A New Caretaker
The command staff met to review the situation. There was some seismic activity. At the rate it was growing, it would take a week to ten days to move to critical. Sinclair got Pierce on the line. "Captain Pierce, are your people monitoring the increase in seismic activity?"
"Yes, Commander. My people tell me it's minor and shouldn't pose a problem."
Sinclair shook his head. "It increased when the alien was removed and it's growing. Right now, we have a week to ten days. If it speeds up beyond our calculations, I will be forced to order an evacuation of the station. Garibaldi – how long would an evacuation take?"
Garibaldi replied, "Whew. You're talking a quarter million humans and aliens. You're talking three to five days if we're lucky."
Sinclair nodded. "Okay. If we do not have a handle on this in two days, I will give the order. When we have enough of a cushion, I will have to give Captain Pierce the authorization to take steps to land his people and try to turn it off. He's got his orders and if my people are safe I will have to let him act. So we have two days to get this settled or I will sound the bell. Does everyone understand?"
There were murmurs of acceptance. Pierce volunteered, "We will be ready."
"Babylon 5 out."
C&C was bustling when suddenly an unexpected arrival came through the jumpgate. Sinclair ordered, "Tell them to stand bye." Suddenly, a bright light shown throughout the command center.
Ivanova went to the computer. "We're being scanned! They're accessing our language and translation files." After 30 seconds, the light cut off.
Sinclair looked around. "Everybody alright?"
There were a number of "Yes, Sirs."
Ivanova said, "I think so. … We've got a single coming through!"
"This is Takard. We have your language files taken to learn to speak. We have been 500 years searching for this place. We received its call signal." The alien became belligerent. "This world belongs to us! We are last of our people. Searched. 500 years. We will take! Give you ten of your Earth hours to move aside. We do not wish to kill. But we will if you do not let us take what is ours!" The signal cut out.
Sinclair ordered, "Open a channel to the Hyperion." Ivanova nodded. "Pierce, call in any ship that can arrive within 9 hours for backup before they start jamming or something. I'm going to give them 9 hours to leave. You have a minute. Then you can listen in to my response."
Pierce nodded. "Agreed."
After one minute, Sinclair nodded to Ivanova who nodded in return. "This is Jeffrey Sinclair, Military Governor of the Babylon 5 Station. This area is neutral territory under Earth jurisdiction. I give you 9 hours to withdraw. We will accept one person in an unarmed shuttle to come and speak. Otherwise, you are ordered to leave this sector at that time. Babylon 5, Out."
"If those ships so much as twitch in an offensive way, launch all fighters. Coordinate with the Hyperion. If they don't back off, take them out."
"Yes Commander."
Pierce's voice came through the Babcom unit. "We'll be waiting."
Luitentant Corwin sounded out, "Commander! The patient is awake!"
Sinclair nodded. "I need my conversation patched through to Ivanova here as well as Captain Pierce. We need all the information we can get."
"Is it true this world and its technology belongs to them?" Sinclair asked.
"No! Outcast! Violent! MY people cast them out centuries ago. Signal was not put here for them. Was put here to hide from them. Was given to me when my people died. Sacred trust. Legacy. For the future! I am guardian. Protector. I live in the heart of the machine. We are one. 500 of your years have I waited in the machine."
The Doctor asked, "You've been here all this time and haven't contacted us?"
"No. Only listened to your people. Watched this great place being built. Heard your words. Please! You must stop them! Do not let them take the machine. It is not for them. It is not for this time!"
"Varn. The planet is slowly falling apart."
The alien replied, "Yes. Without guardian, failsafe. Will destroy itself."
"If it blows, it will kill everyone here. Is there anyway to stop it?"
Varn fell back to unconciousness.
"What's your prognosis?" Sinclair asked Franklin.
"He's dying," Franklin said frankly. "My guess he's been dying for a while. That would explain the seismic disturbances. The more that he suffered, the more the system began to malfunction. But without him, the planet is dying. Taking us right along with it."
Sinclair ordered, "Do what you can."
He stepped away. "Captain Pierce, Commander Ivanova. Did you get all that?"
"Yes, Commander," Both replied.
Pierce added, "I don't know if my message got through. We need to start planning soon – these guys will not go away."
Sinclair replied, "Agreed. I am going to speak to the Ambassador and the person with her that heard Varn and spoke to him. See if they have any insight. Captain, if you will: Coordinate with Ivanova for the operation."
"Roger, Commander. Pierce Out."
"I'm told that you two were there where there when Varn regained consciousness. And he spoke to you." Sinclair spoke to the two Minbari. Harry was standing in the background.
Drall answered, "Yes. But he didn't tell us anything more than he told you."
"How did you come to be there?"
Drall paused and looked at Delenn. "His spirit cried out to me in the night. He appeared before me." Seeing the Commander's reaction Drall added, "So you also saw him!"
"Yes." Before he could add on a voice spoke from the door.
"He appeared to me as well. Called out to me out of nowhere," Londo added. Everyone looked over to see Londo Mollari at the door. "Ambassador Delenn, I cannot imagine that you of all people on this station would hold out on me."
Sinclair looked over. "And the circle is complete." He sighed.
Delenn considered what they were speaking of. She asked Drall, "You know what Varn meant by another." It wasn't really a question.
