“What do you want?” Morden asks with a pleasant smile. It’s a simple enough question, and yet it seems to confound the people he asks.

Ambassador G’Kar is dismissive, impatient, trying to pin down exactly what Morden means by his question, but at last admits to wanting payback for everything the Centauri did to his people. He wants to destroy their world, bring them to their knees, which sounds promising, but falls short of what Morden is looking for. Mostly, G’kar just wants the safety of his homeworld and his people guaranteed, and that’s a promise Morden and his friends cannot make.

Ambassador Mollari, however…

At first, Mollari is as impatient as G’kar, and somewhat annoyed, claiming he only wants to be left alone, but when pressed, his words are music to Morden and his constant companions.

Londo wants everything. For his people to regain all the glory, power, and prestige they’ve lost, for the Centauri Empire to rise again, crushing their enemies beneath them. He wants personal power too, although he doesn’t say that in so many words. He doesn’t need to; it’s right there in his face and in his voice, in the passion of his words. Londo Mollari is an ambitious man, and ambition is something Morden can work with.

It hardly matters that Ambassador Delenn proves less than welcoming. She is insignificant, along with whatever she knows or suspects. There is nothing the Minbari can do to interfere with what is to come. They lack the power, and besides, they’re currently too busy with their own concerns.

Morden doesn’t make an appointment with Ambassador Kosh; the Vorlons are the only race that could get in the way, as a chance encounter proves.

No matter. Morden already has what he needs. Things are about to get… interesting.


The End