"The choice is yours. You believe in freedom. You worship freedom.
"Enjoy that choice, for it is the last taste of freedom any
We are your Masters. We are your saviours and your protectors. We are your lawgivers and your enforcers and your judges.
We are you executioners.
You have broken our law. You have had dealings with the Shadow. Their creatures roam your world, sheltered by your leaders, their skills utilised for your petty concerns of power. You have broken our law and you have betrayed those who stand beside you.
You have been judged, and you will be punished.
You have one rotation of your world. Those who are untainted by the Shadow will be permitted to leave, so long as they carry no weapons, and harbour no thoughts against us. Your leaders will not be permitted to leave, nor will those who have sheltered or were aware of the vassals of the Shadow.
One rotation of your world only.
When that is done, your world will die, in fire and ash and rock. You will be consigned to wander the galaxy, a rootless and uprooted people, so that all who look upon you will know the penalty for defying our law.
We are your masters. You will obey us.
If any try to leave who are tainted, or complicit, or seek to oppose us, all will die. We will seek out your entire race and erase you from history. If only the innocent leave, then you will be permitted to endure.
Behold our mercy.
Do not try to fight us, or all will die. Do not try to oppose us, or all will die. Accept our judgement and our justice and our mercy.
We are your masters.
You will obey us.
You have one rotation of your world.
Now he was a broken man, harsh with the pain of his own tears, seeing ghosts in every movement. His crew had fought this battle without him. He had been trying to restore a young girl who had taken her own life. A girl he had struck in a single moment of madness and anger.
His head in his hands, Jorah Marrago did not see Sinoval, Primarch Majestus et Conclavus, enter the room.
"My friend," he said softly.
Marrago looked up. Through eyes scarred by pain and horror, he saw the tall, dark form of his ally. Sinoval's deep eyes seemed to radiate compassion, an odd emotion for him to display. Marrago was not even sure if he was real.
"You cannot bring her back, can you?" he whispered.
"No," Sinoval said
destroy it, then we will rebuild it. And if they destroy it again, then we will rebuild it again, as many times as is necessary."
Something like that. The sentiment was there.
He walked on, noticing others moving about in the cool of the evening. Most were Minbari of course, but there were a surprising number of aliens present as well. Some Drazi, their normally furious faces a little calmer here. Some Narns, proudly wearing sunburst badges. Even a few humans, walking quickly, heads bowed.
He was not sure where he was going. David was here somewhere, helping to rebuild. He would probably be where the largest construction site was, unless they had finished work for the day, in which case he could be anywhere. Sheridan was content to drift and trust to fate to shepherd him in the right direction.
He had a feeling he was walking away from the centre of the city when he came across a Minbari woman sitting on a large rock, watching the sky with a contented air. She was small and slightly built, wearing a plain robe stained by dust and labour. There was a strange look in her eyes, a look of understanding. Sheridan remembered meeting the Dalai Lama, decades ago, millennia ago. He had had that same look. The look of a person who knows where he or she belongs in the galaxy.
He was about to move on past her when she looked squarely at him. "A good evening, General Sheridan," she said formally.
He started. "Who? I...."
She smiled. "Please. We have been aware for some time that you would be visiting. You have been noticed and recognised at least a dozen times on your walk. You are not exactly an unfamiliar figure here."
"I haven't been here in three years," he protested. "How did you know...? Did Delenn tell you I was coming?"
"We have eyes and ears in a great many places. Delenn had no need to tell us anything. My name is Kats."
Sheridan paused, thinking. He knew that name. He had a nagging feeling he had seen her before too, although here had been more concern in her face then. That had been.... during the Rebirth Ceremony. She had been with Sinoval. She was Satai now. That was it.
"I've seen you before," he said.
"Ah, you do remember. I suppose I should feel flattered. For my part, I remember you as well. You look.... different from the last time. More careworn, but a little more understanding."
"Yes, I've.... learned a lot since then. I've had a lot of things to think about."
"Have not we all?"
"I suppose you know why I'm here."
"It is not hard to guess." She rose nimbly, and gestured along the road. It led to a small hill, rising gracefully to the horizon. "He is this way."
"Does he.... David.... Does he know I'm here?"