“Perhaps they are following their own agenda, one that has nothing to do with the Minbari, and everything to do with us. The exact circumstances of how Lieutenant Ivanova met up with Captain Sheridan have never been revealed. Perhaps they are trying to alter our philosophies, perhaps to bring us over – willingly – to their way of thinking, to their side. Perhaps the Minbari know of this… perhaps Satai Delenn knows about this, and Lieutenant Ivanova is concerned that some… such as Captain Sheridan… may come to doubt her allies. Perhaps she wants to kill Satai Delenn before this happens, and do so in such a way as to completely ruin any of her credibility.

“Your argument has merit, Miss Alexander. Perhaps too much merit. It is often tempting to look for ten different answers when the simplest will often do.

“I will have to check with my men on the Babylon. Maybe they have found something. You meanwhile, are to remain in your quarters. I may need you again.”

“Wait… Mr. Welles! I have a question. Do you know where Marcus Cole is?”

“Your paramour?” Welles enjoyed seeing Miss Alexander blush. Sometimes it was good reminding others just how much power over them he had. “I do not, no. I did not see him with Lieutenant Ivanova during her meeting with the Resistance Government earlier. Perhaps she knows where he is. Or perhaps Captain Sheridan does. Either way, your personal matters will have to wait. Good day, Miss Alexander.”

As Welles filed out, followed by Miss Alexander, his mind already awash with thoughts of plotting and counter-plotting, he handed the cell – and its occupant – over to the security guard on duty.

It was Cutter. He stepped inside, and closed the door after him. Welles was distracted, so much so that he missed Cutter’s knowing leer at this magnificent opportunity fate had handed him.

Satai Delenn’s eyes were so innocent as she looked at him. Sometimes the world is generous indeed.

“So, you are awake then?” Lord Refa’s voice was filled with the sarcastic venom that was typical of the Centauri nobility these days. “And where have you been, pray? Somewhere important no doubt? Important enough to miss an important meeting?”

Vir began to stammer out a reply, desperately trying to think of something that would explain his disappearance. He certainly couldn’t tell Lord Refa the truth – that he had been trying to contact Captain Sheridan and warn him about Refa’s private agenda here.

Fortunately Vir knew his Ambassador very well. After a few moments of “I, well… I sort of went to the… you know, well not as such, but… kind of… you know what I mean, and, um…” Refa shut him off.

“Vir! It was a rhetorical question. I sometimes think you were sent here to try me.” Vir mumbled agreement, not mentioning the real reason he was here – which was of course to spy on Refa and, indirectly, the Grey Council, all for, of all people, a Narn.

“Anyway,” Refa continued. “We have more serious issues to concern ourselves with. You are familiar with recent events, I trust. No, of course you are not,” Refa continued, not giving Vir a chance to reply. “Well, it appears that Captain Sheridan and his second have been arrested on some charges of… well, treason at the moment. I’m not quite sure of the details, but then I doubt that anyone else is either. No, but more important, I have our proof.”

“About Satai Delenn?”

“No, Vir! About a Jovian treeworm. Satai Delenn is the reason we are here, after all.”

Vir looked around nervously. He could feel Refa’s scornful gaze upon him. Of course this room would not be bugged or anything. Refa had spent several hours after his arrival checking the whole area, and if anyone was a master at recognising listening and recording devices it was Refa, probably because he used them so often himself.

“She is… dead?”

“Better. She is… well, see for yourself.” Vir looked closely as Refa pulled a small item from his pocket. A classic Centauri recording device. Small enough to be hidden easily, and powerful enough to make instant holographic recordings of pretty much anything the user wanted.

Refa activated it, and Vir stared at the image before him.

He had never seen Satai Delenn before, but even if he had, he would never have recognised her from the image he was seeing. A woman who looked like a strange combination of Minbari and human was standing close beside a human who was definitely Captain Sheridan. Vir had never seen him before either, but the legendary Starkiller was hard to mistake for anyone else. They were holding each other gently, not as lovers, and not even quite as friends, but as… more than allies.

“It is perfect for Sinoval’s needs,” Refa was enthusing. “We have evidence that Satai Delenn is alive, and it implies that she is here willingly, that she has even become partially human, and that she is involved with Captain Sheridan. Even Lord Jarno could use information like this to his advantage. I dread to think what someone like Sinoval will do with it.”

“But… what you said… it’s not true, is it?”

“Vir! Since when was the truth involved in politics? We know that Satai Delenn is here as a prisoner, yes, and the Grey Council doubtless suspects it, but the fact is that the evidence we have here suggests – no, proves – otherwise. Sinoval’s ascension to Holy One is practically guaranteed, and he will remember the one who helped put him there. I doubt I will be exiled out on Minbar for much longer, and who knows? I may even be Emperor in a few years. Stranger things have happened, Vir.”

Vir was suddenly very glad that it was Lord Refa here, rather than Sinoval himself. Refa needed to explain things, he needed to prove to somebody just how intelligent and devious he was, he needed to gloat over his brilliance, even if only in private. Someone like Sinoval would have said nothing, and taken his own course. Refa could not do that.

Vir was glad. It meant he now had time and knowledge to act on this.

Maybe he could save the day after all.

Captain Sheridan looked up as the door to his cell opened. There were, after all, only so many ways somebody could pace up and down a cell until he got bored. His link had been taken, and Corwin was in a different cell, so he was completely isolated.

He had been here for what seemed like at least an hour now. An hour with no word. No word from David. No word from Delenn. No word from Anna. No idea of what Ivanova was doing with this time.

He still did not know exactly what had happened. Delenn had emerged from her chrysalis, but days earlier than she should have done. He remembered the way she had looked at him, and the way she had pressed herself against him. He wasn’t sure what intention she had had in mind for her emergence from the chrysalis, but he was fairly sure this was not it.

Ivanova was involved in this. David had said so, and he trusted his second much more than he trusted Ivanova. He had been silently cursing himself for being away from the Babylon on this night, but then a terrible thought struck him.

Was all this just a coincidence? Anna, choosing now of all times in the past two years to attempt a reconciliation, at the same time that Ivanova turned a cold war very hot with the murder of two of his guards and the attempted murder of Delenn.

He remembered his vision on board Babylon 4. His arm jerking upwards, his PPG firing, and Anna slumping and falling back. He seemed to remember Anna attacking him, although his vision had been so unclear. Had Anna become a Shadow agent? Had this whole affair been part of Ivanova’s plotting? Had Ivanova made a mockery of his marriage and his happiness the same way she had made a mockery of his hopes?

Questions and no answers. At least, no answers that he wanted to believe.