lurkers-guide/synops/009

<p>
<p>  Talia Winters runs into Ambassador Kosh, who wants to use her
telepathic services in an important, upcoming negotiation.  She
seems reluctant at first, but Kosh assures her that all
arrangements--including legal clearances and payment--have already been
arranged.  He instructs her to meet him in Red 3 at the "Hour of
Scampering."
<p>  Na'Toth, who is waiting at the docking bay for a
ship to arrive, suddenly notices a certain woman come on board B5. 
Na'Toth is suddenly seized with rage and runs across the room,
shouting, "Deathwalker."  She attacks the woman who has just come
aboard, hitting her viciously until the security guards can stop
her.
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/natoth-attack.gif">
Na'Toth attacks.
<p>  After Na'Toth is successfully detained, Sinclair is informed
of the situation.  He asks Garibaldi who the victim is; Garibaldi
explains that the woman came from Minbari space in a Minbari ship,
in Minbari clothes, and with Minbari identification--but that she
certainly isn't a Minbari.  When Garibaldi mentions that Na'Toth
was yelling, "Deathwalker," during the attack, Sinclair's curiosity
is piqued--both Sinclair and Garibaldi indicate that they are
familiar with that name.
<p>  Sinclair and Garibaldi go to question Na'Toth.  She explains
that her family has taken a blood oath against the "Deathwalker." 
She took the blood oath after the Dilgar, Deathwalker's race,
invaded a planet on which Na'Toth's grandfather lived.  Deathwalker,
explains Na'Toth, used her grandfather and the other people on
the planet in her experiments.  Everyone died, except Na'Toth's
grandfather, who escaped--but only after having a machine--which
slowly killed him--implanted in his brain.  Sinclair, however, does
not believe that the woman who just came on board was Deathwalker,
simply because the Dilgar invasion that Na'Toth mentioned occurred
thirty years ago, and Deathwalker would be an old woman by now. 
Na'Toth explains that her senses would never fail her when it comes
to identifying someone against whom she's taken a blood oath. 
Sinclair, still skeptical, orders Garibaldi to examine the contents
of the injured woman's ship.
<p>  When G'Kar arrives, he apologizes for the attack upon the
victim and offers personally to make reparations to her.  Angrily
staring at Na'Toth, he requests that his attache be released into
his custody.  Though Sinclair refuses to release custody of
Na'Toth, he does agree place her under house arrest, and allows her
to be taken to G'Kar's quarters.  G'Kar thanks Sinclair and leaves.
<p>  Winters, meanwhile, meets with Kosh again and agrees to work
for him at the negotiations that he mentioned before--she comments
that the clearances were indeed arranged and that the pay was very
generous.  However, she explains that there is still something she
doesn't understand.  Kosh interrupts her and merely says, "Understanding
is a three-edged sword."  Soon, a man named Abbut arrives;
he greets Kosh cordially and comments, "Oh, Kosh, you old dog!  You
didn't tell me you were bringing a date!"  Talia explains that she
is only a commercial telepath, who will be sitting in on the
negotiations.  Kosh orders Talia to scan Abbut and to report on his
thoughts.  She scans the man, but comments that he has no
thoughts--his mind seems completely empty.  Kosh is pleased, and
says that they can now proceed.  Kosh and Abbut begin to utter
cryptic phrases to one another.
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/meeting.gif">
Abbut, Winters, and Kosh meet.
<p>  In the Med Lab, one of the doctors tells Franklin that the
vital signs of the victim have stabilized but that the victim's
species is still unknown.  Sinclair arrives, and Franklin explains
to him that the victim is in surprisingly good shape, considering
her injuries.  Her body is healing itself quite quickly, and
Franklin wishes he knew what species she was.  Sinclair explains
that the victim is a Dilgar, but Franklin doesn't believe him--Franklin
notes that the Dilgar is a dead race, that after the
invasion, the few Dilgar who were left were killed when the Dilgar
sun went nova.  Sinclair calls up a reference file on "Deathwalker"--the
computer informs them that "Deathwalker" is a name
used to refer to Warmaster Jha'dur, "the most infamous leader of
the Dilgar invasion of the non-aligned sectors in 2230....
