the Darkness
Chapter 7
It felt as if his mind was being torn apart, and the darkness was settling in inside it. The pain was agonizing. He screamed, but the scream died away, consumed by the black silence. Suddenly an unknown force broke free somewhere in the back of his mind, and that force collided with darkness, pushing it back.
Zorro felt the force grow stronger and stronger, and in his mind he felt the creature recoil and then freeze, paralyzed. It was that force that Kosh talked about, Zorro realized. And he realized also that right now the Shadow was as helpless as he himself was a few moments ago.
This was his chance. Zorro groped for the handle of the sword with his hand. He was not sure whether this was going to help or not, but this was the only weapon he had. Besides, he knew that he could not keep the Shadow paralyzed much longer � he already felt the creature�s resistance mount as it was trying to get out. He took his chance. He swung the blade, thrusting it blindly into the viscous mass that he felt in front of him . . ..
And, suddenly, the darkness shattered. He felt himself being puled again through space with a head-spinning dizzying speed. There was suddenly a steady floor beneath his feet and bright light all around him. He noticed out of the corner of his eye captain Sheridan and Delenn rush toward him just seconds before his mind blacked out and he collapsed, sagging heavily into their arms.
�Is he going to be alright?� Sheridan asked Delenn as he and one other Minbari carried the unconscious outlaw over onto a bed in the ambassador�s quarters of the White Star.
�Yes. He is just completely exhausted. It takes a lot of energy to stop the Shadow, you know.�
Sheridan nodded pensively, looking down at his childhood hero. �I still think it is best to have him checked back on Babylon 5.�
***
The light came back again, shattering the darkness, and it was a soft, gentle light.
�Well, how is our Black Knight?� came a voice from his side, and Diego turned his head to see Delenn standing in the doorway of what he guessed to be the medical laboratory.
He sat up slowly on his bed. �I feel like I have been wrestling with a mule.�
She smiled and walked up to him. �It is normal. Telepaths use up a lot of their mental and physical energy in tasks such as this. Our experienced telepaths are completely exhausted after an encounter with the Shadows. And for you this was the first time.�
�How long have I been unconscious?�
�Only a few hours.�
�So, it is still night time on Earth?�
�Yes.�
�Actually, I believe, it is about 6 o�clock in the morning, to be more precise,� Captain Sheridan corrected, coming into the room and joining Delenn at his bedside.
�Buenos dias, then, capit�n,� Diego quipped. He moved to get off the bed. �I think I should get back now before my father wakes up. It will save a lot of explanations.� As soon as he stood up, his head began to spin, and he had to grab a hold of the table that stood by the bed to keep his balance. Diego grinned, straightening himself out, �In all this flying through space, I believe, I have forgotten how to walk on a steady ground.�
Sheridan offered him a hand, but young de la Vega refused politely. �Gracias, Captain, but no. This was just a momentary weakness. I think I can walk now.� He moved � hesitantly at first, then more and more confidently � toward the door and then stopped and turned to face Delenn and Sheridan. �This Shadow creature . . . have I�?�
�It is destroyed, yes,� the captain confirmed. �If you hadn�t destroyed it, we wouldn�t have been able to pull you back here.� The captain fell silent.
Diego felt a barely noticeable change in the captain�s voice, and he guessed that there was something that he was not telling him. �This does not end there, . . . does it?� he asked in a crushed voice.
�No. It doesn�t,� Delenn�s answer confirmed his worst fear. �Shadows will not give up that easily.� Diego bit his lower lip. �Oh, no doubt they will not try to use the same method twice � they never do that. But they will try to find some other way.�
Sheridan walked up to the man in black and said quietly, looking him straight in the eyes: �There will always be a threat to all our worlds as long as Shadows exist. We will always have to remain on guard to be able to protect ourselves and our loved ones. But you, se�or Zorro . . . Diego, you have given us the most precious thing that we could possibly ask for � time.� Seeing the puzzled look on Diego�s face, Sheridan hurried to explain, �Shadows will have to rethink their strategy, and they will not make a move for some time now.�
He held out his hand to the man from the past, who responded eagerly, clasping it in a long strong handshake. The faces of both men lit up with smiles. Then Diego backed away and put his hand on the already familiar to him metal surface of the stabilizer.
Delenn bowed slightly holding her hands in front of her, her fingertips touching and forming a triangle � the respectful way of saying �good-bye� among Minbari. �If you ever need to contact us, just call us in your mind � you now know how.�
Diego bowed too in the same manner and said with a smile, �Adios, amigos.�
And as the blue field of light enveloped him once again, John Sheridan raised his hand and waved �good-bye� to the man from his childhood dreams, �Adios, se�or Zorro.