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HOW strange, Shryne thought as he looked at the comatose human before him. This is the fabled Starkiller. This is the one man whose hand has reached out across the galaxy to touch so many people. It hardly seems possible, but.... Shryne had learned long ago never to judge by appearances.
He stepped back slowly and let the door close behind him. Sheridan would be very comfortable in there until he awakened. The drug on Lady Elrisia's cleverly hidden gloves was nothing more than a soporific. Sheridan would be unconscious for a while, but he would soon recover.
Killing him now would be too easy.
"And there were no problems?" he asked. His voice was hoarse, a slow rasping whisper, like steel running across marble. "No deviations from the plan?"
"No," replied Lady Elrisia, far too quickly for her to be telling the truth. Shryne knew that she was lying, and he knew that she knew that. "Well," she added. "Not many."
She was a foul creature, unworthy of even the respect Shryne accorded Starkiller. For all his crimes, Sheridan was a warrior, as were Marrit and H'Klo, but Elrisia.... for her Shryne held nothing but contempt.... contempt and a lingering wariness. Her weapons were far more subtle than pike, or sword, or gun. He trusted her precisely because she was so unworthy of trust.
He remained silent, letting her wait. H'Klo was beside her, but he would say nothing. He never did. The Narn had not spoken a single word since his homeworld had been bombed with asteroids.
"We.... um.... we ran into Ambassador Delenn. I don't think I killed her. How was I to know this poison had such an effect on Minbari. All I did was scratch her a little."
Shryne said nothing, but Lady Elrisia was perceptive enough to realise that this silence was far more dangerous than any ranting or raving. Of course she had not known how deadly the drug was to Minbari - but Shryne had. He had wanted to test her, to determine where her allegiances lay. Would she use this weapon against him?
"Delenn is Satai," Shryne said at last. "For all she has done, she must be accorded the respect due to that position. If she dies, then she dies." He fell silent again, staring into the darkness all around him. He preferred darkness to light. It reminded him of the darkness within his own soul.
"They will be coming soon," he said. "And we will be ready for them."
* * * * * * *
Commander Susan Ivanova looked at the prone form of the woman on the bed and she felt torn between an urge to burst into tears and an urge to kill someone. Ambassador Delenn was a close friend, but it was more than that. Delenn represented hope for the future between human and Minbari. If she died....
"What news, Stephen?" she asked as Dr. Franklin came into view.
"Not good, I'm afraid. The wounds in themselves aren't serious, but she received a massive dose of a rare drug. To humans, it acts as a general anaesthetic. To Minbari, it can well be fatal."
"But what about her biology? She's neither human nor Minbari."
"I know, and that may be all that's keeping her alive. She's on life support at the moment. It may be that she can come out of this herself. Maybe she can't. I've no idea." He paused, and looked back at Delenn. "Any word on the Captain."
"None. It's as if he just disappeared. I mean, that should be impossible, right, but.... I just don't know. There's got to be alogical explanation for this."
"We'll see. Have you spoken to Marcus about this?"
"No. Should I have?"
"It might be a good idea."
"I.... aw hell! Maybe, yeah. I'm sorry, Stephen. I'm just.... tired."
"I know, and as your doctor, I'm telling you to get some sleep. There's nothing you can do for Delenn at the moment. You should rest."
"You've been a lot more mellow since your Walkabout. I don't know. One of us around here has got to keep some sort of perspective. Good night, Stephen."
"Good night, Susan."
As she left, Susan wondered if he were going to follow his own advice. Probably. He had changed since his return from Walkabout. Whatever he had meant to uncover, he'd managed it. Susan wondered idly if it would work for her. Just drop everything and start walking, abandon all her responsibilities and stresses and....
"And get stabbed in the back and left to die," she muttered. "Yeah, good one."
She was still thinking and ruminating so much that her feet - acting on automatic, with no discourse to the rest of her body - lead her to the Captain's office, rather than to her room. Security had sealed it off, but even with two or three guards around investigating, the room looked empty. Susan remembered how it had looked while the Captain was at Z'ha'dum. And now that was happening all over again.
"Oh hello, Commander," said Zack, rising to his feet to meet her. "How's the Ambassador?"
"Not good. Have you picked anything up here?"
