Summoning Light (28 page)

Galen had gone through all of the probes they had planted; he found Blaylock in none of them. He decided to go through them again, more slowly, beginning with the probe on Rabelna Dorna. She walked down a long, dimly lit tunnel of stone. Areas of static interrupted the image. Shadows.

"Does it say where he went?" G'Leel asked.

Galen shook his head. "Was he also injured?"

"Not that I could see."

What information did Blaylock seek? G'Leel had said Blaylock was upset at Galen's fevered rantings about the Shadow ship. In destroying the ship, Galen had discovered that a person lived at the center of it, serving as the central processing unit, coordinating its functions, fulfilling its needs. Somehow, communication had passed between them. Galen didn't know if it had been some strange feedback from the spell of destruction, or perhaps some connection created by his spell to listen to the Shadows. He had heard Anna's thoughts, felt her feelings. She seemed to have become nearly a machine herself, concerned only with serving the ship, reconnecting with it, as if it were a part of her. The Shadows had enslaved her with their technology.

No wonder Blaylock had been upset. A person made subservient to technology embodied the antithesis of the techno-mages. The mages were masters of their tech; all their training focused on it. Only with control could they follow the Code, use the tech for good. Blaylock believed that perfect discipline, perfect control must be their goal, the path to enlightenment. Subjugating intelligent beings to technology would be blasphemy.

The presence of Anna within the ship was yet more evidence of the Shadows' endless evil. And more important, it revealed that everything the techno-mages believed, the Shadows opposed. No wonder the Shadows were so obsessed with them. By their very existence, they showed that another way was possible, a better way. Living beings could be enhanced by technology, not overpowered by it. It was all the more reason they should fight the Shadows.

In his mind's eye, Rabelna stopped within the dim stone tunnel and greeted two Drakh standing guard beside a door. They allowed her to enter.

The room was brightly lit, with plain white walls. Rabelna hesitated, probably waiting for her eyes to adjust. A simple rectangular table and three chairs were arranged before her. To the side of the table, two figures, their backs to her, crouched over something on the white floor. Galen's heart sped at the sight of the short Centauri crest adorning the head of one of them. Tilar. Beside him was Bunny.

"What's going on?" Rabelna said. "I was ready to leave for Babylon– Who is that?"

Tilar and Bunny had stood, revealing Blaylock lying on the floor. His limbs were in random positions, as if he'd collapsed. His gaunt face was turned to one side, eyes closed, lips slightly parted. Galen studied him carefully, saw the blue suit jacket rising and falling with his breath. He was still alive. But what had they done to him?

"Well?" G'Leel said, drawing him back to the hotel room. "Why did he leave?"

"A moment."

Bunny twirled a tendril of hair around her index finger. "He's one of the mages who got away last night. He came back. And they say mages are clever. I don't see why we're supposed to be so impressed."

"Someday," Tilar said, "I'll show you."

"I know," Bunny said. "After you're all grown up and get your implants."

Galen located the probe. It was underground, three hundred feet below the City Center. He remembered the faint pulsation he'd heard from beneath the street there. His sensors had hinted at an extensive underground complex.

He folded the note, put it in his pocket. He pushed himself up from the bed. "I will go after him."

"How will you find him?"

"I have already found him."

"Where is he?"

Holding tightly to his side, Galen bent, picked up his coat.

"How is he, then?"

"He is captured." Galen got one arm into the coat, then found that his sore ribs made it difficult to reach back with his other arm. He forced it back, slid it into the coat.

"What about your leg?"

Galen started toward the outer room.

"He wanted you to leave the planet," G'Leel said. "I thought you had to obey him."

"He can reprimand me later."

"Wash your face, at least. It's bloody."

Galen paused, headed into the bathroom. Though the light there was red as well, he could see dark, dried rivulets along the side of his face. He rinsed them away, G'Leel standing over him in the doorway.

In the underground room, Rabelna sat. "Do we know whether they warned the other techno-mages about the Zekhite? If they did, I can get my contacts working to find out what new arrangements the mages will make to leave Babylon 5."

