the upcoming auction
Up until Vir's meeting, G'Kar hadn't left Londo's quarters since all this began. Calls from Anla'shok Pierce on Minbar go unreturned. The room reeks of a Narn in mourning, and G'Kar has written over a hundred pages in his book but he hasn't said a word to anyone.

But Na'Toth knows something, something she hasn't shared or hasn't wanted to share. Somewhere beneath his subconscious, G'Kar knows Na'Toth has her own reasons for opposing his relationship with Londo, but that dark snaky part of his reptilian brain hasn't come up for air in what seems like weeks.

Out there somewhere is a world where he and Londo don't belong together, where people despise them and fear them, where G'Kar's supposed to despise Londo though he can't remember why, now. Now he just eats, and sleeps, and writes -- until today.

Today, he calls Na'Toth.



G'KAR: Na'Toth.

NA'TOTH: Hello, G'Kar.

G'KAR: I take it you have spoken with Vir --

NA'TOTH: Where are your manners, Ambassador! Aren't you even going to ask about my trip? Or acknowledge what passed between us before I left?

G'Kar is genuinely puzzled by her statement. He shakes his head.

G'KAR: Forgive me, my dear, but MOLLARI has been KIDNAPPED and I think you'll agree --

NA'TOTH: Where Mollari is concerned, my dear, you and I agree on very little.

G'KAR: I know. And we -- will speak of this, when you return home. But you will admit that the possibility of Londo -- and thereby the Centauri Republic -- falling into the wrong hands is unappealing to us all --

NA'TOTH: Prime Minister Mollari is nowhere near as important as he thinks he is, G'Kar. Nor even as important as you think he is. (A pause.) However. I have learned something today that may be of use to you. It seems the Technomages are not alone in their desire to have access to Londo Mollari. In fact, quite the bidding war has started among some of the shadier powers in the galaxy.

G'KAR: People in your universe...in Terok Nor's universe surely can't be interested --

NA'TOTH: Some from this universe, some from ours, many I don't recognize. There's talk of a live auction.

G'KAR: With Mollari on the block.

NA'TOTH: I'm afraid so. People are gathering already. I believe they are meeting on Babylon 5.

G'KAR: Oh, they can't be foolish enough to bring Mollari back here -- Delenn and the station's security forces would be on them in a minute!

NA'TOTH: Agreed. Which is why I don't think Mollari will be with them. The auction guests will be on B5, but the Technomages will have Londo sequestered safely away, ready to transfer authority to the highest bidder.

G'KAR: We must find this auction, then. If we learn where Mollari is to be taken, we can rescue him.

NA'TOTH: (Reluctantly) Yes. I tell you this because I know he is important to you, and because I agree that he will be far more dangerous in the hands of those who wish to wield the power of Centauri Prime. And because I wonder -- though I don't place much stock in it -- if perhaps, eventually, you might be able to make him see what a monster he is. And that you yourself might see it.

G'KAR: I have seen it, Na'Toth. I still see it now. It is just --

NA'TOTH: I know, G'Kar. Love makes idiots of us all.

And with that, she signs off, and G'Kar hastily scribbles off a message to Zack Allen, Delenn, and Vir, telling them about the auction.