The poem ended and there was considerable praise from the listeners. Vir had at first been mystified by keela – Centauri poetry tended to be shorter, simpler and far bawdier – but he had come to appreciate and even enjoy it.

He sipped his drink and watched as the poet quietly spoke with the audience. The drink was non-alcoholic of course, but he wasn’t entirely sure what it was made of. Refa didn’t mind the lack of alcohol on Minbar – he only drank brivare on state occasions – and Vir wasn’t bothered about alcohol at all, but other Centauri found the concept terrifying.

Finally, the poet bowed and left. Vir knew he had been noticed and that the poet would meet him at their usual rendezvous, but first he had to kill some time to avoid causing suspicion. He made polite conversation with a Minbari worker and then left, making for a quiet alley where no one would disturb them. Minbari tended to respect one another’s privacy, but even so…

“Have you had any news from G’Kar recently?” Vir asked. The absence of news from the leader of their network was troubling him.

“Alyt Neroon arranged for a message to reach me a few months ago. Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar is still fortifying his position on Epsilon Three. He is gathering ships to his side. Alyt Neroon was going on to the League of Non-Aligned Worlds to gain some aid there. Apparently Ha’Cormar’ah G’Kar feels that a number of conflicts will soon erupt.”

“He’s not wrong. The Grey Council is about to appoint a new leader. Ambassador Refa and I are leaving for Proxima Three tomorrow. The ambassador didn’t give any details, but I’d bet the timing isn’t coincidental.”

“That would not seem likely.”

“No. When will you be starting your tour of Centauri Prime?”

“I leave Minbar tomorrow, the same as you.”

“Good. If you can hand this over to Minister Mollari.” Vir handed his companion a data crystal. “Normally I give them to him myself, but in light of recent… events, I think he ought to have this information as soon as possible.”

“I will ensure that he gets it. Will you be meeting Captain Sheridan while on Proxima Three?”

“I hope so. We really need him on our side, the way things are going.”

“I… suppose that is so. Alyt Neroon also arranged for me to receive a private message for Captain Sheridan and Satai Delenn.” Vir took the data crystal and buried it in the pockets of his jacket. “I will be at Centauri Prime for a period of two months. We will meet when I return. Walk with Valen.”

“You too, I guess.” Vir left the alley and scuttled away. The data crystal felt very heavy in his jacket. Very heavy indeed.

For Susan Ivanova, some private time was becoming very hard to find these days. Ever since Captain Sheridan and that Minbari witch of his had dispatched Marcus to keep an eye on her – all in the name of security, of course – she had rarely been able to find the time to continue with her jobs. Not that it mattered much, as things were progressing fairly nicely now with minimal involvement on her part, and it wasn’t as if Marcus was all that difficult to be with.

No, he was too much pleasure to be with, and that was why she had to get away from him sometimes. Schemes to accomplish that were varied and this one was nothing more subtle than drugging his drink. Water, for God’s sake. Who around anywhere just drank water? She wouldn’t have much time, but it might be enough, and she had already wasted most of it just looking at him as he slept.

He was an innocent, a rarity to her. Psi Corps had taken her childish innocence when they had taken her mother, and her father had taken his love. But Marcus, he had seen his family killed, colony destroyed, everything he had wiped out, and he was still an innocent. He had cried the first time she had managed to seduce him, and his tears had startled her to an extent she had found impossible to believe.

She had to remind herself of why she was doing this. She had to keep reminding herself about the Minbari, about the Vorlons, about Psi Corps. She had to keep repeating over and over again the phrase ’some must be sacrificed if all are to be saved’. She had to keep reminding herself of why she was here, instead of curled up in bed with Marcus.

If she didn’t remind herself, her two Shadow companions would be happy to remind her. They were not happy. She didn’t know how much they knew about lust, or sex, or love, but she knew they were concerned about him. They wanted her either to kill him or put a Keeper on him, and she had to keep fighting them, reminding them that such an act would draw more suspicion on her.

But was she reminding them – or herself?

She reached the door she was after and rang the bell. She knew that the person she was waiting for was in, and she knew that the other person who lived here was not.

The door opened and a red-haired, pale-looking woman stood in the doorway. “Susan, she muttered. Susan. I’m sorry, I look…”

“No problem, Anna.” Anna Sheridan stepped back and ushered Susan – and her invisible companions – in. Susan looked around the room slowly. It was a mess, the smell of cheap Narn liquor mingling with dying orange blossom. Clothes were scattered everywhere, the bed was rumpled and the place clearly hadn’t been tidied in months.

Then she looked at Anna. Her pretty features were masked by fatigue and loss. Her shoulder-length red hair was mussed and sticking out – she’d obviously been sleeping on it. She stank of Narn liquor and sweat and the large T-shirt – the only item of clothing she was wearing – was filthy.

“A rough night, huh?” Susan said.

Anna nodded. “Several rough nights. I ran out of booze about three o’clock this morning.”

“John… hasn’t been around?” Susan knew full well he hadn’t. He was up on his spaceship with his Minbari whore. Looking at the state of the woman whom she was beginning to realise was her friend, she hated Delenn even more for denying Anna the chance of happiness.

Anna shook her head, and then winced, burying her head in her hands. “I haven’t seen him in months,” she whispered. “I don’t even know if he’s here or not.”

“He is. The Babylon’s in orbit here. The Resistance Government thinks the Minbari will attack soon, and they want the Babylon on full combat readiness.”

“Let them come,” Anna muttered. “They’ve taken my best friend, my daughter and my husband, and if they want my life, then they’re welcome to it.”

“That isn’t the way to talk,” Susan said, and surprised herself by realising that she meant it. “My friends will be here when the Minbari are, and we’ll hold them back, I promise. As for John, well… I don’t know what’s happening to him. I haven’t seen him in a while either, but I’ve heard that he’s still with Delenn.”

“Her again!” Anna snapped. “What does he see in her? She’s a Minbari, for God’s sake! She killed our daughter! It’s… it’s sick. It’s all so sick, and pointless and… oh, God! I wish Lizzy was still here.”

Susan slowly reached out and drew Anna close, hugging her. She could hear her companions hissing at her angrily, but she ignored them. This was serving their purpose, and if she could make Anna happy, then so be it.

“I think you should talk to him,” she said. “Let him know just how you feel. Maybe… I don’t know. Maybe there is something you can do.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

“Oh, God, I’m a mess.” Anna almost chuckled. “Look at me. Look at this place.”

“I’ll…” Susan thought of Marcus, still asleep. “I’ll help you clean up – both you and here. And then, you can go up to the Babylon, and talk with John.”

“Thank you. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”

Susan heard the hiss of her companions and she suddenly, for one brief and irrational moment, hated herself for what she was doing. But only for a moment.