A group of people sat around a table and was discussing the recent events. "This is intolerable. All psionics come from that genetic time bomb." "What of the Nataruma girl?" "Her Psi abilities come from descending from the Chiram, Zaphri, and Emaan. There is also the fact that she has dimensional energies inside her. Before you ask, due to her genetic quirks and her notoriety, it is too much risk for too little gain to try and kidnap her." "So, we will have to regain our psionics abilities in another way." "Correct. The Emaan were touch empaths and the Zaphri had some basic psionic abilities to allow them to control some of their machines. Then there were the human Mu who could connect machines up to a human mind. We did get a schematic on Lebo's control system." "What of the president? What is she doing with this information." "She is going to announce sealing the borders and removing the Jump Gates to head off the war with the Minbari, although she is going to emphasize on the genetic time bomb. She also has a surprise that will keep the Minbari a little nervous and get some of the other races to start scanning Minbari space." "Very well. It looks like this disaster has pretty much stifled us until we can figure out how to form a counter to the genetic bomb and regain our psionics without having the genetic defects that Nataruma has." "We might be able to go better than what we were. Nataruma has shown that she is a stable and sane telekinetic and she has all those other abilities on top of it." "Very well. Let's get to it." Inside the Space Elevator, President Levy was talking with Nataruma and the Colonel. She was impressed with the structure and saw improvements that needed to be made. "I do not believe that a structure this big has no air conditioners or heaters," President Levy said in amusement. "It did at one time. My people replaced them with sensors that could detect dimensional disturbances. I, and others like me, do not feel the temperature extremes that make humans uncomfortable. Nataruma's current garb can heat or cool depending on the situation. However, it does have limits. If she travels to the South Pole, she would have to wear the gloves and hood which goes with her outfit to protect from the extreme cold. The same could be said for travelling in Death Valley. It is not meant to take the place of proper space suits or wet suits," the Colonel replied. Levy nodded. "That is the first thing that has to be done. Get this place back situated for human habitation. Nataruma, there is a favor I want to ask of you." The blue haired girl cocked her head and looked at Levy oddly. "What sort of favor?" Levy took a deep breath and brushed her palms down her legs. "I want you to talk to the adults and the children at various conferences and explain why things have to be done to cure the genetic bomb. Part of this favor would be wearing that skintight suit you are wearing when you go to public outings like that." "Why would you want me to do that?" Nataruma asked in confusion. "President Levy wants to make you a symbol to the people of this Earth to give them hope and a purpose," the Colonel explained. "She chose you, since you are human and would not scare everyone with your appearance. Showing a human that is untampered with and using the Space Elevator as a monument to human ingenuity would show that humans don't need to rely on the other races to improve. Your outfit is similar to the Chiram fictional entities known as superheroes." "Superheroes? Eh? I wonder what they are. If it can help stop the nightmares, I'll do it," Nataruma stated. "Thank you," President Levy said in a relieved voice. "Nightmares?" "My mother was murdered in front of me. I was to be used as a weapon. I felt the emanations of death when Lebo was on a rampage and killing. I really haven't had a decent night's sleep for a long time," Nataruma replied. "Oh. Well, maybe. I'm not sure. The Colonel is correct in what he told you about my reasons. I want Earth and humans away from anything that was created by the Vorlons or the Shadows. The main problem is Jump Space." "There is no problem there. The dimension shifting that was used by my people can be easily adapted to interstellar travel. The Dimensional Tepest just prevented us from using it in that form," the Colonel said. "Good. I was going to send an expedition to talk to the Drahk and send a message to the Shadows about what the Vorlons had done and try to get our neutrality recognized by them" Levy said. "I would recommend against doing so at this moment. Wait until the conversion to the tech we have brought to you is more than fifty percent. That way, if things turn out badly, there is a safety measure in place," the Colonel advised. President Levy nodded. "I will take that advice. I think we need to be better prepared as well." President Levy left to make arrangements to get some heaters and air conditioners for the Space Elevator. The Colonel looked at Nataruma and turned to head for the main computers. "Nataruma, I hope you are prepared for the life you have just agreed