She laughed at that, and then gestured that he should sit. He did, and she did likewise.
“Not to sound presumptuous, Lady Tim … Empress Timov-“
“Timov, please. We’re old friends.”
“Are we? I mean … yes, of course.” Vir felt as if his entire world was spinning off its axis. He needed time to cope with the shifting ground beneath him. “Timov … what are you doing here? How long have you been here?”
“The better part of two years, actually,” Timov told him. “I very much doubt that Londo thought I would be here this long. Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting it either. Things have just … worked out.”
“Worked out … how? Are you and he…” Vir wasn’t quite sure how to proceed with the sentence.
“The secret of our marriage’s success has always been our lack of communication,” said Timov. “I wouldn’t say that we communicate all that much more now. But when we do, there is a … relaxed manner about it. We have been through much in the past years, Vir … particularly him. It has changed him. Made him more than he was … and less. I think he is trying to strike a balance now.”
“And you’re providing that?”
“After a fashion, in a small way,” she allowed. “There is still much that needs to be done, much that needs attending to-”
At that moment, the door opened. Durla stepped in quickly … and came to a dead halt when he saw Timov and Vir. He forced a smile, and it was rather obvious that it was an effort to push it onto his face. “Ambassador Vir,” he said with so much cheerfulness that he sounded as if he were medicated. “I heard that you had arrived. Shame on you for not advising us ahead of time. Highness,” and he bowed to Timov, “I can attend to the ambassador’s needs from this point. I’m certain you have other matters of far greater importance that need attending to …”
“Greater importance than chatting with an old friend?” she said, scoffing. “Not at the moment, no. Of course, to some degree I owe that to you, Minister. The Minister here,” she said, turning to Vir, “has gone to great effort to try and minimize my calendar of activities. Is that not so, Minister?”
“With all respect, Highness, I have no idea to what you could possibly be referring.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” Timov said flatly, in that particular tone that still caused Vir’s bladder to feel slightly weakened. “Now if you don’t mind, Minister, Vir and I were in the midst of a conversation. I’m certain you wouldn’t want to disturb us, would you?”
“Certainly not,” said Durla, as he bowed deeply and exited backing up.
All business, Timov turned back to Vir and said, “That man has got to go. He oozes bile. I have no idea why Londo keeps him around, but he is a frightening little person. He has arrayed an entire support group of key appointees, all of whom are loyal to him rather than Londo. I will do whatever it takes to find a way to rid the palace of him and his ilk. That, at the moment, is my major concern. Well, that and Londo …”
“He’s my concern as well.”
“Is there some specific thing that has prompted you to come here?” she asked.
Something in Vir’s head prevented him from being utterly forthcoming. He wasn’t sure precisely what it was, but he knew he just wasn’t comfortable with telling Timov about Kane. Perhaps she might think he was being used, or that he was foolish for becoming involved with techno-mages, even initiate techno-mages.
“I’ve … been hearing things,” he said carefully.
“What sort of things?” She leaned forward intently, and it was quite clear that she wasn’t going to settle for vague generalities.
But thanks to his lack of talent for dissembling, he knew that if he tried to make something up, he would fail miserably in the endeavor. So he cast his mind back to his conversations with Kane, and something came to him. “K0643,” he said.
She looked at him oddly. “What would that be?”
“It … has to do with digging,” he told her.
“Digging?” Timov looked rather confused.
Small wonder. Vir was somewhat befuddled about the matter himself. “Yes. I’ve just been hearing… well … odd things in connection with it. I was hoping to see what Londo knew about it … “
“Let us see what I can find out first,” Timov said thoughtfully . “I will make certain that Londo knows you’re here. He’ll probably want to see you this evening. In the meantime, I’ll make a few inquiries into this … K0643, you said?” He nodded. She rose and said, “Come. I’ll show you to your guest quarters.”
“Thank you. And … if I may say so, Timov … I’m really pleased over the way this has been working out. After my recent experiences…”
“Experiences?” She looked at him curiously. “What sort of experiences?”
“Oh, well … it’s nothing you really need to worry about. It was my problem … well … not anymore…”
“Vir,” she said with an air of impatience, “just tell me what you mean.”
“Well … it’s just that, when I saw you, I was … I’m a little ashamed to say it…”
“You needn’t concern yourself, Vir. Just speak your mind.”
“Well … I took one look at you and thought, `Oh, Great Maker, not another of Londo’s wives. Not after my involvement with Mariel.’ But I realize now that I was completely-“
She took him by the arm and sat him down so forcefully the bench shuddered under him. She sat opposite him and said, very slowly, “What…’involvement’… with Mariel?”
He told her everything, and as he did, Timov grew paler and paler. The only thing he left out was the exact details of what Mariel had been saying to the unseen “chancellor.” But he gave enough generalities to put across his sense of personal violation. When he was finished, she whispered, “You… incredibly lucky man…”
“Lucky? ” He couldn’t quite believe what he’d just heard. “Timov, with all respect, how could anything about that experience possibly be considered lucky?”
