21. Christmas Ghost Stories

Faith Manages
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A/N: I know, it's been ages. Life stuff cropped up, etc. I also loaned out my B5 DVDs, and still have not gotten them back. Am working on that; will need that before I can write up the conclusion to this tale as it follows a couple B5 episodes VERY closely. I also have a sketchy plan for a sequel. I'm thinking of naming it "Gotta Have Faith" or something like that. :) On with the story... with a nice long one to get us back into the tale...

P.S. This chapter runs parallel with the B5 S2 finale, "The Fall of Night".

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Chapter Twenty-One: Christmas Ghost Stories
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Days had faded into weeks, weeks into months, bumps into bruises, and bruises into lessons learned. Seasons had progressed - except that Tuzanor, the Minbari city the Anla'shoq training center was located near, was in the equatorial zone, so those seasons were more theoretical than real. Still, shadows made their daily progressions across the mosaic courtyard at the foot of the Steps of Valen, the morning and evening light made its patterns through the crystalline windows and spires, and in general, life went on.

Somewhere along the way, she'd lost track of the dates on the Earth calendar, Faith mused. That had to be the explanation for the morning when she opened the door of her quarters and found two small, wrapped packages on the floor of the hallway. Each had a Christmas card attached - one was from her friend Callie, otherwise known as Rebecca Pearce of (new) Sunnydale. The other was from Jeff, otherwise known as the former Commander Jeffrey Sinclair, who when he had first crossed paths with Faith had been in EarthForce, as the commander of Babylon 5.

She took both into her room, gently peeling back the wrapping paper. Callie's turned out to be a pocket-sized photo album of sunsets and full moons and such over the ocean, probably shot from the shores of Sunnydale Bay, if their conversations on the topic were any indication. Jeff's was a similarly sized 'book', which it turned out was actually a pocket computer specialized for reading documents. She powered it up and started skimming through the pre-loaded files, not surprised to find several literary classics from Earth and a copy of the English translations of Valen's prophecies (or, at least, the ones that had been made available to the common Anla'Shoq).

Setting both atop her clothing stand, she slipped on her robes and badge - she was far enough along in her training that she was permitted to wear an isil'zha now - and the usual accoutrements, and headed out for the dining hall. Just as she exited the building, she found Torenn approaching her, across the same mosaic she had watched him meditate upon, back on her first morning.

"Faith Lehane." Torenn greeted, bowing slightly. "I understand that this time of year contains many human holy days. I wish you good tidings and happiness upon that which you choose to observe."

Faith couldn't stop the wry grin; trust Torenn, or any Minbari really, to come up with such a non-committal way to say Merry Christmas, or Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Solstice, or whatever, that even an atheist would have a bit of trouble finding fault with it.

"Thank you, Torenn. And upon yours as well." Faith smiled, pushing a strand of pitch-black hair behind her ear. "If you have not yet eaten, you are welcome to join me."

Torenn fell into step beside her, and said, "I would like to speak with you. I have been studying the prophecies of Valen, and I have heard others say that you believe Valen had detailed knowledge of your people's history. If it is convenient, I would be honored to hear your thoughts on the matter."

Faith blinked. Although she'd been at the compound for months, she thought she was still strictly a trainee. This was the first time that anyone had asked her to teach - well, that was the usual meaning of the way Torenn had just phrased his request - like an equal, outside of Jeff and Callie, who had never used the formal phrasing trainees were taught to use when requesting a lesson. It took her a moment and a deep breath to properly phrase her response - again, in the formal manner.

"The honor is to aid you in your quest." Faith smiled, pulling the door of the dining hall open before Torenn. "As you once said to me, Torenn, Valen said many things. He also was known to eat. Sometimes, it is said, he would even do both together. I would be honored if you would join my table this morning, and we will discuss the prophecies."

Torenn bowed. "I will seek you out after we have gathered our meals." He gestured toward the side of the buffet featuring Minbari cuisine, and Faith nodded before heading off to the human side.

Callie dropped into line right behind her as she scooped up a cinnamon roll. "Merry Christmas, Faith."

"Merry Christmas, Callie. I got your gift... thank you."

"Thought you might enjoy some pictures from Sunnydale. I was always obsessed with the horizon, so it's a lot of sunsets and moonsets, but..."

"It's wonderful." Faith smiled. "I'm sorry, I don't have anything for you. I'd lost track of the dates and didn't realize it was December."

