“G’Quan wrote that there is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender.”

The Narn preacher looked around at his congregation, and felt a brief surge of gratitude that so many would come so far simply to hear him speak, to listen to his words. Here, he could make a difference. Here, he could begin the first step on the long road to the salvation of his people.

“For too long we have been obsessed by death. Obsessed until death has been all we can see, and death has been all we deserve. Our grief and loss drag behind us, like chains of our own making. The Centauri kept us in chains of iron, but we keep ourselves in chains of hatred. Until we can break those chains, break the cycle of hatred and anger and grief, we will remain obsessed by death, and death will be all we deserve, and death will be all we will achieve. It will not be easy. Nothing worthwhile ever is. But we must always hope for the moment, the one shining, singular, sacred moment of revelation that shows us the future for our people.

“The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future, or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain. G’Quan bless us.”

The Narn raised his head and stared into the night sky above his homeworld. The sky full of stars never ceased to remind him of his purpose, and his true significance. Once he had roamed these stars, but now he was here, returned to the familiar soil of his homeworld. The Centauri might have left it in ruins, but Narn held a soul that could never be lost, not so long as one of its children believed.

After the service, the Narn had to greet a few of those who had made the long journey to hear him. Many wept, and asked him to bless them. He had declined, saying that they must bless themselves. He had shared words of comfort and words of sorrow and words that would forever change their lives. At first few had come here, drawn more by his reputation and his history than by his words or his wisdom, but now more came, and each one spread news of his teachings and still more arrived. He had enemies, he knew, but political enmities mattered nothing in the face of the onslaught that was coming, and the salvation that would forestall it.

Finally, with the dark night sky overhead, the Narn returned to his quarters. They were simple and unfurnished. Only a cot, a stone table, a rack of candles and a copy of the Book of G’Quan, given to him by his grandfather, who had died never having seen freedom for Narn.

And there were two people.

“A stirring speech, Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar,” said the first. Another Narn. His companion stood silent, head bowed.

G’Kar nodded in welcome and began to light the candles, feeling the light from each one suffusing his soul. As he passed the Book of G’Quan he touched it reverently. Only when all the candles were lit did he turn to his two companions, and his greatest friends.

“It is good to see you again, Ta’Lon. The galaxy is becoming far too dangerous these days. What news do you bring?”

“Not good, Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar.” G’Kar sighed softly at the title. Holy One. He had told Ta’Lon not to use it, but the man was determined in his vision. “Sheridan the Starkiller was betrayed on Vega Seven and captured by members of the Wind Swords clan of the Minbari. He was taken to Minbar in chains.”

“Great G’Quan!” G’Kar breathed. “Betrayed? By Na’Far?”

“Yes,” Ta’Lon replied. “By Administrator Na’Far. But somehow, Sheridan escaped from Minbar. Our agents have not been able to find out how, except that it was remarkably easy for him to do so. One of the Grey Council – Satai Delenn – disappeared at the same time. The reports from our agents on Minbar seem divided. Some say Sheridan captured her, others that she helped him flee and went with him. None seem certain, although what is certain is that the Grey Council is now more warrior-biassed than ever. Without Satai Delenn’s opposition, Satai Sinoval, head of the Wind Swords clan, will almost certainly be named Ranger One, and maybe even Holy One once the period of mourning for Dukhat ends.”

“I have heard of this Sinoval. I do not like what I have heard.”

“Sinoval is an ambitious man,” said the third person, breaking his silence. “I have known him well. He genuinely believes he is the person to lead in the fight against the Enemy, and he may be, for all we know. He is skilled, intelligent and well–liked, but he is also vain, arrogant and determined. He will be opposed to what we have built here, of that you may be sure. He may demand that we swear loyalty to him.”

“And will you do that?” G’Kar asked.

“I have sworn myself to your side, Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar,” Ta’Lon said simply. “To you and to your dream.”

“I also.”

“I thank you for your loyalty, and I pray that I am worthy of it. Is there anything else?”

“Yes, Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar. Sheridan made to return to Vega Seven, undoubtedly to discover why he was betrayed there. What he found… we are not sure. No word has come from our agents there, and no one has been able to reach Vega Seven by communications in over four days. The last message we received said simply, ‘It is awakening.’ The entire colony was destroyed, as were two Minbari warships above the planet.”

“Sheridan?”

“No,” said the third. “Sheridan is a skilled warrior, but not that skilled. The Enemy has returned to Vega Seven and regained the vessel they hid there centuries ago.”

“So, they are moving faster than we had thought, and they must be confident indeed, to risk an attack like this.”

“Little confidence, Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar. There is no proof it was them. The Kha’Ri believe it was the Centauri. The Earthers believe it was the Minbari. The Minbari believe it was Sheridan. The Centauri… do not care.”

“But they are coming, faster and stronger than ever before. G’Quan aid us. And these developments regarding Sheridan… I do not like them. Sheridan is becoming more and more of a force in this galaxy, whether for good or ill I do not know.”

“Would you like us to contact him, Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar?” Ta’Lon said. “Perhaps bring him here?”

“Not yet. We know too little about him, apart from his skill. No, if he wishes to come here, then so be it, but we cannot risk alerting him to what we are building if his sympathies lie with the Enemy. I think our greatest concern is with his betrayal. I knew Na’Far, and he would not do something like this, not without orders. This came from the Kha’Ri, I would stake my eye on it. Find out who, and why. Was this simply money, or something deeper? G’Quan bless you both.”