"We know they didn't send a message from the planet," Tilar said. "If Galen – the other one – is still here, then the mages still don't know. Whether or not Galen is here, we'll find out soon. Bunny's going to ask Blaylock a few questions. As soon as Elizar comes."

A warm rush of well-being flooded Galen's body. It carried with it the promise of relief from everything he'd held inside, from the crushing anger and self-hate, from the grief, from the driving need to act. And perhaps, finally, an end to it.

He felt exhilarated, energized. Elizar was there. He had another chance. Another chance to kill Elizar. To crush him to nothingness.

"If you can wake him up," Bunny said.

Galen realized G'Leel had spoken. "I'm sorry?" he said.

"I said, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I criticized you for not fighting the Shadows. I see that you're doing all you can."

Galen dried his face. "The Shadows have targeted my order. We could do much more in the fight against them. But the mages are afraid."

"Apparently the Narns are targeted as well. If they knew, I don't think many of them would worry about helping your kind."

Their eyes met for a moment, and Galen nodded. She stepped aside to let him pass, followed as he limped toward the front door.

"The warehouse," he said, "is three blocks north of here. It is called Kledah. The best time to strike would be at dawn."

"Thank you," she said.

He opened the door. "I hope I haunt your dreams no longer. You have done more than could possibly have been expected." He started out, pulling the door closed behind him.

She grabbed it. "I'm coming with you," she said, as if she had decided at that very moment.

"No. You must not."

"Yes," G'Leel said, "I must."

Galen limped back inside, closed the door. "I cannot be responsible for your safety."

"I'm not asking you to be."

"Already Blaylock is overcome, despite his great powers."

She tapped the black case strapped to her waist. "He didn't have a gun."

Galen fixed her with his gaze. "Do you know where I'm going? Beneath the City Center is a vast complex of tunnels carved out of the rock. They are filled with your worst nightmares."

"Actually, my worst nightmares have involved you."

"Then perhaps you should not anger me."

"I'm the one with the ship that can take you both out of here."

Galen bowed his head. He didn't have time to argue, and he was already growing tired. "I do not expect Blaylock or I shall return from that place."

"Then I'll just have to help you." G'Leel opened the door and stepped out into the hall.

Galen followed, lowering his voice. "You will very likely die."

Her mouth tightened, and she drew in a quick breath. "That's my choice, isn't it? Just as it's yours?"

That he could not argue. He walked down the hall, G'Leel at his side.

At the City Center, deep below ground, a door opened, and Tilar turned quickly, an overly enthusiastic smile forming on his face. "Elizar. At last you're here."

Londo peered down the dimly lit corridor that marked the boundary of the mages' territory in Down Below. Vir had "shown" him the way, with Fed's hidden assistance, and then had quickly withdrawn. Vir had learned his lesson, which was more than Elric could say for his master.

From the observation room Elric watched Londo, as he watched many things, attempting to ignore the constant throbbing in his head. Time was growing short. The Crystal Cabin was scheduled to depart in four hours, and those who would leave here alive must be on it.

In one of the customs areas, Purple Drazi gathered, looking toward the bay that held the Zekhite, and whispering of the Green Drazi that rumor said were inside. Commander Susan Ivanova, second-in-command of Babylon 5, had thus far frustrated their attempts to fight until a clear-cut winner emerged. According to Beel's report, Susan had seized the scarf of the Green leader in frustration, and so had unintentionally become the Green leader. She had promptly ordered all Green Drazi to dye their scarves purple, effectively ending their division.

Yet now, Elric knew, they sensed the thrill of conflict returning. Fresh enemies had arrived on the station. The Purples didn't know what had happened to the two comrades they'd met in the brig who had originally told them of the Zekhite and its Green crew. Perhaps they believed the two were casualties of the conflict. In that case, their deaths would be avenged.