to lead." "I don't understand. What life?" "By being a symbol." "Is it any worse than what I have had to put up with so far?" "I do not know. You might be prepared for it, due to your previous life. I am not sure." With that the Colonel left and Nataruma stared out towards the horizon. "Superhero? I wonder what that is? I also wonder what all the green and red decorations are all about. Christmas? It's probably nothing important." A few days later, Jeffery Sinclair was sent to meet the ambassadors of the other races of the local group. He was nervous about the deception that he was to pull off that would require telling the truth, but not the whole truth. The ambassadors were to meet on an obsolete space station that was used by Earth. "Greetings. I'm glad that all of you could meet with me on such short notice." Sinclair said. "What is with the sealing of your borders?" Londo demanded. "Until this crisis is resolved, our borders are staying sealed," Sinclair stated. "Crisis? What crisis?" G'kar of the Narn asked. "We have evidence that leads us to believe that Earth and Minbar will go to war within the next year or so," Sinclair replied. "Talk about arrogance," Londo muttered. "We don't want to go to war. We have evidence that someone is trying to set up the war between Minbar and us. We have found a genetic time bomb within our species. And finally, we have evidence that Jha'Dur of the Dilgar is alive and in Minbari space," Sinclair said. At that final declaration, a lot of ambassadors were on their feet and yelling. Sinclair raised his hands to motion for the crowd to be quiet. "The evidence we have states that Jha'Dur has found a way to retard aging, but we do not know the side effects of what she used. We do know that there has to be one. We are also deactivating and dismantling our Jump Gates for examination. We are seeing if they were used to put the genetic time bomb within our genome. It is doubtful, but the more paranoid members of Earth Dome are demanding it." "From arrogance to extreme paranoia," Londo muttered. "That is expensive to do that with the Jump Gates. Are you sure about Jha'Dur?" "As sure as we can be with the evidence we have. We are right now trying to clean up the genetic time bomb and securing ourselves from that threat being used against us again. That is the reason for our borders being sealed. We will reopen them when we think this entire mess has blown over," Sinclair stated. "I thank you for your time and understanding." With that the ambassadors left to make plans to hunt for Jha'Dur and to make allowances for Earth sealing its borders. Although, on a Centauri ship, Londo was mulling over what he had just learned. "Is there something wrong, Londo?" Vir asked. "The humans are hiding something. Our telepaths told us Jeffery Sinclair was telling us the truth, but was hiding something," Londo replied. "If Jha'Dur is trying to set up a war between Earth and Minbar, maybe what he is being quiet on is what defensess they are planning," Vir offered. "Maybe. I just have the feeling that there is something the humans don't want us to know and that it is very big. Also, Sinclair didn't say Jha'Dur was planning that. He just gave the information that Earth had three pieces of evidence and then listed them. He wanted us to jump to the conclusion that Jha'Dur was the one planning to set Earth and Minbari at war with each other." "Who else would benefit from a war between Earth and Minbar?" "I don't know Vir. That's what bothers me," Londo replied. "I'm also worried about Earth dismantling their Jump Gates. They didn't say they were going to put them back up." "How else can they travel if they don't use Jump Gates and Jump Space? The Vree haven't handed them Slipspace technology." "I have the feeling it ties in with whatever secrets they are now hiding," Londo muttered. After Londo and Vir returned and gave the report on what the humans were doing, Londo added in his suspicions. The Emperor turned to his wife. "Dear, what do you see of the humans?" The Emperor's wife looked far away and blinked in confusion. "I can't see anything around Earth at the moment. I saw a human girl that was different in some way that should have no past and yet does. I am sorry husband, but that is all I can see." "How did the humans block the ability to detect the future. I wonder who that girl is," the Emperor muttered. "All right. I want us constantly scanning human space to find out what they are hiding and figure out who the girl was and what bearing she has on the events." /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ President Levy was looking over a report in her office, when the intercom buzzed at her. Putting the file aside, she pressed a button with a weary look on her face. "Yes?" "President Levy? Lieutenant Sinclair is here and you said you wanted to see him." "Send him in." President Levy sighed and waited. Soon, the door opened and Jeffery Sinclair walked in. "Sit down, Captain Sinclair," Levy said. "I have a mission for you." "I'm not a captain." "You are being promoted and put in charge