others. I cannot offer it to them, to any of them. That is not our way.'
'Then it should be. I will make it our way.'
'What your propose.... it is dangerous, brother.'
'Of course it is. What is the point otherwise, hmm?'
'I see. I think you should go now. Something is going to happen here. The air has been thick with warnings all day.'
'You are on a former Drazi world, brother. The air is always thick. How you tolerate it I do not know.'
'I am serious. I pray we do not see each other again.'
'I think we will.'
'As do I. Go with grace, and power be your servant, not your master. I think we will talk again, brother.... Galen.'
'Oh, we will. Be sure of that.'
Delenn knew it would be a difficult meeting before she even set foot in the chamber. There was something about the whole affair. She had heard reports that Vizhak had been on Kazomi 7 for weeks. She had been unable to contact him on the Drazi homeworld. Taan Churok had been unusually secretive. She had even heard he had gone to see Vejar, and returned in a foul mood. She had also gone to speak with Vejar, and had been turned away by the strange apparitions on his door. She had thought she could hear conversation beyond.
Besides, there had been something in the air. It had felt.... dark and thick and heavy.
Something was going to happen, she knew it. She tried to reach out to Lorien, but there was nothing there. She also tried to touch Lyta, for a brief glimpse of friendship, but again there had been nothing. The two had shared no more than a few words since Delenn's return from the dead. She did not even know exactly where Lyta was.
And then there was this sudden calling of a meeting of the Council. The whole Council. Vizhak had issued the summons. He was not even supposed to be on the planet.
She entered the Council chamber to find it filled with a ponderous silence. She looked at the people before her, and all of them could sense it. Something was wrong.
They were all here. Lethke, G'Kael, Taan, Major Krantz, representatives from the fleets. Vejar's seat was not surprisingly empty and there was no sign of Ulkesh, but beyond that only one person was missing. Her eyes passed over Vizhak's empty place. She had a strange feeling it would not be empty for long.
As she took her seat at the head of the table, she glanced at the corner of the room. The data crystal shards she had noticed before were gone. Evidently someone had come and cleaned the area.
'What is the intent of this meeting?' she asked. The silence was shattered, and the grim tableau of seated figures broke. Lethke leaned forward, G'Kael leaned back, and Taan Churok was the first to speak.
'Message from homeworld,' he said. 'From Government. Vizhak will bring it.'
'He has returned, then?' G'Kael enquired. 'At least he sees fit to let us know he has returned. A little lesson, my friend. Drazi do not sneak around very well. One day, that unfortunate problem will get you all in trouble.'
'Drazi not sneak at all. Not know of which you speak, Narn, but be silent.'
G'Kael nodded, and then sat back again.
'Taan, what is the nature of this message?' Delenn asked. 'Is it so serious as to require the whole Council?' She was feeling very uncomfortable about this.
'Vizhak will say.'
That instant, Vizhak entered. There was something about his arrival, a dark wind that brought grim tidings with it. One look at him, and Delenn knew this was bad.
He went to his seat, but did not sit down. He cast cursory glances around the table, and then began to speak. 'Have consulted with Government on homeworld. Have talked to military. Have talked to priesthood. Have received orders from Government today.
'Kazomi Seven is to be returned to Drazi people. Is to be Drazi world once more. Not Alliance world, not Narn world or Brakiri world or Minbari world or human world. Is to be Drazi world.'
'What?' Lethke breathed, at the same time as G'Kael's protest and Krantz's spluttering.
It was Delenn, however, who commanded their attention as she stood. 'Vizhak.... your Government made Kazomi Seven the centre of the Alliance. We were grateful to them. It was a great gesture, and one none of us has forgotten. We have worked with your Government in every way possible. Why do they take this step?'
'Yes, Alliance grateful. You grateful. You, I trust, Delenn. You, Government trusts, people trust. But Alliance none of us trust.'
'You dare...!' began G'Kael.
'Our ships die. Our people die. We fight this war for you, for all of you. Shadows beaten now. Defeated. War can be over. But no, still is war. Still Drazi die. Drazi homeworld attacked by Streib. Drazi homeworld unprotected because all Drazi ships and soldiers here.... fighting your war! More Drazi die defending it. No Alliance ships come to help. Drazi die alone.
'If Alliance not help Drazi, then Drazi not help Alliance!'
'Vizhak,' Delenn said softly. 'I did not know of the attack on your homeworld. I would have sent help if I had known. If I had been here.'
'Believe you, Delenn. But you cannot do everything. You cannot be everywhere. And you not in charge of military. Your lover denied us aid. Your lover sends our soldiers to their deaths. Your lover sends armies to fight elsewhere.'
Delenn recoiled as if physically struck. John. Had he become so truly obsessed with this war he did not see what he was fighting for? She had to talk to him, had to make him see.
She had to tell him she loved him.
'Some in Government believe there can be peace with Shadows. Some believe we were too quick to reject last time. Shadows are broken now. Done. No threat to Drazi now. There can be peace. There cannot be peace while Drazi with Alliance. So, Drazi want not to be in Alliance. Drazi want Kazomi Seven back.'
'And you, Vizhak,' Delenn said calmly. 'What do you want?'
'I want.... I serve my people. I serve my Government. They want peace with Shadow. I want no more Drazi dead in others' wars. I want no more sons dead.'
'Your son?' Delenn whispered, her face ashen. 'Vizhak.... I did not know.'
'Of course, you not know. Delenn, not you we distrust. Not you. Your lover. Vorlons. D
'There can be no peace with the Shadow,' G'Kael said calmly. 'We learned that last time. You remember what they did with the prisoners they returned. You want peace with such as they?'
'I want it over.'
'We all want it over,' Delenn said. 'And soon, it will be. All of it. No more wars, no more deaths. No more.... dead sons.' She hesitated, trembling. 'It will be over, but G'Kael is right. There can be no peace with the Shadow.'
'Government wants peace.'
'And there will be. I promise you. I will speak to your Government, if you wish. And if you wish to leave the Alliance and take back Kazomi Seven, you may. You have given more than most to the Alliance, Vizhak. You and all your people. I can see why you might want it all over with.... but soon it will be. Soon, we will all be safe. Just a little longer. That is all we ask.'
'Talk to them, Delenn. I believe you. They believe you. There is one you wish to talk to. One who can give us what we want. Talk to your lover. Make him see us as people, not as toys.'
'I will,' she said firmly. 'Trust me, Vizhak. I will.'
There was a silence, Delenn and Vizhak both looking at each other across the table, neither moving. No one dared breathe.
Not until a message was brought in, an urgent warning for the entire planet from Captain David Corwin.
Soon after that, there came the Vorlon.
Things moved quickly after Corwin's warning reached the Council. Arguments were forgotten in the face of this new threat. Ships were mobilised, defence systems prepared. Help was pulled in from nearby worlds. G'Kael