“Because,” she replied, “you’re still alive.”
That which had been hidden for millennia was only days away from discovery.
The casualties were rising.
And in the darkness, the Drakh stood ready. They spoke among themselves, communed. How many casualties would there be? How many workers would be sacrificed to the defenses that belonged to something that had been hidden for so long that it had been forgotten by all save the most loyal.
The answer came back.- fifty percent. Perhaps sixty percent of the workers would be lost in that first burst of energy. The Shadows, of course, could have started the homing device with no casualties at all. For the Drakh, however, it was trial and error. And the Drakh had no desire to sacrifice any of their own. So naturally it made sense to use their pawns. They were a trivial concern.
All that mattered was the Hidden Base. The base that could only be reached through K0643. The Hidden Base, known to the Drakh as Xha'dam. Xha'dam, the place that would enable them to bring the power of the Shadows to the galaxy once more. And if they did their job properly, why … perhaps the Shadows would see the greatness of their work and would return . Return to praise the Drakh, and raise them up above all that lived, or at least, all that remained living.
The Drakh Entire was becoming impatient. To be so close … so close … and yet have to proceed with caution. It was maddening.
But they maintained their patience. .for time was on their side. It was not, however. on the side o f the rest of the galaxy…
- chapter 20 -
Kuto swayed into Durla’s office with his customary wide gait. Durla stared at Kuto and wondered if it was possible for the man to get any fatter. As it was, Kuto’s girth was so impressive that it was difficult for him to ease himself into a chair and, once he was there, disengaging himself from it became equally problematic.
For all that, Kuto had a rather avuncular manner that made him quite pleasant to spend time with, and a boisterously loud attitude that was well suit
ed to someone who was designated the minister of Information.
“A moment of your time, Minister,” he boomed to Durla, sliding into a seat before Durla could possibly have the opportunity to tell him to come back later. The chair creaked protestingly under his bulk, but Durla was used to that. “I assure you, it won’t take long.”
“What is it, Kuto?” asked Durla, putting aside his work.
“Well … there has been a good deal of interest being expressed lately in relation to K0643. Since I oversee information , people tend to come to me about such matters, and I address their queries, particularly when public statements might become necessary. Plus, when the inquiries come from high places…”
Durla put up his hands in the hope of getting Kuto to focus. The minister of Information had a habit of going off on annoying tangents. “Could you be just a bit more linear, Kuto. What inquiries? What high places? And why should a public statement be necessary? K0643 is simply one of the assorted job works being overseen by this ministry. I don’t see how the public need concern itself overmuch.”
“Well, I would have thought that to be so, Minister,” said Kuto, scratching his copious chins. “The interest has been happening by degrees, however. First … we’ve been getting quite a few inquiries from families of workers who went to the site … those who disappeared and haven’t been heard from again.”
“If workers get tired or bored or simply depart their posts, we can hardly be held responsible,” Durla said impatiently. “A certain degree of attrition was anticipated.”
“Attrition is one thing, Minister. But outright disappearances ?”
“If some are viewing this as an opportunity to begin a new life elsewhere, we cannot be held accountable for that, either. Is there anything else?”
“I’m afraid so. You see, the emperor’s wife has also been making inquiries…”
“Timov?” Durla let out a long, frustrated sigh. “Why?”
“I couldn’t say. But she’s been checking about, and has garnered some information-“
“Why was anything told to her at all!” Durla demanded.
“Because what she sought was not classified information,” Kuto said reasonably. “Should anything have been kept from her?”
“No. No, I suppose not.” Durla leaned back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose, feeling suddenly very, very tired.
Thinking of the project made him think of Mariel. After all, it had been she who had come to him in the dream and urged him on. There had to be an answer to it all, of that he was quite certain.
He had deliberately distanced himself, however, from Mariel’s activities, and particularly those activities that were coordinated through the office of Chancellor Lione. He suspected that Lione was beginning to intuit something about Durla’s feelings for her, and those feelings might be misinterpreted . If there was one thing that Durla did not want to allow, it was anything that might be seen as weakness.
Still …
“Kuto,” Durla said, leaning forward in a manner meant to suggest that great secrets were about to be imparted. Kuto tried to respond, but leaning forward wasn’t his forte. So he stayed where he was. “I am a bit … concerned about several individuals. Several people have attained important positions in a variety of … projects. Since I have you here, I thought perhaps I might entrust you with their names, and that you might check into their current whereabouts for me. However … it might be best if you did this without letting anyone know that the request came from me. And I would also prefer if you did not speak to Chancellor Lione about the matter.”
“Chancellor Lione?” Kuto raised an eyebrow. “Is there a reason to doubt-“
“No. Not at all. But … this is my preference. I can trust you to honor it?”
“Of course.”
Durla rattled off a half dozen names, the vast majority of whom he was picking at random off the top of his head. One of the names mentioned, however, was that of Mariel. Kuto didn’t appear to react to her name any more than he did the others whom Durla mentioned. “And once I’ve found out what you wish to know?”