of the new ship 'Dark Horizon'. It is a new design using knowledge we gained from the Space Elevator and has a specific purpose and mission in mind. We are keeping quiet on your promotion and the ship due to concerns about the Vorlons and Shadows." Captain Sinclair swallowed heavily knowing a major bombshell was about to be dropped on him and nodded. "What is the mission?" "To gather allies that can fight against a foe that our best military analysts say we will be fighting soon. Why you were chosen Valen was because you are Valen and are more than expendable." "I'm never going to live that down am I?" Sinclair muttered. "No. Not only are you expendable but on such a high risk mission and with what we know of the Vorlon's plans, your death would be beneficial on some level." President Levy handed Sinclair the report she had been reading and let him make the connections. "This?" Sinclair demanded while waving at the document. "You have to be joking! I thought the war with the Minbari we are preparing for is bad enough, but this is way beyond that!" "I wish I was joking. Everything points to the fact that there is a sixty to ninety-five percent chance that they will come. We need allies who have fought them before. The Colonel and Nataruma have been kind enough to help with the new ship design. There are obvious reasons why we won't send the Colonel along with you. As to Nataruma, I really think we should get her a Supergirl costume, due to the fact that she is being kind enough to be our symbol of hope and a better future." "Dear God! If the Minbari heard of her, they would think she is our version of Valeria or Valen." "Maybe. But, the Vorlons would be going after her first. Back to your mission, do you accept?" "Do I accept a mission that is trying to preserve our future or be a coward? I will take this mission on. I would love to see those worlds." "Very well. Your second in command will be Susan Ivanovah who will also be promoted. Before you ask, I am taking those people who were on that Babylon Five station in the destroyed future and using them on the high risk missions as a way to keep the Vorlons from reforming that stupid time-loop and taking our free will away from us once more." "What are you going to have Sheridan doing?" "Easy enough. Once certain ships have been built, we are going to raid Minbari space and capture the Babylon Four station. We built it or were going to build it, so it belongs to us." "That might start the Earth/Minbari War," Sinclair pointed out. "I know, but if the Vorlons are true to predictions, they will kick off the war anyway. We'll go after it, after the war starts," Levy replied. "Hopefully, we'll be prepared for that and what you are going to prepare us for." "True enough. Speaking of being prepared, how is the Space Elevator coming along?" "After it was made fit for humans once more, it increased our productivity capabilities. With its assistance in production of ships, we believe that we will be closer to one-third of the way done with refits rather than the best case predictions of one-fifth of the way done without it. Maybe we'll be all the way up to halfway done. Now back to your mission, don't fire if you can help it. They will be very wary and maybe a bit trigger happy, due to their past. Try and get them to send ambassadors to talk to us." "Right. Well, I'd better go and see my new ship and start my mission," Sinclair said, as he stood up. Levy stood up as well and gave Sinclair a salute. "I wish you as much good luck as possible, because you are going to need it." Sinclair returned the salute and left the office. President Levy looked at a television image of the Space Elevator and shook her head. "I'm not scared of the Minbari. I'm not scared of the Vorlons. I'm not scared of the Shadows. I am scared of them." Levy picked up the report and read it once more. "Hopefully they will join us in fighting them, because in my heart I know they will come." Elsewhere in space, Dukaht was talking with other members of the Grey Council. "We have received word that the Humans have sealed their borders and believe that someone is trying to force a war between us and them," Dukaht said. "I'm not sure how the Humans were able to find out about something before we did, but they must have." "We would destroy the humans! They are one of the youngest races," a warrior Satai commented. "None of the races, save the Vorlons, can stand up to us, unless they get backed by our Ancient Enemy." "Maybe that is why. A war like that would force the Humans to join forces against the light," Dukaht replied. "It seems that the Great War might be starting soon. This plot does have the feel of the Shadows behind it. I think we had better start moving to wartime production." As the months passed, tension was being raised across the races of the local group as they prepared for some sort of conflict. During this time Jeffery Sinclair returned with the Dark Horizon and announced a resounding success at his treaty mission, but EarthDome kept the mission and their new allies a secret from the