In the captain's office, Security Officer Lou Welch sat across the desk from John Sheridan, making his report. "Since they aren't registered in any way, we can't know every techno-mage who arrived. But we estimate now there are hundreds of them on the station. Maybe as many as five hundred. The arrivals seemed to stop a few days ago, which could mean that they're all here – all that are coming, anyway. They've ordered lots of supplies from various vendors, and each time they specified the goods had to be ready by this morning. Which suggests that they're leaving very soon now." Lou paused to scratch his balding head, looking rather anxious and overworked. "We still haven't been able to figure out how they're leaving, though. They're not registered as passengers on any outgoing ships. We're watching all departures, as you ordered."

The probe on John's neck revealed that the captain was twirling the orange blossom absently between thumb and forefinger. It remained as fresh as when Elric had given it to him. "They said they were leaving. I think you're right; I think it's soon, whether there's a record of it or not. I need you to get word to their leader, Elric. Have him meet me here in an hour."

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you, Mr. Welch. Good work."

In Down Below, Londo at last gathered the nerve to step into the corridor where runes glowed on the walls. "Hello? Hello?"

Fed was handling all the conjuries this time. Elric had told him it was because he'd proven himself with Vir's visit. Although that was true, Elric would still have preferred to do the work himself, but he was simply too tired. He had to save what energy remained to him.

A dim red glow spread from the cross-hallway ahead of Londo, and the ambassador looked anxiously toward it.

Londo had come to apologize. Elric had accurately deduced at least that much of the plan that had been hatched within the station's hedge maze. This was Morden's misdirection: lead the mages to believe that Londo had been beaten, so they would be unprepared for him to strike back. The hypocrite Londo would have no trouble going along, while revenge remained his final goal.

Londo spoke nervously into the silence, extending his hands. "I admit perhaps my enthusiasm for – for a personal meeting was excessive."

The red light grew brighter, and a low growl echoed down the corridor. Beneath it rumbled the sound of massive movement. Though Elric was not there to smell it, he imagined the stench of rotten meat on the air.

Londo's hands rose, as if trying to ward off whatever might come. "And certainly – certainly the incident with the concealed camera was regrettable."

A thunderous roar blasted down at Londo.

He cowered, his hands up around his head. As the roaring swelled, he yelled out, barely audible. "And I would just like to say that for any misunderstanding that might have grown out of all of this – I–" His hands rose over his head now, in complete surrender. "I apologize."

The roaring stopped; the red light faded away.

Londo looked around in disbelief, then, deciding the worst was over, hesitantly lowered his hands. With an uncertain smile he attempted to regain his dignity. "Well, I'm pleased to see that you are a sympathetic and understanding group. I will go now. If you ever come this way again, though, perhaps we can do – do business after all, yes?" Londo paused, looking hopefully down the corridor. Then he seemed to realize that the greatest wisdom lay in a rapid retreat. He held his hands to either side of his mouth, yelled out his parting as if to stress the fact that their business was now concluded. "Good-bye." He turned and walked quickly down the hall.

On his back hung three holodemons, conjured by Fed with a spell that combined elements of illusion with elements of the flying platform, so that the images of the holodemons could be given substance, and even the ability to move objects. Fed would follow Londo, torment him with the demons. They would distract him and further fuel his anger against the mages. He would believe the mages' focus was on this petty revenge, and would not realize the true object of their machinations: the Centauri freighter Ondavi owned by Refa, docked at Babylon 5. It was the final shell in Elric's shell game.

Elric found he had received a message. It was from Galen.

Galen was still alive.

He held that truth close to him for a moment, savoring its comfort.

But all too quickly, the worries returned. If Galen had sent a message, then Blaylock must be unable. Galen would be on his own. Even if Alwyn was taking extreme risks to reach Thenothk quickly, he could not have arrived there yet. And by sending this message, Galen could well have betrayed his location to the Shadows, putting himself in even greater danger.

The throbbing in Elric's head grew stronger, carrying the pain of absence, of everything that had been lost. He had determined not to lose Galen. Yet the cavity of darkness within him threatened to swallow all hope.