"Not much. The Captain had an appointment with a Centauri lady just before he.... ah.. disappeared. The Lady Elrisia of the House of Montagne. She's nowhere in sight, so we can assume that she's involved somehow. But no Centauri lady could have just carried the Captain away, even if she could get out without anyone seeing her, which she didn't. We have at least three eye witness who saw her leave here. Alone."
"Hmm. Well, it's a start. Do we know where this Lady Elrisia is staying?"
"We're running it through now. It can't be that hard to find. We haven't had that many Centauri through here recently."
"Thank you. Do what you can. I'm going to check with Londo, see if he knows anything about this Lady Elrisia."
"The Emperor? But...."
"He owes us a favour. In fact, Zack, he owes us for not slinging him right off this station two years ago."
"Yes, Ma'am. Er.... good luck."
"We shouldn't need luck, Zack."
This time she deliberately avoided going to her rooms, making for C&C. Corwin was on duty there, as always. Susan thought that he was the only person on the station who was off duty less than she was. "Patch me through to Centauri Prime," she told him. "I need to speak with Emperor Mollari."
After spending a few minutes tapping her fingers angrily against the control panel and wanting very much to punch the screen in, Londo's face appeared.
"Ah my good and dear Commander," he said. "A pleasure as always. And how are you? Well, I trust?"
Another one, Susan thought irritably. Was everybody happy these days except her? Well, at least she now had a third option for happiness. Get married, get stabbed in the back, or become Emperor. She preferred the second option. It sounded the least painful of the three.
"I'm fine, your Majesty," she said cautiously.
"Oh, Commander. No need for such formality. Londo is fine."
"Thank you.... Londo. Listen, I'm sorry about this, but I really need your help."
"Of course. Whatever you ask for."
"Do you know a Centauri lady called Elrisia? Of the House of Montagne?"
"The House of.... Oh. Her. Yes. Yes, indeed I do know her, Commander, to my ever lasting regret. She.... how can I best describe her? Did you ever meet my beloved wives while they visited the station?"
"No."
"Ah. She is all of them rolled into one. She is a harpy.... a harridan. A.... a.... a word I should really not use before a lady such as yourself. She was the wife of an.... old acquaintance of mine named Lord Refa. She lied about her House by the way. Refa met an.... unfortunate demise on the Narn homeworld amidst accusations of treason. As punishment for his treason, his whole House was dissolved and everyone therein sold as slaves. Unfortunately, the Lady Elrisia managed to escape that fate. A great shame really."
"Would she have any reason to dislike the Captain?"
"Captain Sheridan? I do not think so. She has never, to my knowledge, visited the station. Unless.... Oh, now I remember. Do you recall that unpleasant incident a few years ago where you destroyed one of our ships which was trying to destroy a Narn ship to which the Captain had given sanctuary. Her son was commanding that ship. He was a worthless wastrel, of course, but it was a blow to her. Hardly a loss if you ask me. Why this interest, Commander? Is she on the station?"
"Ah.... no, Emperor. Thank you. It was just.... something I heard about."
"Are you sure? There are several standing warrants for her arrest back here if you want something to charge her with should you arrest her. Personally, executing her would be a favour to the world as a whole." He paused and looked over his shoulder. "Yes, all right Vir! I am coming! I swear, Commander, I sometimes think this job is more trouble than it is worth. Is there anything else?"
"Ah, no Emperor. Thank you for your help."
"Given freely and gladly."
The viewscreen went blank and Susan sat back, sighing softly. This did not sound good. This definitely did not sound good.
* * * * * * *
Neroon supposed he should continue the pretence about not knowing he was followed, but he didn't like it. He was a warrior of the Star Riders clan, after all, and a warrior did not take kindly to being trailed everywhere. Still, it was a precaution taken by Captain Sheridan. A precaution Neroon did not think to be necessary, but one that he did not overly object to. At least it meant he was showed due respect for his status.
He rounded the corner, nearing his quarters. If he limped slightly, he refused to acknowledge it, and absolutely no one would pick him up on it. Marcus was getting much better with the pike. Much better.
Neroon suddenly paused and hesitated. Something.... something was not right. Someone was nearby. Someone who shouldn't be. Warrior's instincts forged in fire and battle shouted at him. He pulled the pike from his belt slowly, not extending it, but keeping it ready.