other races of the Local Group. In Vorlon space, information had finally reached the First Ones about the situation of someone trying to start a war between Humans and Minbari. The Vorlons sent Kosh to investigate the situation and report back. The Vorlon ship headed for a planet that was to be claimed by the humans, but they did not do so. Right now, the planet had three ships hovering above it. Each ship was from a different race: Narn, Minbar, and Centauri and they were scanning Human-space. "This is wrong," Kosh muttered, and directed his ship to the Minbari Sharlin that was there and hailed the Minbari. "Honored One? What are you doing here?" came from the Minbari ship. "Observing. Status of the humans?" "We have picked up reports that the humans sent a ship out called Dark Horizon to do something, we have no idea what. It has returned and its commanding officer announced its success. I have no idea what it was doing, since no ships have left Human-space." "Did you get the name of the commanding officer?" "A Captain Jeffery Sinclair," the Minbari replied. Kosh hissed a bit, but kept quiet. On Earth, a meeting was being held at the Space Elevator to hammer out details of the new alliance. Nataruma and the Colonel were there as impartial observers, due to their status. "General Light, your people created them and Admiral Decker's people were responsible for that entire mess a while back, but that won't help us against them," President Levy declared in a bit of annoyance. "We need to work together to fight against them and deal with our other problems. We have space travel and are working at trying to clear a genetic time bomb out of ourselves. We will being willing to go into a trade agreement with all of you to share our technology." "Do not call us by that name anymore, but call us Lemurians," General Thomas Xavier Light said and then sighed. "You are right. They won't stop until we are all dead. This is probably the only reason that this little gathering can take place. I do not believe that your neighboring aliens can handle what they can do." "Which is why they contacted our four worlds," said a female with white hair and wearing a pink jumpsuit. "Councilor Drafty is right," Admiral James Decker responded. "The Domers had nothing to do with the problem and they have been drawn into our mess." "Domers?" Levy asked. "With the exception of Vartha's race, we are all technically human," Decker replied. "You use those names to describe us, so you might as well have a name that seperates you from us." "But Domers? I guess it's not worth arguing over," Levy said. "General Light, how long before they start showing up?" General Light closed his eyes and and stroked his beard. "I'm not sure. Due to what has just happened, they now have a place to navigate to. If they gain a foothold on your world, they can start navigating to the other worlds." Drafty looked at the image that had been carved into the table they had all met around. It was a simplified drawing of the space elevator with six Earths near the top of it. "Six?" "When the time comes, we will contact the Zaphri. If the Mu attacks the Zaphri, we'll bring them in," Levy replied. Drafty nodded. "Domer, Chiram, Lemurian, Dinosoid, and ourselves: the Emaan to fight against that robotic race called the Mu." The dinosaur like Vartha gave a snort. "The Mu are not going to be satisifed until they wipe out all organic life across the known dimensions. This is the start of the Great Dimensional War. A war that will spread across five known universe and maybe the sixth." Levy scanned the faces of the four people sent by the other Earths and gave a chuckle. "Something funny?" General Light asked. "Thinking about the Vorlons and their precious circle," Levy replied. "That has been broken beyond any hope of repair," Drafty said. "As to the Colonel there, I'm not sure." "There are moderate Mu. Not many, but they are there and can not see any point in wiping out humans or other races," the Colonel replied. "Fair enough," Drafty replied. "By the way General, what happened on your world?" "After the worlds were seperated, we were able to force the Mu off planet. They set up a colony on a world that is not fit for human habitation and started building up numbers. The dimensional collapse gave us a chance once again. Before that, the Mu were about to eradicate us. The Colonel is right though. There are moderate Mu, and for the most part they have changed their outer shell to look different than the regular Mu," General Light replied. The meeting between the representaives of the five Earths continued, while the other races of the Local Group scanned Human-space oblivious of the importance of what was going on. About a week later and on board the 'Dark Horizon', Nataruma was talking with Susan Ivanovah about current events. "Susan? I've been meaning to ask? What is Christmas? I have never heard of it before," Nataruma asked. "If you were anyone else, I would say you were joking, but you are you," Susan replied. "Christmas is a major holiday that is celebrated on Earth and