“Hedronn.”

“Caste…?”

“We are sorry, Captain Sheridan,” the Narn was saying, “but we can find no evidence to support your theory that the Minbari were behind the attack on Vega Seven. This was definitely a Centauri attack, designed to push us into conflict against another enemy. They are duplicitous.”

“Centauri? Councillor Kha’Mak, the Centauri wouldn’t go within ten light years of Vega Seven. This was Minbari.”

“I am afraid that seems unlikely, Captain. The Centauri have been rebuilding their fleets since we defeated them so completely two years ago. We have been expecting something like this for a long time.”

Defeated them so completely? Sheridan nearly gave an audible groan. The Narn / Centauri War had been a stand-off, bloody and devastating, but a stand-off all the same. Neither side had been happy with the result – which was not so much a cease-fire as a mutual cessation of hostilities while they sorted their armies out for another go. Had it not been for Sheridan’s personal involvement on the side of the Narns, things might have been even worse.

“I have a witness who says that the Minbari were responsible.”

“We have read your report, Captain,” said a testy old Councillor named Du’Rog. “The human you mention is a habitual drunkard who was arrested several times for drunken offences in the past year. We checked with the records sent to us periodically by Administrator Na’Far. There is little evidence to support your theory. It is merely your desire to embroil us in your war with the Minbari.”

His desire to embroil them in a war? Sheridan had little doubt that the instant the Narn and Centauri met in combat again, he would be sent a message begging for the Babylon.

“And there are some of us, Du’Rog,” spoke up a Councillor whom Sheridan did not recognise, “who are little better than habitual drunkards ourselves. We both know full well that the Centauri are not capable of a strike like this, and nor are the Minbari. This was the Ancient Enemy at work, and you are all too blinded to admit it.”

“H’Klo!” snapped Na’Toth angrily. “We have no time for your petty scaremongering.” She turned to Sheridan. “We are sorry, Captain, but we cannot interfere in this matter.”

But Sheridan barely heard her. H’Klo’s words had awakened something within him. An ancient enemy? Na’Far had whispered the same thing as he died, and Lyta had pulled the same thing from Delenn’s mind. Delenn had tried to warn him about something on Vega 7. An ancient enemy? “Who is this Ancient Enemy?” he asked softly, trying to make the question appear casual.

“Myths and legends,” Na’Toth replied scornfully. “Nothing more. I am sorry, Captain, but we can do nothing more for you.” Sheridan looked up at her. She was lying. He knew that for a fact, but people had been lying to him for years. The truth would come out, because sooner or later, it always did.

“I thank you for your time,” he said, in as neutral a tone as he could manage. “Circles, Councillors.” He pressed his fists against his chest in the Narn salute, and stalked from the chamber. Inside his mind, things were ticking away. Secrets never stayed secret long, and Na’Toth was certainly keeping a few of her own. Had she been the one to order his betrayal? Was she even in collusion with this Ancient Enemy? A sudden thought struck him. Were Susan’s friends this ’Ancient Enemy’? They were old, powerful, and made him uncomfortable, and the Minbari certainly knew about them.

Susan and Marcus were waiting for him outside the chamber. “How did it go, John?” Susan asked.

“Typically Narn behaviour,” he snapped in reply. “Come on. I intend to enjoy myself on this waste hole before we leave.” The truth had a way of getting out, and Sheridan resolved to keep a very close eye on Ivanova. Sooner or later, the truth always got out.

Na’Toth went directly to the communications screen in her chambers. Austere and simple as they were, it was the one thing which stood out. It took her a few moments to patch the signal through, moments in which she tapped her fingers against her side angrily. Na’Toth had never been patient. When the viewscreen activated and the face of Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar appeared, she nearly knelt. It was an absurd reaction. Na’Toth had never knelt before anything – Narn, prophet or deity – in her life, but when in the presence, even remote, of Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar, it was an almost impossible urge to resist. He projected an aura of such… greatness and power, that it was almost overwhelming. She had heard that G’Quan had been the same.

“Yes, Na’Toth,” he said. “What news?”

She immediately regained her senses. This had to be done quickly. “Captain Sheridan has recently left the Hall of the Kha’Ri. Unsatisfied. They refused to believe that the Minbari were behind the destruction of Vega Seven.”

“As indeed they were not.”

“Exactly. The Kha’Ri, on the other hand, blame the Centauri, except for H’Klo. He mentioned the Enemy to Sheridan. The Earther seemed… intrigued, to say the least.”

“H’Klo,” G’Kar sighed. “When will he ever learn? He is fixated on the past. He sees the Enemy purely as a means to gain glory for himself. No, he is another matter. Will Sheridan pose a problem to us?”

“I do not know. He has a reputation for skill at solving mysteries and uncovering secrets. It may be difficult to keep this from him, and it will cause problems if he investigates too far.”

“I know. Very well, Na’Toth. Are Neroon and Ta’Lon still in G’Khamazad?”

“Yes.”

“Arrange to meet with Sheridan. Have Neroon and Ta’Lon present, but hidden. They will know if he is touched by the Shadow or not. It may be that his thread will come to ours, after all. He may be a valuable ally.”

“Or a dangerous enemy?”

“If that is the case, he will be dealt with. Have Neroon and Ta’Lon told you about the… other matter?”

“The one who ordered Sheridan’s betrayal on Vega Seven? They believe they have uncovered leads, but surely I could have done that…”

“Your place on the Kha’Ri is too important, Na’Toth, and too visible. If your loyalties were uncovered, the results would be… unpleasant, to say the least. I still have many enemies on the Kha’Ri. Neroon and Ta’Lon are my best agents, and they will uncover what needs to be found. We all have our place, Na’Toth. The universe puts us in places where we may do the most good. You are necessary to me where you are. G’Quan bless you, Na’Toth.”

“And you.” The viewscreen went blank and Na’Toth stepped backwards. A meeting with Sheridan? What would the Kha’Ri make of that if they learned about it? There were so many games and innuendoes among the Kha’Ri that it might cause suspicion, or it might be seen as just another step in the power games, and deflect attention from her true intentions. At least there were no listening devices in her rooms. She checked three times a day, and all her communications were double coded.

But maybe another check would be useful. Just to be sure.

“I’ll admit I was surprised when you requested this meeting, Councillor,” Sheridan said, looking around him with polite interest. Not that there was a great deal to look at. Na’Toth’s quarters were the most spartan he had ever seen. Then he looked at the Councillor of the Third Circle herself. She certainly seemed interested in him. He wondered if this was more than a professional meeting. He had heard that Narns and humans could be sexually compatible. He almost chuckled as he considered the thought.

“Oh?” she said. “I simply want to… hear again your reasoning for the attack on Vega Seven. Unlike my colleagues in the Kha’Ri, I am not short-sighted.”

Beside Sheridan, Marcus was also looking around the room. Marcus had not been invited to the meeting, but he had come anyway, and Na’Toth had not seemed to object. Susan had returned to her quarters, feigning fatigue, an excuse Sheridan did not entirely believe.