Темное, кривое зеркало. Том 3 : След на песке

accepted that something had happened to G'Kar. Sinoval had gone, and would in all likelihood not return even if he was aware of what was happening here. His loyalties lay elsewhere.

There was only John, and only one way to contact him.

She had never tried using her link with Lyta in this way before. Neither of them was sure how it worked or what it was capable of. Delenn knew only that it was a connection of some sort, and part of what had led to a wonderful friendship.

Lyta was with John. If only she could somehow…. get…. something…. through.

A warm wind seemed to be blowing into her mind, a rush of gold on blue. She fell to her knees, almost screaming. She had touched something all right. But what?

'Lyta? Lyta?'

Are you ready?

'Kosh….' The Vorlon who had placed a part of himself within her, the same part that was now within Lyta; the source of their connection.

A deal was made. My part in it is almost done. Remember what you saw.

'What I saw…? I don't….'

Remember.

She screamed as something seemed to explode in her mind. She fell forward to her knees, her hands clawing against the plastics, seemingly clawing against space itself.

'Delenn?' Lyta! At last! 'Delenn…. what is happening? You're…. you're hurting me.'

'We…. need you, Lyta. We…. we…. need you….'

'What is…?' Lyta was screaming. 'Delenn…. What…?' Her voice was growing quieter, only her screams remaining. 'What…?' It faded, and there was silence again.

Behind Delenn, standing in the doorway, were four human security officials. One of them activated a link. 'Captain Smith. We have her, sir.'

* * *

'All this…. and for what?'

Kozorr touched her arm gently and she winced from the pain. She felt very dizzy, but something kept her upright. Kats wondered what it could possibly be. By rights she should be unconscious by now.

'A warning. Look closer. All the damage was concentrated on the Administration building, the Government bases, military locations…. next to nothing on civilian targets.'

Kats nodded, breathing out harshly. She should have seen that. 'But who…?'

'That thing that attacked you. It mentioned…. someone called the Z'ondar?' She nodded again. 'Do you think it meant Sonovar? Some sort of linguistic corruption perhaps? Sinoval and I have ben expecting something from Sonovar for a while, but…. nothing like this.' He shook his head. 'I just wish I knew who these aliens were.'

'What…. now?'

'Now, my lady, I am taking you to a place where you can heal. There are survivors who have set up emergency hospitals. Then…. I'll try to take one of these aliens alive. Some of them are still here. I suppose I had better try to find out where Administrator Callen is, but that might be a low-priority assignment.'

She chuckled, and then swayed, almost falling. He caught her awkwardly, his ruined hand unable to afford him proper leverage. 'Too…. much…. blood….'

'Come on, Kats. There is somewhere not far. Just…. stay conscious. Talk to me….'

'About…. what…?'

'Anything.' He took a few steps forward, holding her in as balanced a position as he could manage. 'Your childhood. Your parents. Your…. Kats! Stay awake!'

'…. Trying….' She could see Kalain again, floating in front of her, above her, laughing, mocking her. Worker bitch. Murderer! Inferior. Hardly Minbari at all were the worker caste. Nothing more than animals, really. Valen might have raised them up, but that was all they were.

'Kats….' Kozorr's voice was fading, and everything around her seemed dark. 'Kats…. my lady…. Stay awake…. my lady.'

I love you.

Had he said those words, or had she only imagined them? She tried to think of something to say, but the words would not come out. She reached up for him, but could not move her arm. Darkness took her at last.

* * *

She moved as though swimming through treacle. Voices exploded in her mind — Delenn's voice, the Vorlon voices, Valen's words…. she could hear them all. But she knew what had to be done.

Somehow Lyta Alexander managed to reach the bridge of the Parmenion, although she could remember nothing of the journey. She was aware only of Delenn's plea for help, and then the solemn orders of the Vorlon that shared her soul.

'Miss Alexander!' started Captain Sheridan. 'What is…?'

Everyone on the bridge was looking at her. Captain Sheridan, Commander Corwin, the third-in-command, Major Krantz, the tech ops. She tried to speak, but could not frame the words. The light was shining so brightly in her mind.

She wanted to scream.

And she did.

Her eyes became reflections of the Vorlon within her. Her mouth was wide open and light and beauty poured from it, from her, illuminating the room.

<Choose your destiny now. The avalanche has begun.>

'What is this?' asked Krantz, from seemingly a whole universe away. 'Captain, what…?'

<Choose. The past depends on you.>

The light faded and Lyta, her scream voiced at last, fell to the floor. Sheridan was beside her instantly. 'What's happened?' he asked.

'Delenn…. she…. got through to me…. somehow…. She's in trouble…. big trouble….'

'David, try and send a message to Babylon Four. See if you can find out what's going on there.'

'Yes, Captain,' came the reply. Corwin began barking orders to the technicians.

'Captain Sheridan, we have a duty to be at Sanctuary as soon as possible, do you remember?' Major Krantz again. Lyta found his surface thoughts screaming at her. He was worried about…. something. A conflict of interests. He was…. going to betray them.

'This might be important, Major.'

Corwin turned around from the commpanels. 'We can't get through to the station. Something's jamming all signals.'

Sheridan rose to his feet. 'Right, that's it. We're turning about and heading back to the station.'

'Captain, you have your orders.'

'Yes, I do, Major, and I'm ignoring them. David, how long is it likely to take us to get back?'

'Several hours. We're going to have to reset the navigation and reattach ourselves to the old jump gate beacon. We've still got it in memory, so it shouldn't be too hard.'

'Good. Lyta, I'll call for the medics. You look like you need something.'

'Nothing they can do for me.' Her voice sounded dry, as if it were coming from a stranger. 'The Vorlons are playing with me again. I'll…. stay here.'

'If you think you can.'

'Captain Sheridan! You have been ordered to make for Sanctuary.'

'Yes, Major Krantz, and I told you I'm ignoring that order. Babylon Four is in trouble, and they need our help.'

'You work for Bester, not G'Kar. Remember that!' Sheridan ignored him. In a fury, Krantz activated his link.

'Do you think we should inform Ben Zayn about this?' asked Corwin. 'He might be able to help.'

'He's more likely to try to fire on us. Something stinks here, David. This whole…. sudden order to leave was just too…. convenient. No, Bester knew about this, I'd bet anything on it.'

'It does seem likely.'

'Captain!' Lyta cried, falling to her knees in pain. 'Sec…. security are…. They're….' The door to the bridge