elsewhere." "Why?" "It has to do with Jesus Christ and it is his birthday." "Who is Jesus?" Nataruma asked. Susan rubbed her forehead. "Okay. This could be different. Let's look at a map of Earth and I'll try to explain things to you." The two pulled up a map of Earth and Ivanovah pointed to where Israel was located. "Jesus was said to be born in this country." "In the Plaguelands?" "Plaguelands?" "Yes. A long time ago, a nasty plague swept through the area and pretty much wiped out all human life. Those who survived were shot with arrows and shoved away with long poles," Nataruma explained. "Do the names Mohamed or Moses mean anything to you?" Susan asked. "No. Should they?" Susan Ivanovah coughed and muttered under her breath. "A world with no Christian, Jewish, or Islamic religion? She might be Human, but she is alien." Susan shook her head and sighed. "You'll have to read books on religion to get a better understanding of why Jesus Christ is important. Apparently that plague is where the histories of our two worlds separated. As to Christmas, it is a major religious holiday. However, over time is has turned into a holiday to spend with family. However, you now have me curious about something." "Oh? What?" "Excluding Eeman and Dinosoids, I'm wondering when the histories of the other Earths diverged. It's obvious that the Dinosoids' Earth was that the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs missed." "I seem to recall the Colonel saying that the Lemurian Earth did not have the volcano at Thera erupting and that World War II split Earth between the Soviet Union and the United States for the Chiram Earth," Nataruma said with a shrug. "Apparently, there were some sort of scientists drooling over that. They were trying to figure out when the Eeman world went off on its own." "Right. I suppose that that would be a major topic to discuss," Susan said in a slightly amused voice. Nataruma just shrugged. "I still feel a bit uncomfortable in this outfit, but I promised President Levy," Nataruma mumbled and tugged a bit at the pink sleeve of her high-tech leotard. "Better you than me. You are becoming a symbol for us Domers and maybe some of the other Earths as well," Susan said. "I'm surprised that you used the name 'Domers'" "It's a lot faster than saying the Humans of the universe that holds EarthDome," Susan replied. "Besides, it wasn't given to us to be insulting or rude. It was just used as a separator for the time being." Nataruma shrugged and turned off the map. She then went to a viewport and looked at the panorama of space passing by the outside of the ship. Susan went and stood beside her. "So, what do you think of the new flagship of the fleet?" Susan asked. "It has better accommodations than what I'm used to. I never expected to be travelling among the stars. I wonder what Lean would think." "Your boyfriend from Zaphri?" "Something like that. However, he is on the proscribed planet and he's probably already gotten over my being banished from my homeworld," Nataruma said softly. "By the way, have they found a way to clean the genetic time bomb out?" "Yes, they have. All of us on the ship, save you, are due to be treated during our next layover on Earth. Lemuria, Chira, and Eema have been kind enough to help with the problem by donating some fresh DNA. Chira also found a few graves that we had in common with them and we both dug up the graves to get a better idea about the problem." Nataruma gave Susan a glance and then chuckled a bit. "What's so funny?" Nataruma brought one of her blue tentacles up and waved it front of Susan's nose. "I had the strange idea that you might have to deal with this little problem of mine after you get treated." Susan pushed the tentacle away from her with a bit of distaste on her face. "I hope not. Having tentacles growing from the back of my head is not something I want to deal with." "You never know. At any rate, have they decided on what to do about the Minbari situation?" "Not yet. There are some saying that we should take advantage of Sinclair's status of being Valen to head off that war and prepare for the Mu. Other than sealing the borders, the military analysts are trying to not make any mistakes that will come back and haunt us and using the time to prepare. We now also have space flight going on in the other four universes to help with resources and colonization. There is a base being set up in the Zaphri universe to monitor them so we know when we should approach them as well." "At least they are being cautious about this situation," Nataruma said with a snort. "They have to be; they don't want to get in a three-way crush with the Shadows, Vorlons, and Mu." "I happen to agree with that sentiment." "By the way are you nervous about when the borders will be reopened? You are going to be the object of much scrutiny." "I've been hunted before. At least this time, I have a place to hide and secure myself." "Yeah. The Space Elevator. At any rate, we'll be approaching one of the mining colonies soon. I hope you're ready." "Maybe. We'll find out soon enough."