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

announcement.'

'That's what the public thinks, Allan. We had Ryan in at the club last night. Decent enough bloke, really, but he can't hold his drink. Anyway, we got to talking, and there are a few people a bit worried about Ramirez. Oh, he's got the public sewn up, no doubts about that, but the De'Molay.... well, if even half of what Ryan's been telling me is true, then it's as far ahead of the Morningstar as that was ahead of the pre-war ships. And you really don't want to put a ship that powerful or valuable in the hands of someone who put down on his CV that one of his life's ambitions is to 'die with honour'. He might try and ram it into a Vorlon cruiser or something.

'Tikopai's the choice, they just haven't announced it yet. Ramirez is going to get offered a second's place, maybe on the De'Molay, maybe on the Dark Thunder. They haven't decided yet. Anyway, Fenn and Linton have got odds of twelve to one on Tikopai, so I'd bet the farm on her.'

'Hey. Will do. Thanks for the news.'

'No problem. Anyway, I'd better be going. This place don't run itself, you know. Let me know the instant you get anything through on the woman.... and just keep an eye on Smith. Don't do anything.... but let me know if he leaves three-o-one for any reason.'

'Will do. See you later.'

The screen returned to its main image, and Zack sat back, thinking. Trace wasn't actually that bad a person.... really. Besides, he didn't have many friends these days.

He lounged back on his chair, contemplated looking over the case backlog, decided against it, and switched on the vidscreen. There was a classic Reebo and Zooty on.

 10. The Emperor's Personal Quarters, the Royal Court, Centauri Prime, January 5th 2261.

'What are you doing here?' Londo asked. 'You are aware that we are meant to be at war, aren't you?'

'No,' replied his visitor, with perfect aplomb. 'I must have missed that. I have been a little indisposed these past few years, after all.' G'Kar smiled. 'I still have a few agents here on Centauri Prime, if you care to remember. Minister Cotto and your bodyguard were more than capable of smuggling me in here, and they'll be just as capable of getting me out.'

'Why didn't you let me know you were here?' Londo asked, moving forward. He went to his drinks cabinet and began studying the bottles carefully. There must be some decent-quality brivare around.

'You are the Emperor these days, Mollari. I could hardly just beep you and let you know I would be in town. Congratulations on your ascension, by the way.'

'Congratulations,' he repeated hollowly. 'Yes....' He poured himself a glass and drained it quickly. He then began to pour another one. 'I have never craved power.... All I wanted to do was heal my people.'

'Was there any other way to do that?'

'I don't know. A question I have been asking myself a great many times recently. I was never born to rule, G'Kar.' He turned and offered a bottle to his companion. The Narn shook his head with a grimace. Londo smiled, and replaced it on the shelf. 'But now I am here.... I never wanted this.'

'Power.... is a great burden.'

'Yes, I suppose it is. How is it that you are.... um.... in the flesh these days? I heard there was a battle at the Great Machine, but alas, news has been very slow to reach us recently.'

'There was a battle, yes,' G'Kar said slowly, bowing his head. 'A hard-fought one. Too many died. The Great Machine is lost.... to all of us now.'

'Great Maker,' Londo breathed. 'It was that bad?'

'It was that bad. It took me.... some time to heal. We lost many.'

'Delenn,' Londo breathed. 'Is she...?'

'Alive,' G'Kar nodded. 'Heartsick and weary.... but alive.'

'Thank the Great Maker. I miss her, you know. The time we were together.... on that insane little quest you sent us on.... Ah, I am no doubt crazy for thinking this, and I am sure I am forgetting some details.... but I would far rather be doing all that again.... than be here. Am I crazy?'

'You always have been, so I see no reason why you should stop merely because you wear a fancy coronet and sit on a comfortable chair.'

'Comfortable? Bah.... you should try that infernal throne! I have never sat anywhere less comfortable.'

'Methinks the Emperor doth protest too much.'

'No. Trust me on this. I would rather sit on the floor, but I fear my entire Government would have an apoplexy if I did that. They are having enough trouble adjusting to there being a woman in their midst. I do not know.... you would think they had never seen one before.'

Londo paused, and sipped at his drink. It tasted painfully bitter. 'So, old friend,' he said. 'What brings you to my home?'

'A hope that, this time.... I can get right, what I failed to do last time.' Londo assumed a quizzical expression. 'I tried to hold a summit in the middle of last year.... hoping to get all the major allies together.... so that everyone could work as one to fight the Enemy. We were.... unfortunately interrupted. The war has now started in earnest.... and we must all learn to recognise who our real enemies are. There must be peace between our two races, Mollari.... We must both ready our forces to fight the real Enemy.'

'Peace.... that I can support,' Londo said thoughtfully. 'But war with these Shadows.... No, G'Kar. We are too weak for that.... far too weak. I will not commit myself to a war we cannot win.'

'You did so easily enough once before. Do you remember? When first we met?'

'I remember.... and you are the second person recently to remind me of an old promise. But my response to you is the same as it was to him. I am no landless, rootless wanderer now. I am Emperor of the Centauri Republic, leader of billions of people! I will not throw their lives away needlessly by committing to a war that cannot be won.'

'It can be won, Mollari.'

'That remains to be seen. However.... I do want peace between Narn and Centauri. Whether my generals and my people want it.... is another matter. But my Government will support such an initiative.... of that I am sure. What are you proposing? An embassy here?'

'Well.... not here as such. I had somewhat.... loftier ideas.'

'I am listening.'

'The Kha'Ri appointed an Ambassador to the United Alliance at Kazomi Seven some months ago. I believe there have been hopes that the Narn Regime will join the Alliance. How would the Centauri Republic react if invited to join the Alliance?'

Londo paused, and drained his drink. 'That.... would be a difficult question. That would involve us in conflicts not our own.... We wish our captured lands returned to us.... we wish an end to the war.... and we want a chance to rebuild our shattered world.

'However.... speaking from a position of some influence within the Centauri Republic, I can say that we would at least be open to the idea. I was in the process of appointing an Ambassador to Kazomi Seven, just as soon as I could find an honest man to fit the position.'

'Then.... why do you not gain further information from which to make such a choice?'

'I do not understand.'

'Visit Kazomi Seven yourself.'

Londo began to laugh.

 11. E'ibrek K'Tarr, Tak'cha Warship, on the Minbari / Tak'cha Border, January 6th 2261.

Sonovar was thinking about him again.

Sinoval. The Primarch Nominus et Corpus. Entil'zha. Holy One of the Grey Council. Warleader of the Wind Swords clan.

An impressive list of titles. Completely unnecessary, of course. An affectation, or possibly a symptom. Sinoval was as interested in the trappings of power as he was in the power itself. Oh, of course he wanted to command great armies, to decide policy and fate, to will the stars to fade at his whim.... but the accumulation of all those titles spoke of something else. A need for a greater glory.