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

'That's right, that's what I was telling her. Yeah, they do look a bit scary I guess, but they're just different from us. Just 'cause they look weird, that don't mean they ain't our friends.'

'Exactly.'

'So, you gonna be on Proxima long?'

'I'm not really sure. I've got some business to deal with, and then I might be heading out.'

'Ah well, while you're here, if you get time you wanna go down to the cinema screens. They got a damned good one at Meadowhall Dome. Yeah, I know, you can get all the films at home with that virtual reality, surround sound rubbish, but you can't beat a good night out at the cinema, popcorn an' all. Anyway, last week, me and Rosa, we went down to see that new film Wandering Star. Damned good, it was. Starred that Barringer fellow. It'd get an Oscar or two, I reckon.... or at least it would, if they were still doing Oscars. A crying shame, that was. I mean, we need some field of achievement, don't we? No matter what you do, you need something to aim for, you need someone to reach out and grab the medal, the statue.... whatever.'

'The field of human achievement,' Morden said. 'A never-ending struggle for self-improvement.'

'That's it in a nutshell, sir. We need something to aim for. Reckon the Minbari took that from us, but we're getting it back. They started up the baseball again. You a baseball fan, sir?'

'I used to be. I haven't really had time to keep up with things recently.'

'Ah. Well, if you're a betting man, I've put a couple of creds on the Swashbucklers. Proxima team. My cousin's in the team, you know. Well, third cousin a couple of times removed or something, but hey, family's family, right? People don't believe me when I tell them that, but it's true.'

'I believe you.'

'Well, thanks, sir. It's always nice to get a real gentleman in the cab. I mean, I had to change routes because all I ever got were the students at the Medical and Law Colleges down in Sector Two-four-five. Awful they were. Singing and capering around, and throwing up all the time. Well, I needed the money, mind, but I much prefer this route. It's nice to have someone to talk to who can say something serious. I mean, the kids o' today, they don't know what it was like all those years during the war. Here we are, just got things back on track after all that time of hard work, all that loss, and those kids act like they don't have to work for nothing any more. A lot of them don't know what it's like to go through all that, or if they did, they've forgotten. I mean, me and Rosa, our kids might be at university now.... if they were still alive, you know. The eldest one died at Orion, and our little girl.... well, she starved to death the following winter. Parents aren't meant to outlive their children, you know. There's something just.... wrong about it all. You got any children, sir?'

'No.... I.... I guess I just never met anyone I loved enough to have children with.'

'Ah, you'll find someone, sir. I'm sure of it. One of them classy businesswomen types, I'm sure. Had one of them in the back of my cab.... Heh heh, just kidding. Little cabbie's humour. Well, you've got to laugh at some things, don't you? If you don't laugh, you cry, ain't that the truth?'

'Oh, undoubtedly.'

'Well, here we are, sir. Edgars Building, just like you asked.' The taxi came to a halt. 'It's been a real pleasure driving you, sir, you know that. You're not like most of these types I get.'

'Thank you,' Morden said, genuinely pleased. He handed over his credit chit. 'Take an extra ten percent. Take the wife out for a meal or something.'

'Why, thanks, sir. Real generous of you, sir. If you ever need another ride anywhere, just give me a call. Pleasure taking you anywhere. There's my card and everything. Good luck with your business, sir.'

'Thank you,' he said, taking back the card and stepping out of the taxi. The Edgars Building, headquarters of Interplanetary Expeditions. He sighed, and began to trot up the steps to the front door. He wondered if the old man himself would be in.

He began to whistle to himself. It was good to be home.

* * *

Sinoval took slow, deep breaths, trying to remember all the meditative techniques he had learned in his youth from Sech Durhan. There had been times he had derided meditation as a priestling excuse to sit down for a while and not do any work, but now he understood the need for a mental and emotional equilibrium, a chance to calm and quieten himself, to soothe his soul and ready himself for the rigours ahead.

Unfortunately, while priestlings were very good at meditating in quiet places, a warrior used different techniques, concentrating on his weapon and the motions and passions of combat; the knowledge that he would be required to give his life for his people, to defend them to his last breath, past the exhaustion of his flesh....

Warrior caste meditation required his weapon, and these days Stormbringer did not bring much aid in that regard. The Well of Souls might be more helpful, but after his last journey there, he had been uncomfortable. He could feel the winds of fate and the future rising up before him, rushing into a hurricane. He would soon be standing in its eye.

He did not believe in fate, or destiny. Such things were shaped by the will and actions of mortal beings. There was nothing written that had to come to pass, no true prophecies of the future, nothing that could not be changed.

An aide came up to him. A Brakiri. 'The Council is ready to see you now,' she said. She did not seem visibly intimidated by him, which made him smile. It was good to see courage in his allies.

He had been on Kazomi 7 for some days now, making deals, visiting the dignitaries one by one, ascertaining their allegiances, their beliefs. He had spoken to Ha'Cormar'ah G'Kar and Emperor Londo Mollari, and to members of G'Kar's Rangers who more than lived up to their Minbari antecedents. He had held meetings with Minister Lethke, and Taan Churok, and Ambassador G'Kael. He had gone to seek counsel from the technomage Vejar, and issued a warning to the Vorlon Ambassador Ulkesh.

Now he was ready to meet the Council as a whole, to present to them his information about the true reasons for Delenn's disappearance. He would expose the Vorlons for what they were and win over the support of the Alliance, becoming their leader in the war against both Shadow and Vorlon, and against any and all who would seek to oppose them.

He walked forward into the room. The Council was indeed waiting for him. Those who had been here when the Alliance had been formed, visiting dignitaries such as the Centauri Emperor, Ambassadors from foreign powers. There were five spaces empty.

One, at the head of the table, was for Delenn herself. Sinoval looked at the empty chair and felt a resurgence of the great anger he had experienced when receiving her message. Hopefully Sheridan would return with her, both of them back safe.

The second empty space was obviously Sheridan's, or that of his second. There was a human sitting beside it, one Sinoval did not recognise. He looked ill-at-ease, and paled before Sinoval's gaze. A nonentity.

The third belonged to the other Drazi representative on the Council — Vizhak. He had been away for some weeks, visiting the Drazi homeworld on diplomatic business. He was expected back soon.

Vejar was not here. He had rarely been seen in public since the Vorlon had arrived, for reasons known only to himself. He had made it clear to Sinoval that he would not come to this meeting. They had spoken some days ago, and had shared mystical and unclear premonitions of the future.

And there was also a large Vorlon-shaped hole in the corner of the room. Ulkesh was not here. Sinoval was not surprised, but he did wonder what the Vorlon was planning. Whatever it was, it would not be enough.

He walked to the head of the room and turned to face the Council. Then he began to speak.

* * *

You remember this, don't you?

<sadly> I.... I remember.

You were angry. Filled with a great and terrible rage. One you loved dearly had died in your arms, the victim of an unprovoked and savage attack. You did not stop to think.... There was no time for thought. All those meditation rituals he had taught you, everything you knew about how to control your emotions, your rage.... all forgotten, all lost.

<greater sadness> I remember.

And so you condemned a world and a people. An entire race of sentient beings, children of the universe, just like you and me.

<sadness faded, replaced by anger> I remember! How often must I relive this? How many