possible, aided by Lyta. He also tried to reason with Sheridan, whose discovery of what had happened to Delenn had driven a fatal wedge between the two of them. Delenn left to return to Kazomi 7, with Sheridan making no attempt to stop her.
The Shadows soon embarked on the first stages of their revenge on the younger races. Forell encouraged Sonovar to launch a reckless attack on the Alliance shipyards at Greater Krindar, an attack Corwin helped beat off. A nameless assassin killed General Ryan, resulting in a planet-wide shutdown while the killer was hunted.
All of this was nothing more than a distraction, hoping to keep any potential help away from their real concern: Kazomi 7.
Delenn's return to Kazomi 7 had done little more than bring home to her the difficulties the Alliance faced. The Narns were requesting more and more aid to help fight the Centauri. The Drazi were becoming more difficult about bearing the brunt of so many of the attacks. Unknown to her, Vizhak and Taan Churok were plotting against the Vorlons, speculating on the need to find Sinoval, the only one who could help them. Vejar could offer Delenn no help, although his betrayal of her when she went to Z'ha'dum was forgiven. And the growing cult of the worship of the Blessed Delenn made her all the more uncomfortable. G'Kar had gone to Narn to meet with the Kha'Ri and Lyta was always busy, leaving her increasingly alone.
On Proxima, with help from Dexter and Zack, General Ryan's assassin was caught. Edgars arranged to have him interrogated by Byron and the network, and discovered the reason for the distraction. The Shadows were preparing one of their planet killers to attack Kazomi 7. Despite knowing this, the Vorlons ordered that no action be taken. Corwin, however, was able to sense this through his link to Carolyn. He immediately gathered as many Dark Stars as he could and headed for Kazomi 7, abandoning his post. He tried to warn Sheridan, only for his message to be rebuffed.
News of the attack came during a difficult meeting of the Alliance Council, where the Drazi Government was demanding that Kazomi 7 be returned to them. The issue was postponed by the news of the attack, but hardly resolved.
Delenn went to Ulkesh to ask him for help, only to be rejected. Ulkesh would get her off the planet, but there would be no Vorlon assistance. Furious, Delenn went to lead whatever ships she could muster to fight off the attack herself. Corwin and the other Dark Stars arrived just in time, but the battle seemed unwinnable, especially when there could be no help from the Narns.
Vejar however intervened, convinced to do so by an old friend of his: Galen. He worked with Corwin and Carolyn and they managed to destroy the planet killer. Sheridan and forces from Proxima arrived at this point, and the remaining Shadow ships were destroyed.
During the fight, however, Delenn was contacted by one of the Shadows, who appeared to her in a variety of different faces. He tried to explain to her why they were doing what they were doing, and expressed a last wish that things could have been different, but there was no other way now. They would all die, and they would tear the galaxy apart as they perished.
One of their greatest instruments of vengeance was also busy elsewhere. Sinoval was pursuing the end of his campaign against Sonovar. Many of Sonovar's servants were defecting to him following the loss of the Tak'cha, and from them he learned that Sonovar was infected with the disease Jha'dur had given to Kalain, and that Forell's potions were protecting him from it. He sent a messenger to Sonovar warning him of this, and offering him a chance for redemption, but Sonovar did not listen.
Influenced by Forell, Sonovar launched the attack on Greater Krindar. When they were beaten back and all but destroyed, he at last realised what was happening, that he had been used by Forell and by the Shadows. His sole purpose was to shape Sinoval to the form they required. In a rage, Sonovar killed Forell and sent away all his loyal followers, including Tirivail, to surrender to Sinoval. He then began a private war of revenge against the Shadows.
Sinoval set out in pursuit of him and found him at last. His ship had been destroyed, his last few crew members killed, and Sonovar himself was in combat with a monstrous servant of the Shadows. Together the two of them fought and killed it, but Sonovar was dying of his wounds. Sinoval saved his soul, knowing that there would be a chance for redemption eventually, either now, or in a thousand years.
The civil war over, he gathered together his people, including Kats, Takier and others. He announced his intention to leave the Minbari behind, knowing there could be no peace while he was with them. The Grey Council was to be reformed, and Minbar re-colonised. The terraforming operations of the Vorlons had all but removed the corruption in the atmosphere, and the planet would be habitable.
Before he left, however, Sinoval had one last task to perform for his two oldest allies. Before the Well of Souls he performed the ceremony in which Kats and Kozorr were married, one last gift of happiness to both of them.
On Centauri Prime, the Shadows' next stage of vengeance was continuing. The creature Lord Kiro was nurturing was finally born. It rose into the sky, bringing madness and chaos with it. A fleet of Shadow warships appeared in the skies above Centauri Prime. Lord Kiro and his Shadow Criers seized large areas of the palace and the capital.
Morden had returned to Centauri Prime in anticipation of these events. He made Londo an offer. The Vorlons would come and help them in exchange for certain powers when the problem was dealt with. The Shadow influences on Centauri Prime would have to be purged, including Marrago. Londo was shocked to learn of his old friend's actions and sent him away.