He spun around instantly, moving with a grace almost lyrical. No one was there. At least, that was what his eyes told him. His other senses told him something very different.
A body fell forward, slumping to the ground at his feet. It was an Earther, dressed in the costume of a security guard. Neroon slowly knelt down and checked his pulse. The man was dead, his throat crushed.
"They die so easily, don't they?"
Neroon extended his staff and looked around. Again, he saw nothing.... with his eyes.
There was a shimmering and someone appeared before him. One moment he had not been there. The next he was. It was a Minbari. Neroon could tell that by the way he moved and stood. A Minbari warrior at that. Neroon could not see his face, however. He was cloaked and hooded.
"Who are you?" Neroon asked. He was speaking in Lenn-ah, the language of the Warrior caste.
"An old friend. I hear you have risen far, Shai Alyt Neroon. Good. Wouldn't Durhan be proud?"
"How do you know of.... Valen's Name!"
"Yes, Neroon. It is I." The voice was hoarse and chilling, but one Neroon now recognised. "And I have a question for you, old friend. What do you want?"
* * * * * * *
Susan couldn't put it off any longer. She had to go and see Marcus. She didn't want to. The fact that he had not come and seen her indicated that he hadn't yet heard about the incident. Either that or he had heard about it and had taken matters into his own hands. Either way, Susan would have to go and see him, if only to stop him doing something stupid. Like tearing about the whole station to find out who had done this. If anyone was going to tear apart the station to find out who did this, it would be Susan herself.
"Come in," he said to her activating his door bell. She did so and came to an abrupt halt two steps inwards, barely noticing the door closing behind her.
Marcus was sitting cross-legged on the floor, wearing only his trousers. His chest was covered with bruises and marks and scratches, and Susan couldn't help but stare. He appeared to be meditating.
"Ah, Susan," he said, rising to his feet. "Good to see you. Let me guess, you want to cook me dinner this time?"
"Um, well...." For one of the few occasions in her life, Susan Ivanova was utterly speechless.
"Ah, I see," he said. "Practising with Neroon. He's much too good for me, I'm afraid. At least he hasn't broken anything this time. So, what can I do for you?"
"Um...." It hadn't been his bruises that Susan was staring at. She blinked, to clear her head. "I think you'd better sit down, Marcus. Something's happened to the Captain and Ambassador Delenn."
"Yes?" he whispered, sitting back on his bed - the only actual piece of furniture anywhere in the room. "What?"
Slowly, never raising her voice or breaking away from her toneless, matter of fact presentation, she related what had happened, at least as far as she knew.
"Ah," he said, when she was finished. "I see. I imagine Mr. Allen is investigating."
"Yes."
"And I imagine Delenn is safe in Medlab."
"Yes."
"Good, then there's only one thing I can do to help. Find the Captain." He picked up his tunic - discarded on the bed - and pulled it on.
"Just like that?" Susan said.
"Yes."
"I thought you'd be.... uh, mad or something."
"Oh I am, but I'll save the anger until I find out who did this."
"Fine. Mind telling me how you're going to do that?"
"With any investigation, all you need is that one first clue. One simple lead. Once you've got that, it's all a matter of persistence, dedication and hard work."
"Okay, fine. How are you going to get that one lead?"
"Hit someone. Very hard." He picked up that absurd pike weapon of his. "Do you want to come with me?"
Despite herself, Susan was smiling. "Certainly. Who else would keep you out of trouble? You do know where to find this someone to hit."
"We'd better hit a lot of people, I think. Just to be sure we've got the right one."
"I can live with that." Susan smiled again. There were few things as therapeutic in times of stress as simple, mindless violence.
* * * * * * *
Alone in his darkened cell, Captain Sheridan woke up. His whole body ached and he had no idea of where he was. "Delenn?" was his first conscious thought. He tried to rise, but his head swam and he lay back down again. "Delenn?"
"Not quite," whispered a voice. Sheridan cocked his head. Everything here was dark. He couldn't see anyone.
"Who is that? Where am I?"
"Somewhere you don't want to be, traitor. Believe me."
"Who are...?" He gasped as a boot thudded into his stomach. Retching silently, he pulled back, raising his arms to use as some sort of shield.
"That was just the beginning," snapped the voice. A human voice. "This isn't over, traitor. It'll never be over. Not until you're dead."
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