From st7ci@jetson.uh.edu Wed May 8 17:11:41 1996 Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 23:07:59 -0700 From: Wendy Dale To: akosut@ace.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us Subject: "And So It Begins" (story form) Babylon 5 story: Author: Wendy Dale Email: st7ci@jetson.uh.edu Title: "And So It Begins" Abstract: This is a little story about the Vorlon/Shadow/Valen prophesy - with a different perspective. The year is 1230, a thousand years before Babylon 5 was constructed. In a great being ship orbiting Sigma 957 there sits three ancient ones - a Vorlons, a Shadow, and a Con Tiki. They sit facing each other, drinking beer. Vorlon: "Isn't this stuff great? Some human came up with it about two weeks past." [sip] Shadow: "Wow. That's about... what, *four* thousand of their years ago. I was wondering why they took to the stuff so quickly - it's good!" [belch] Con Tiki: (losing patience) "All right. That's enough. You guys have to stop messing with the new guys stuff - it's not allowed! We've already lost about 3 of their years just gabbing about some stupid new-race drink! WE got stuck behind while all the other old guys got to leave because YOU TWO *had* to get in a fight five weeks ago! And *I* got stuck with you because *somebody* had to stay behind and make sure you didn't fool around and screw things up! YOU may see this as a punishment, but you also know it! has to be done. AND done correctly!" (the Vorlon and the Shadow put their drinks down, looking chastised) Vorlon: (whining) "I told them this was a *stupid* idea when they came up with it ten years ago! (in a mocking voice) 'We're tired of this galaxy.' they said. 'I'm getting bored with it.' they said. 'Let's leave!" they said. That's fine! I mean, you've seen one star in this galaxy, you've seen 'em all. But then some sentimental bastard decided that we *can't just leave it to fall apart.* 'We have to make sure it's taken care of.' Puulease! It's just a galaxy! It's not alive! I said dump it and go find a better place, but does anybody listen to me?" Shadow and Con Tiki: (at the same time) "No." Vorlon: "Exactly, and now we're stuck here having to take care of these little creatures WE DESIGNED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS DUMP! I mean, what did the old morons expect when they created them in our image! That they would be *nice* to each other! When are WE ever! nice to each other!" Con Tiki: "Yeah, but when are relatives ever ni ce to each other? We may fight sometimes, but that doesn't mean I don't care." Shadow: (exasperated) "WE know that! The little guys don't! They haven't figured that out yet. First, the old farts decide to see who lasts the longest and then show the 'best little guy' how to take care of the galaxy. Simple." Vorlon: (smirking) "Yes, and now that they realized that the new animals are smarter then they anticipated, and aren't dying as fast as they would like, THEY have lost patience and want to leave NOW." Shadow: "And as punishment for a little disagreement with my pal Vorlon here, we got picked to stay and figure out how to get all these species not to annihilate EACH OTHER! Cause if we, WE don't, then - POOF! Ten years wasted! So much for someone taking care of the place when we leave. I told them to make just one species on one planet. But NOOO, they couldn't decide who looked the best. It's hard enough to deal with ONE of them. And now, oh, in about half a ! week - they're all gonna be at each other's throats." Vorlon: "It would be too bad, too. I really like this beer." Con Tiki: "Are you finished yet? (pause - silence) GOOD. Now. How are we going to get them together?" (silence) Shadow: (to Vorlon) "Hey! You've been fooling around with them for a while now. That religious stuff you pulled with them was hilarious!" Vorlon: (sheepish) "Thanks, but so? It was just an experiment." Shadow: "But they love that crap. Maybe we could use it." Con Tiki: "Ok... How?" Vorlon: (a light comes on) "Let's make up a prophesy. There is a bad guy and a good guy..." Shadow: "There's *always* a bad guy and a good guy. Silly. You really screwed them up with that stuff." Vorlon: (smiling) "Yeah. I know. It's amazing what you can do in an hour with those little people. Just last week I went to earth and..." Con Tiki: (cough) Vorlon: "Sorry. Anyway, as I was saying. Make up some prophesy and tell it to one of them..." Shadow: "Who?"! Vorlon: "I don't know. Pick one." Shadow: "How about the Minbari? T hey're *really* screwed up." Vorlon: "I kinda like the humans..." Shadow: (smirk) "You just like the humans cause their tech is not as advanced as the Minbari, and they fall for your crap easier. 'OOooh! It's magic!' (laughing) Then they bow down at your feet. What an ego..." Vorlon: "Want to get smacked again?.." Con Tiki: "All right. Stop it." Vorlon: "OK. If you insist on the Minbari, then well involve them first. But, I want the humans in this thing too. They have to have an important part. AND, just to wipe that smirk off your face, I'm gonna have the Minbari suckin up to me too." Shadow: "Yeah, all right. But, I'm only agreeing cause I like the human's beer. (to Con Tiki) How long do we have to do this?" Con Tiki: "Oh, bout half a week." Vorlon: "We have to stay FOUR MORE DAYS?" Shadow: "Hey, ya know, we could pull this off in a day, EASY." Con Tiki: "Nooo. The punishment says HALF A WEEK." Vorlon: "Oh, all right. *Half a week* then. Ok. (looking at th! e Shadow) YOU be the bad guy and I'll be the good guy... " Shadow: "I'M the bad guy!? I don't want to be the bad guy! Why can't YOU be the bad guy?" Vorlon: "They ALREADY see me as a good guy, remember? The experiment? They think I'm some fancy-shmancy light god or something. We're trying to help them, not screw them up further." Shadow: "That would be funny, though, wouldn't it? 'OH NO. They're really evil! Ahhhh!'.... (looks at Con Tiki) Sorry. Ok. So I'm the bad guy. (sigh) What do I have to do." Vorlon: (getting excited) "Just look REALLY scary. I'll do the rest." Shadow: (trying to make scary faces - then stops) "Hey, wait! I'm being punished too. I *have* to do something!" (resumes scary faces) Con Tiki: "You *do* realize you are going to have to kill some off, don't you?" Shadow: (looking disconcerted) "But they're so cute. We don't have to kill a lot, do we?" Vorlon: "With what I have in mind, we'll probably have to. I think it's the only thing that ! will work." Shadow: "Bummer." Vorlon: "Yeah, I know." And so it b egins...