Callie waved it off. "My bithday's in March, you can double me up then."

"Deal." Faith smiled. "How's your training going?"

Callie groaned. "They've got these space combat trainers they've got us working on. But the problem is, half the trainees aren't even Anla'shoq... they're Minbari. And I get the impression they're religious caste, not warrior. It's slow. And we have to watch our English... apparently 'aw, hell' translates to 'fire with everything you've got'."

Faith laughed, but quickly brought it under control. "Really. I wonder if that's another sign."

"Look at you with the Valen speaking English theory again."

"Torenn was just asking me about that, too. I invited him to sit with us. Actually, he used the formal request, like I'm an instructor."

"Not a clear line between teacher and student in the Minbari worldview. They're all into that lifetime learning stuff."

"Good to know. Still, a first." Finally satisfied that there was enough on her tray, Faith headed for the usual table, to find Torenn meditating over a tray of traditional Minbari food. She slipped into the chair opposite him, with Callie to one side and the vacant chair that was usually Jeff's on the other.

After a couple silent minutes, which Faith made use of to eat about a third of her breakfast, Torenn broke the silence. "You believe that Valen knew of your history, and made use of it in the prophecies."

"I do." Faith paused. "Callie, you may be hearing some things you don't know about me, so..."

"Stick around?" Callie grinned. "Sure."

"Please, give an example."

"Okay. The prophecy that caused the Anla'shoq to be opened to humans, for example. Valen said, 'those whom you fight when I return from beyond the veil of death, those shall fight with you against the darkness, and no matter the haste, no matter the cost, no matter the honor, they are the stick and must not be destroyed'."

Torenn nodded. "That is an accurate translation."

"It's the official one. But my point is... the stick? Why would Valen say 'they are the stick'? Except... there was a famous political leader on Earth about three hundred and fifty years ago, Teddy Roosevelt, who once said 'Walk softly and carry a big stick'. He meant it as a weapon. So the stick would be like a denn'bok, or a pike, or a spear. But to use 'stick' implies that Valen knew about Roosevelt."

Torenn cocked his head, thinking for a moment before objecting, "Your year is of the same lenght as ours. Valen lived a thousand years ago, so this Roosevelt would have been many years after his time."

Faith nodded. "There's more than that. I'm almost convinced that either Valen was somehow aware of modern history, possibly through time travel, or that the prophecies were written by someone else and sent back in time to him."

Callie grinned. "Or it's just all a coincidence."

"True. But then there's the one that says 'The One who must complete the circle shall be guided by the chosen of the city of leaf-throwers.' Now, leaving aside the One, the second part of that is really interesting. There's an old legend on Earth about various forms of monsters. Vampires and demons and such."

Calie turned and looked at Faith. "You believe in demons?"

Faith shrugged. "I told you, Cal... ghost stories, collateral damage."

"But... demons?"

Torenn interjected, "What are these demons and vampires you speak of?"

"In a way, they're like the Shadows." Faith allowed, as she saw Jeff approaching. "Merry Christmas, Jeff. Have a seat." She paused, sipping her coffee, then continued, "Creatures of darkness. According to some legends, demons inhabited Earth before the rise of mankind, and were slowly forced to retreat from this reality. Vampires were a hybrid of demon and human, which fed upon humans."

"How does this relate to Valen's prophecies?" Jeff spoke up, pulling out a chair with one hand, while setting down a simple meal of porridge and orange juice with the other.

"The legends say that the forces of light created a warrior, giving her special abilites to fight vampires, in order to keep their population under control. She was called a Vampire Slayer. When each died, a new girl was 'chosen' and received the same ability and calling. So, it could be argued that the 'chosen', in fact, refers a Vampire Slayer who comes from the 'city of leaf-throwers'." Faith grinned. "It just so happens that the date when this One would need to complete the circle is coming."

Callie interrupted, "Um, Faith, you're originally from Boston, aren't you?"

Just then, viewing screens, usually dark, glowed to life all around the dining hall, and a voice came on explaining in Minbari. "This video has just been downlinked from the human news channel ISN." The image looked like a swirl of hellish reds and blacks - hyperspace, Faith realized - and a spidery black thing was floating in the center of the screen. Suddenly, a vibrant purple energy beam shot out from it, and the screen went staticky. The image then repeated itself, and it was the fourth time through before Jeff broke the silence.

"The Shadows."