This is an alternate universe
story. The year is 2265. The Babylon 5 station was destroyed,
leaving its survivors renegades.
For four years, Babylon 5 had been his home. Many people's home, 250,000 in all, including his wife. They had met and married on that station, faced both the hard times and the good times together. Then, in a moment, everything changed. The station was destroyed in a massive explosion, only those rushed to ships and a few members of the command staff escaping in time. In all, less than 100 survived. Those on the ships had gone their seperate ways - they tried to forget the tragedy.
Unfortunately, the command staff was not so lucky. They found themselves renegades, hunted. They fled the area for the most part, seeking safe ports. Some had found places for themselves, others they'd lost in the years to follow. Marcus returned to work among the Rangers, Ivanova stayed at his side. G'kar, for some unknown reason, had made his way to Centauri Prime. Garibaldi and Zack Allen had both died in the destruction of the station. Lyta Alexander and Dr. Franklin had survived, but no one knew what had happened to them since.
Delenn had returned to Minbar, and Captain Sheridan had gone with her. They were happy there for a long time, content and finally free from war. They had a son now, David, all of six months old. The picture of his father he was, with his mother's eyes and the beginings of a Minbari bone crest. They were happy . . . for the most part.
Sheridan, however, was feeling useless and lonely in an alien world where he was an alien. He would never dream of ruining things for Delenn, but he wasn't sure how much longer he could take staring at waterfalls and avoiding warrior caste. On Babylon 5 he had been captain. From there he had led millions in a war to save the future. *This* was the future, and he didn't like it. He needed to know what was happening out there, to be a part of things. Here, he had no contributions to make. They didn't need him. His family needed him, yes, but this place did not need him. In all, this place did not want him. "Starkiller" was still the name many knew him by. So he and David remained hidden with the Rangers, unable to leave lest their lives be in danger.
David was taking a nap at the moment, and their house was silent. John stood at the window, brooding, and the waterfalls continued outside. There wa no change in this place in three years and, amusingly enough, the peace was getting to him. If only something changed . . . no, it was good for his family the way it was. Besides, *be careful what you wish for, you just might get it . . . .*
And get it he did, Sheridan knew as soon as Delenn stepped in the door. She was upset, she might have been crying only moments before. John saw this in a second. Concerned, he ran to her.
"Delenn! What's wrong?"
Delenn held him for a moment, shaking. Then she looked into his eyes. "We need to leave. Now. Soon. Before . . . before . . ." She couldn't continue. Indeed, she had just been crying, and now began again.
It was rare to see Delenn in such a state. "It's okay, it's okay," John said softly as he held her. "Tell me what happened. What's wrong?"
"Oh, John," she said sadly. "I just received a report from one of the Rangers. Somehow others know we're here." She paused, swallowing back more tears before continueing. "They know about David. The Ranger intercepted orders to kill our baby! They said they'd take any means necessary, no matter who stood in the way." She shook her head as if in denial. "Since they don't consider *any* of us completely Minbari, they feel the rules against killing another don't apply. The orders came from off planet. Whoever they are, they won't stop at this. What are we going to do? I *won't* let them kill our baby!"
John held her closer, protectively. "I don't know. I don't know. Where are the orders from?" he asked, anger barely hidden in his voice.
"They . . . they didn't say. I'll . . . go get David."
John nodded, and Delenn moved quickly to the other room. What were they to do? They didn't even know where the attack would be coming from. Delenn was right. It wouldn't stop at this. They'd have to leave, find a new place of hiding. But was there any place left for them?
*I will not live the rest of my life as a wanderer,* he thought. *That is no way to raise a son.*
But where to go? They'd get picked up before they got anywhere near Epsilon 3. And it was now clear that they couldn't stay among the Minbari, that was no longer safe. Anywhere with Centauri or Earth Force influence would not be safe - the Shadows still maintained their hold on those governments. What would they do? How soon would the attack come?
It took him only a short time to get to that. His mind raced, and suddenly he realized that Delenn hadn't come back yet with David . . . .
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