“You do not trust him?”

“I don’t trust anyone, Delenn. No one at all.” Not even me, she thought sadly. And why should he? What have I ever done to make him trust me?

“What did he tell you? What were your… orders?”

“That’s the funniest part of all…”

Bester had not looked happy when Sheridan had gone to see him, as requested. He had smiled however as Sheridan walked in. Sheridan had seen Captain Ben Zayn walk out, and had received a grim, steady expression of patience in return for his careful greeting.

“Ah, Captain Sheridan.” He did not like the sight of Bester smiling. It reminded him of a shark’s smile – that what Bester found happy was not something anyone else would find something to smile about. “How are you taking to the Parmenion?”

“Very well,” Sheridan replied. “It’s a… good ship with a very capable crew.”

“Good. I am glad. It is a pity that you will not have more time to adapt. Captain, the Minbari have launched an offensive on Proxima Three.”

Sheridan breathed out harshly. Well, he knew it was bound to happen eventually. And it wasn’t as if it could have hit him as much of a surprise, but still…

“Will we be taking action?” he asked cautiously. He still wasn’t sure exactly where Bester’s loyalties lay in the conflict. He wouldn’t be surprised if he simply sat the matter out and moved in to pick up the pieces.

“Of course, Captain. This is too important for us to not be involved. I have already given Captain Ben Zayn his orders. He will be taking the Ozymandias to Proxima Three itself. I want you to go to Proxima Seven. That is doubtless where the Minbari will emerge from hyperspace, giving them plenty of time to evaluate the area before striking out for the colony itself.”

Bester paused, and Sheridan looked at him. “And then?”

“I am sorry, Captain?”

“What are my instructions regarding the Minbari? If I’m stuck out in Proxima Seven against an entire Minbari fleet then not even I can do much…”

“Who said anything about fighting the Minbari? Your mission is to… be there.”

“But…”

“You are an intelligent man, Captain. At least I always took you to be one. I am sure your… instincts will guide you in the right direction. You have your instructions, Captain.”

“It didn’t make any sense. It still doesn’t. One minute he was giving me strict instructions to follow his orders, the next he’s telling me to do what I think best. I sometimes wonder if he knows what he’s doing.”

“And what will you be doing?” she asked softly. Delenn hated herself for questioning him like this, but she had to do it. “If the Enemy are waiting there for my people, then who will you fight?”

“I… don’t know. I won’t hurt my people, Delenn. I won’t do that! But… would I hurt them more by letting them be? Letting them… keep walking into the Darkness?”

Delenn reached out and touched his arm gently. “You will make the right decision.” But her thoughts were on something else. On the Council of Nine… on the covenant with Valen, on the prophecies…

If she could convince them of the truth of the prophecies then this could be ended without bloodshed. If she could make the Grey Council see what Valen had meant… who Valen was… then there might be hope. The Grey Council would be there. Sinoval would not pass up this opportunity to lead. He always prided himself on leading from the front. Like a true warrior.

She could see John’s eyes staring directly into her own – like a pathway into the heart of his soul. The other half of my soul, she realised.

He looked away sharply, possibly having realised the same thing. “I’ve… put all the guards on security patrol along the inside of the outer hull. The Minbari might try to board us. Just because they haven’t before, it doesn’t mean Sinoval won’t start. Or maybe the people from Proxima might try, I don’t know. I won’t be able to spare anyone to guard you. You can go up to the bridge, if you like, but…”

“No,” she said softly, smiling sadly. “I do not… think I could bear that.”

“I understand,” he said. “Please, take care. I wouldn’t…”

She smiled again. “Trust me.” She bit back the anger of betrayal welling up from deep within her. What was the human saying? Minbari never tell anyone the whole truth? “How… competent are these Narns?”

They’re very good. Their leader – Ko’Dath – assures me that they’re good at what they do.“ Sheridan smiled. ”The humans call them the Narn bat squad.“

Delenn smiled too. “Be careful,” she whispered.

“You too.”

The Parmenion came closer and closer to Proxima and the Second Line.

“What… price?” Hague asked. “You never…”

“Sorry?” Ivanova said. “I can’t quite hear you.”

“What price?! You never said…”

“Didn’t I? Sorry. Must have slipped my mind. You know how memories are. Tricky things at best.”

Hague slumped back in his chair. He didn’t… he couldn’t… the Minbari are coming. “What… what is the price?”

“Just a little thing. More of a… middle man’s commission sort of thing. It’s not very much really.”

“What price?!” He leapt to his feet, scattering readouts and documents everywhere. “This isn’t a game! They’re… they’re coming, and if your friends don’t help then we’re ALL GOING TO DIE! WHAT PRICE?!”

“Lyta Alexander. What are you doing with her at the moment?”

He blinked. “Miss Alexander? What does she…?” He gasped and closed his eyes hard. The whisky was disagreeing with him, and why shouldn’t it? He hadn’t eaten anything in days. “She’s being held in the Detention Block. Mr. Welles will have the details… Why are you interested in her?”

“She’s the price. I want her.”

“What? I… I don’t…” The Minbari are coming.

“What would you do with her? As punishment for what she did?”

He couldn’t think. This was so… unreal. The Minbari were coming, and in just over twelve hours, this, none of this would survive. He didn’t… he couldn’t…

“Treason still carries the death penalty,” he muttered, largely to himself. “She’d be given a trial and if she was found guilty, she’d be executed. Some of the… some of the others… they were debating what… to do… with… her. Why do you care, for God’s sake?”

“That’s my business. I want her. I want to kill her. No trial. No fair hearing. I want to kill her myself.”

He didn’t believe he was hearing this. He couldn’t believe he was hearing this, and yet… the Minbari are coming. THE MINBARI ARE COMING, FOR GOD’S SAKE!

But still he was hesitating. This was wrong. She deserved a fair trial at least, but it was more than that. William Hague had always held such a high image of himself. He wore the uniform of the Earth Alliance proudly, without regret or fear or shame, because he knew he was worthy of it. He’d fallen a long way since he’d first put on the uniform, but this…

If he agreed to this, he would be damned, finally, irrevocably damned.

And yet what was one life – two lives even – compared with all of humanity? Lyta Alexander would die anyway if the Minbari did to Proxima 3 what they had done to Earth. Did one life really matter so much?

Some must be sacrificed if all are to be saved. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.

But this… this was wrong. This was immoral. This was illegal. This was…

Ivanova shrugged and went to the door. It opened…

“Wait!” he cried. “Yes! Yes, you can do whatever you like, just make sure they’ll be here.”

Ivanova smiled. “Thank you, General. I always knew you’d see sense.”

“I told you. I don’t know which cell she’s in, but you can ask Mr. Welles. I’ll… let… him know of my decision. I… I…”

“Don’t worry, General. Sooner or later everyone falls to the bottom. You’ll have plenty of company.”