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

the scorching, hmm? Him, or you?'

David Sheridan did not reply. He was still holding the piece of paper in his hand, looking at it, trying to think. The Vorlons were based in the IPX headquarters. If the building could be destroyed, then so would they. And Clark if he was there.

But what was their plan? They couldn't do this directly. They would want to blame the Shadows for this. For one terrible moment, Sheridan wondered if he had not done exactly what Clark had wanted. The destruction of an entire dome at the hands of the Shadows would be a powerful tool.

But then he calmed himself. No. Clark had said humanity needed to be taught a lesson, as a punishment for choosing the wrong side. There had been something in his words that had implied.... more....

Much more.

'Scorched Earth,' Welles said again.

'Will you stop staying that?' snapped Sheridan. 'Do you have any idea what it means, or are you just trying to drive me crazy?'

'It's.... I don't know. It's a bit familiar. Clark's.... what is Clark up to?'

'He and the Vorlons want to punish humanity. They want to teach us all a lesson for choosing the Shadows instead of them.'

'I wasn't aware we had a choice.'

'Then you try explaining that to them. The Vorlons don't care about fair. They only care about what's right.... what's right by their twisted logic anyway. Anyway, they were going to punish humanity, and try to blame it on us.'

'How long do you think they have had control of Clark?'

'A few years at least. I've been noticing.... unusual behaviour in him for a while, things that weren't connected to.... what we were doing to him. He was obsessed with Sinoval, if you remember, and eager to push for war with the Alliance, to bring things to this point.'

'The Alliance, yes. This timing can't be a coincidence. The attack on Proxima was rushed. He wanted it to happen now. Just when he was ready. The attack is a distraction, something to draw all the Shadow ships away, all our ships away.

'Why?

'Because what he's doing is going to be public, and not instantaneous. There would be time for someone to stop it, if they weren't distracted.' Sheridan started, and Welles smiled. 'Clark isn't going to lay the blame on the Shadows. You're an abstract. This isn't about you, or me, or the Alliance. It's about the man in the street, and to him the Shadows are just our alien protectors, powerful, but distant. How many of them have even seen a Shadow?

'But Clark.... He's real. He's known, and he's our leader, someone who's been behind the alliance with the Shadows from day one. He's going to take all the blame on himself, and he's left that note as proof.

'He's going to turn the defence grid inwards. To the planet.'

'They wouldn't,' Sheridan breathed.

'If what you've told me is true.... then they definitely would. They....' Welles stopped, and paused.

There was a sudden shriek, and the air around them shimmered. The remaining Shadow flickered into view, screaming alien sounds, its alien body thrashing. Sheridan stumbled, moaning, pain tearing through his mind. He shrank to his knees as the Shadow fell, bone and joint torn apart.

Welles went to Sheridan's side and helped him up.

'I think we'd better hurry,' he said, his voice deadly serious.

* * *

To His Most August Majesty Emperor Mollari II of the Centauri Republic, Keeper of the Four Gates of the Temple, Master of the Starless Sky, Bearer of the Purple Shroud;

From the Council of the United Alliance of Kazomi Seven, authorised by Ministers Lethke zum Bartrando, Kullenbrok, Taan Churok, Vizhak, Ha'Cormar'ah G'Kar, and, in absentia, Captain John Sheridan.

Evidence has reached this Council of an alliance between the military forces of the Centauri Republic and the race of First Ones called the Shadows, with whom we are currently at war. We have studied this evidence in some detail and found it to be entirely convincing. We therefore have no hesitation in dismissing your application for a Centauri embassy on Kazomi Seven.

In addition, all ambassadorial staff on Kazomi Seven have been exiled. No Centauri trading vessels, military ships or diplomatic envoys will be permitted to pass through space controlled by the Alliance or any of our races. Any ships that break this blockade will be fired upon.

Furthermore, should the Centauri Republic employ the assistance of the Shadows in any further engagements with the Narn Regime, we will come instantly to the defence of the Narn Regime and assist them against you in any way possible. Any Centauri assault on Alliance ships, stations or territories will be considered an act of war.

If you can provide conclusive proof before this body that your alliance with the Shadows is over and permit such observations and investigations as are necessary to confirm this, and agree to a substantial Alliance military presence in Centauri space and certain restrictions on the size and use of the Centauri military, we will end the blockade and exile and resume diplomatic relations.

Signed and authorised this day by the members of the Council of the United Alliance of Kazomi Seven.

The more Londo read the contents of the message, the less he believed them. What were they thinking? He looked at the names at the top of the page and found it impossible to credit that any of them could have written that. By the Maker, he had helped rebuild Kazomi 7 after the Drakh invasion. He had promised any assistance they might require as soon as he was in a position to give it. He had been one of their most loyal supporters.

And now this. Lethke, Vizhak, G'Kar! That they would believe.... this! That he would make a deal with....

He had been one of the first of G'Kar's Rangers. His bodyguard was one of G'Kar's Rangers.

He had known anger in his life. He had known sorrow and loss and determination to do what must be done. He had never known all four simultaneously, as he did now.

Lethke's face appeared on the viewscreen. Finally.

'Emperor Mollari,' the Brakiri said. 'This is.... not a good moment.'

'Not a good moment?' Londo replied. 'Not a good moment?' He held up the message, the contents of the diplomatic pouch. 'Tell me, Lethke, when would be a good moment for all my friends to turn on me?'

'Emperor Mollari, we have seen....'

'You have seen? Oh well, then everything is all right! Yes, you have seen some pathetic amateur forgery created by the people we are at war with, and that is enough to convince you to turn against me! How long have we known each other, Lethke? How long have G'Kar and I been working together against the Shadows?

'By the Great Maker, do you honestly think I would authorise something like this?'

'The evidence is.... irrefutable, Emperor Mollari,' Lethke replied uncomfortably. 'It is not a fake, not a forgery. The Shadows assisted your ships in a battle against the Narns.'

'It is a lie!'

'It is no lie.'

'I saw what their servants did at Kazomi Seven. Do you think I would...?'

'What I think does not matter. I am one voice among many. We are at war with the Shadows, and that war will continue until they are destroyed and gone. By whatever Gods you worship, please.... don't make us go to war with you as well.'

'War? Why not, Lethke? Join with your good friends the Narns and come and invade us. We have the homeworld left, you know. And maybe Immolan. Perhaps a few other worlds you can divide up between yourself and the Narns.'

'That is unjustified.'

'And this is not?! We are a free and sovereign race. We have made no deals with the Shadows, and any evidence that says otherwise is a lie. If any Alliance ships come into our space, we will not hesitate to deal with them, understand? We have fought the Narns for long enough. We will fight you as well if we have to.'