Londo sent a desperate message of help to Carn, commanding the fleet on the Narn border. Knowing that all was lost anyway, Carn moved to bring the entire fleet to Centauri Prime. He first sent a message to Warleader Na'Tok, reminding him of the long friendship between G'Kar and Londo, and that there was a greater enemy out there. After a moment's thought Na'Tok allied his fleet with Carn, ready to defend Centauri Prime.
As the bloodshed continued, Londo finally begged Morden for help, and he brought a Vorlon fleet to the planet. While this was happening, Lyndisty faced down Lord Kiro in the throne room, and learned that Kiro intended her to be his bride. During the skirmish, Mariel killed herself with Lyndisty's poisoned dagger, thus completing Lady Ladira's prophecy. The standoff ended when Morden arrived, accompanied by a Vorlon. He destroyed Kiro's mind and sent him stumbling from the city, delirious. Morden then murdered Lyndisty in punishment for her father's actions. Unknown to him, this was witnessed by Lennier, hidden in the shadows and protected by Galen.
The Vorlons killed the Shadow minion and destroyed their fleet. Kiro himself was killed in the aftermath of the battle by a falling piece of a Shadow ship. Morden then went to Londo to claim his payment. Londo however refused to let Marrago be handed over in this manner. He banished him from all Centauri worlds, effectively giving him a chance to flee and hide.
The battle over, Londo realised that he had bartered away the future of his people. In an effort to protect those he cared for he named Durano his Ambassador to Kazomi 7, and sent away Lennier, whose Keeper would soon bring him to the attention of the Vorlons. Ultimately he was left with only Timov for solace.
The only piece of good news was that the conflict with the Narns was over. G'Kar had confronted the Kha'Ri and threatened to go to the people if they continued. His threats worked, and the Kha'Ri began peace talks.
The war was now almost over and the Alliance began to assemble the mightiest fleet it could. Carn, now Lord-General, brought the Centauri fleet alongside Na'Tok and the Narns. The Minbari took steps to join the Alliance and Tirivail and Takier lent their support, although Kozorr refused to participate, happy in his new life as a worker. Durano signed the peace treaty that also brought the Centauri into the Alliance, although he was uncomfortable with many of its terms.
And finally, just before the fleet moved to Z'ha'dum for the final battle, Sheridan and Delenn talked about their relationship and their difficulties. They came to a renewed understanding and managed to overcome everything that had happened to them.
As the fleet arrived at Z'ha'dum they found a vast Shadow fleet waiting for them. The Shadows' leader, the Pale and Silent King, went for a final communion with Lorien, pledging to die in His defence.
Before the battle could start, Ambassador Sheridan went to the flagship to talk to John and Delenn. The Shadows had got him safely away from Proxima, but his injuries were too severe and he was dying. The Shadows were ready to fight and die, but Sheridan took his father around the fleet, and he talked with the people there, learning their ambitions, their hopes, their aspirations, their dreams, everything. Hearing all this, the Pale and Silent King finally understood that there was no shame in being wrong, only in not recognising a mistake.
The Shadows decided to admit their mistakes and leave this galaxy, passing beyond the Rim. They took Ambassador Sheridan, and offered all their vassal races the chance to go with them. Some, like the Drakh, accepted, but others, such as the Z'shailyl, chose to remain.
The Shadow War was over, and the Vorlons moved in to secure Z'ha'dum. It was a time for celebration, but not everyone was happy with the new age of the galaxy.
Part Eight - Meditations and Introspections
At last the war was over, but there were some who were about to learn that peace was a much harder ordeal. Corwin had to cope with an accumulation of bad news all at once. His Dark Star ship was destroyed - scuttled due to fatal damage - and he heard Carolyn's death screams in his mind. He also discovered that Mary Kirkish had died from a tumour. Overwhelmed by the burdens of all that he had experienced, he attempted suicide, only to be rescued by Lyta, who explained that the Vorlons were influencing him, trying to remove one of Sheridan's few remaining friends. She comforted him, and they slept together. While he lay sleeping, she left, continuing her diverted attempt to find Sinoval. Unfortunately, a Vorlon caught her before she could escape from Kazomi 7.
Meanwhile, Sinoval received three most unusual messages. A Shadow spirit reanimated Forell and explained that they had been moulding him, not Sonovar, all along. He was the perfect instrument of chaos and their ultimate weapon against the Vorlons. Sinoval then returned to Cathedral to find that someone had mysteriously appeared within the Well of Souls. It was a human woman named Susan Ivanova, sent there by Lorien. Later, Sinoval began the process of recruiting the first elements of his army to resist the Vorlons, beginning with Marrago.
Elsewhere, Talia finally found where Bester and his companions had been hiding, a concealed space station called Laton. However the station had been attacked and all but destroyed by the Vorlons. All the telepaths had been taken away, and there was only one survivor: Ari Ben Zayn. He and Talia resolved to find those who had been taken and free them, and destroy the network in the process.
Lennier returned to Kazomi 7, just as Sheridan had a new plan, a new dream for the future. A new place was needed, free from all the old ideas and images, somewhere new to build a new age for the galaxy.
A place called Babylon 5.