“Then relay the results to me.” Kuto nodded. “And what about Timov?”
“She is becoming rather tiresome, that one,” Durla admitted . “Still, as long as the emperor expresses no wish for her to leave, we must honor his desires in the matter. Mustn’t we?”
“And if his desires change?”
“Why then,” Durla said quietly, “so does her … location.”
* * *
Kuto nodded, smiled, left Durla’s office … and went straight to Castig Lione to inform the chancellor that, yes indeed , his hunch had been right, and Durla had inquired about Lady Mariel.
Wheels within wheels. And moving like a wraith, through the minds of each and every player, flowed Shiv’kala, smiling from the darkness of their innermost ambitions, and secure in the knowledge that the Drakh would ultimately benefit from all…
- chapter 21 -
When Vir came to, he felt a throbbing at the base of his skull, and when he tried to rub it he discovered that his hands were chained to the wall of the cell that he was occupying.
He pulled at the manacles and had absolutely no success in budging them. As the reality of his situation started to dawn on him, he pulled with greater and greater aggressiveness, but his only response was the loud rattling of the chains. By rapid degrees, his panic level began to elevate, and he pulled with even more ferocity, still to no avail.
Then he shouted, but that was an even bigger mistake, because he only succeeded in making his head hurt mightily. It was at that point that he managed to come to the realization that he was experiencing a thumping great hangover.
That, in turn, led him to remember the previous night, which had been one of great festivity and merriment. He was utterly perplexed as to how something that seemed to be going so right could possibly have ended up so wrong …
Some fourteen hours earlier Vir had puttered around in his quarters and wondered when, or even if, Londo was going to take the time to see him. Indeed, he was wondering a great many things, up to and including whether or not his presence on Centauri Prime was one great big mistake.
Then he reviewed, once again, the reasons he had come. The claims of a great darkness that had fallen upon Centauri Prime, that some sort of strange race had gained a hold over Londo. And above all of that, he recalled the sense of personal humiliation over the entire business with Mariel. All of that served to steel his resolve, and made him more determined than ever to see through what he had committed to do.
The door to his quarters chimed, and he went to open it. Timov was standing there, and there was an unmistakeable look of concern on her face. “I have some information for you regarding K0643,” she said without preamble. “It’s a planet.”
In quick, broad strokes she laid out what she had learned of the world. Of how it was a pet archaeological dig that had been initiated by Minister Durla. Of how some spoke of it as being haunted, as unlikely and improbable as such a thing might be. Of how people were vanishing from the site. “I’m wondering if there isn’t some sort of cover-up attached to it,” Timov said suspiciously.
“But what would they be covering up? Is there any concrete example of wrongdoing?”
“No, but I-“
“Well!” boomed a familiarly loud voice. “Well, well, well! And what is this, eh? Is my former aide-de-camp dallying with the wife of the emperor, eh?”
Vir was astounded at the change that had come over Londo. What he was seeing here was the Londo of old. A man in good spirits, in good cheer, a man who appreciated the presence and even the companionship of others. He didn’t simply walk into the room, he practically exploded into it, with huge strides that ate the distance between himself and Vir in no time. He embraced him as he would an old friend, and Timov as well, which astounded Vir all the more.
It was at that point that Vir became convinced Kane was completely wrong. This wasn’t a man who was bein
g controlled by fearsome beings, whose life was beholden to creatures lurking in darkness. No, it was simply impossible. Londo was no good at concealing things from Vir; Vir knew far too much.
But…
Londo had known about that attempt on Sheridan’s life. He had found that information somewhere, and from his attitude and actions the last time they’d been together, it had very much seemed as if Londo was acting like a man who knew he was under constant observation. Could that have been the case, at the time, but he was no longer under such scrutiny? Or was it that he had simply become so accustomed to it that he acted as if it meant nothing anymore?
Vir decided he didn’t dare relax his guard. He did, however , return the embrace.
“You must come to my private dining room this evening … this very hour!” Londo declared. “We shall discuss old times … we will laugh as of old … we will make sport and make merry, eh? We shall celebrate your return home, Vir, for whatever the reason is that you have chosen to bless us with your presence. What is the reason, eh?”
“Just lonely, Londo,” Vir said quickly. “Just anxious to feel the ground of Centauri Prime under my feet again. And I wanted to breathe the fine air of our Homeworld instead of the recycled atmosphere of Babylon 5. You must know the feeling.”
“Ohhh, I know it very well. Very well, indeed. And Timov, you are looking fit this evening.” He kissed her suavely on the knuckles. “You will bring the illustrious Vir to the private dining room, and join us, eh? We will make an evening of it. It will be like the old times for the three of us.”
“The three of us didn’t have any old times together,” Vir said reasonably, “unless you count your coming into your quarters while I was trying to stop Daggair and Timov from killing each other.”
“Ah, well Daggair will not be with us this evening, so you can rest assured that this night will go quite smoothly, Vir. Timov, I can trust you to make sure that Vir does not get himself lost in this vast abyss that is our home.”