Drall answered, "Yes. Varn could not ask it. Could not say the words. But it was in his eyes. He's probably forbidden to ask directly. But the answer is there if you would have ears to hear it."
"I wonder why he spoke to you three of all the people available," Delenn asked.
Drall answered, "Maybe because it is we who understand the third rule of sentient life." He looked at the Centauri Ambassador. "You can be of great service, Ambassador, if you are willing to dare greatly."
"You're talking to the Centauri who led the raid on Fallas 12. That was a long time ago, but perhaps it is time to return to my roots, as the humans would say."
"Ambassador. I don't think you fully understand what is being asked of you."
Londo replied to Drall, "I am aware. We will go down but one of us will not return. Yes?"
Drall nodded. "That much is certain. And it will be me."
The Commander asked, "Why you? Why not the Ambassador or I?"
Drall looked at the commander. "I have been searching for meaning, left adrift when my purpose seemed over. This is a great chance to once again serve others. My life will allow all of these people to live. Let my life have meaning again! Let me do what we all know must be done."
The Commander looked to Londo. "You can fly them down?"
Londo said, "As a young and foolish Centauri, I swore I would die on my feet – doing something noble, and brave, and futile. Perhaps it was not so wild a dream as I had thought. Or so foolish. It is better than waiting for the inevitable. We will go. Together."
Before anyone said anything else, Harry interrupted. "Hey. If anyone has been there and can think of a clear picture, I can transport the group down magically. And then bring the ones back who aren't staying."
The commander sighed. It should be him going – but his skills were best served protecting the planet and allowing the others to do what was needed. "Get Varn and go. Take Garibaldi with you. I will go and coordinate with the Hyperion. We'll give you room if there is a fight."
When Sinclair reached CNC he called out, "Contact Captain Pierce and get ready to launch all fighters. Our package to fix the planet is about to leave. Arm defense grid and close blast doors."
"Aye, Commander."
There was a long pause. After a fifteen minute wait, all of a sudden a bright light appeared throughout the area around the planet, encompassing the station as well as the two ships.
Suddenly power dropped and a hologram appeared. "I am sending this message to the parties in contention for control of this planet. It belongs to none of you! It belongs only to itself – and the future. Commander Sinclair. The secrets buried here must stay secret. Control of this by any one race would give it an advantage over all others. Therefore, it is in all best interest of all races that none should gain control. We entrust the safekeeping of this place to the Babylon 5 Advisory Committee in the hope that, in their best interest, they shall prevent any attempt of any one race to take control. If enlightened self interest is not sufficient, know this: The defensive systems of this world are now fully operational. Any attempt to it approach this world will be resisted. Any ship attempting to land will be destroyed. When the time is right, we will be here. Waiting for you. But NOT until then. Goodbye."
The hologram disappeared and the power came back. Ivanova looked at her console and said, "Alien ships attempting to advance! Hyperion is backing away!"
Suddenly, several large space lasers shot out from the planet and cut the alien ships in pieces.
Sinclair said, "I guess that's that."
Harry watched as Delenn regretfully withdrew from her mentor, begging for assurance that he would be all right. The previous Guardian gave the best assurance he could and Delenn had to satisfy herself with it.
Harry had the three grab on to him and then used his special abilities to return – he hated portkeys and that was his only other choice.
They group appeared in the Commander's office. Garibaldi linked in, "Commander. This is Garibaldi."
"Go."
"We're back. That was freaky."
"Understood."
Harry called out, "Hey! Shouldn't there be a 'we saved the station' party? The Ambassadors are trying to figure out humans and I thought seeing a party will help. I suggest rock and pop music from the late 20th century – makes wonderful dance music. Make sure you get the hokey pokey played! Ambassador Mollari was very interested in seeing it done right." He grinned.
Garibaldi looked at Harry with a gimlet eye. Sinclair's voice came through after a pause, "We'll see what we can do."
Garibaldi asked, "The hokey pokey?"
Harry shrugged. "I tried showing them – but seeing a whole bunch of people doing it is better."
Delenn and Londo looked at each other. What were they being signed up for?
Harry Potter watched the party, sitting with the DJ. Every once in a while, he would suggest a song and the DJ would find it. The man was amazed at the knowledge Harry had about music from all that time ago and was also surprised that the Babylon 5 computer had so much of it on file – he was normally posted on the Hyperion and had volunteered for the duty.
The crew from the Hyperion were specifically invited and they enjoyed a break from ship life. There was much security to ensure there was no rowdiness.
Delenn and Londo had watched for quite a while – until Harry forced them to start dancing with everyone else. They were clumsy, being unfamiliar with the dance style, but did well enough.
The humans who saw them dance were actually impressed – they had never expected Ambassadors to rock out to human music. It made them more likeable.
Finally Susan, holding a glass of Vodka, found him. "So, Harry. How long before you move on?"
Harry grinned and shrugged. "I don't know. When the universe moves me? Usually I get moved on when everything is fixed. Everything seems fine. So, I don't know."
Susan drank down the rest of her drink and slammed her glass down. "Well, I have an itch – and you're the safest person I know to scratch it. You're going to help me and I'll return the favor. Any problem with that?"
Harry shook his head. Susan smirked and grabbed him by the jacket. She didn't care that many crew members saw her manhandling her prize away from the party. Several even gave cat-calls. Harry just waved to them and followed the Commander – she was, after all, a very attractive woman.