Specialist in biochemical, biogenetic, and cyber-organic weaponry." 
The picture that the computer displays looks like the present
victim, though Franklin comments that the victim is too young to be
that same Jha'dur and too old to be her daughter.  He even searches
for signs of cryonic freezing, but the computer scan does not turn
up any relevant evidence.  Franklin notes that he will have the Med
Corps send him all information they have on the Dilgar.  Garibaldi
suddenly enters, holding a Dilgar uniform which, according to the
inscription, belongs to Jha'dur.  He also brings an unusual drug,
which he gives to Franklin.  Meanwhile, Ivanova informs Sinclair
that he has a Gold Channel transmission from Senator Hidoshi. 
Sinclair, his curiosity piqued, leaves, but orders Garibaldi to
keep quiet the situation with the victim--Sinclair says that he
doesn't want any rumors concerning Jha'dur floating around the
station.
<p>  In G'Kar's quarters, Na'Toth apologizes for shaming and
angering G'Kar, but G'Kar tells her that no apology is necessary. 
He explains that he understands her need to fulfill her blood oath
(and comments that he has many blood oaths himself), but tells
Na'Toth that hers, in this instance, complicates matters.  He
explains that Jha'dur has made an important discovery that could be
potentially very useful to the Narns.  He tells her that, in this
case, service to the Narn government is more important than her
blood oath--therefore, she must not kill Deathwalker, because the
Narn government has ordered them to send Deathwalker to Narn
<em>alive</em>.  Na'Toth reluctantly agrees--she will <em>delay</em> her vengeance,
but not abandon it.  G'Kar says that he's proud of
Na'Toth--and promises to help her fulfill her blood oath after
Jha'dur's discovery is secured.
<p>  Senator Hidoshi's message has come through to B5.  The senator
asks if the recently-attacked victim is still alive.  When Sinclair
tells him that she is, the senator orders Sinclair to send the
victim to Earth immediately when she is fit to travel.  Sinclair,
however, protests, saying that there is evidence that the victim is
Jha'dur, the infamous Deathwalker.  Hidoshi, however, dismisses
Sinclair's protests; he says that Deathwalker has been dead for
many years.  He refuses to give Sinclair any further information,
and abruptly ends the conversation.
<p>  In the Med Lab, as Franklin is studying the victim's drug, the
victim suddenly awakes and moves over to him angrily.  "How dare
you pry into my life's work?" she says to him.  She asks to see
Commander Sinclair immediately.
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/jhadur-franklin.gif">
Jha'dur fends Franklin off.
<p>  Sinclair, on his way to the Med Lab, is stopped by Ambassador
Mollari, who asks if the rumors he's heard about Deathwalker are
true.  Sinclair only tells him that he should know better than to
listen to rumors.
<p>  When Sinclair arrives at the Med Lab, he dismisses Franklin
from the room.  She looks at him, slightly admiring him.  "You know
the way of command," she says, "Yes, the Wind Swords are right to
fear you.... [The Wind Swords] have sheltered me for many years, in
return for certain services.  They speak of you often, Sinclair. 
They say you have a hole in your mind."  She tells him that she is
indeed Warmaster Jha'dur, and explains the reason for not aging: 
she has discovered a disease-preventing drug that also retards the
aging process of all known humanoid species.  "It's still unstable
and difficult to produce in sufficient quantity, but it works, as
you can see," she says.  Sinclair immediately realizes the
implications of such a drug:  virtual immortality.  She tells him
that, with the help of Earth, she will bring it to "all the worlds
of this galaxy" before the end of the year.
<p>  "Then the willows must scuttle carefully," says Ambassador
Kosh at the negotiations with Abbut--and, after Abbut asks, "Does
Saturn have rings?" Kosh ends the negotiations for the day.  Talia,
however, is still curious (for she's been scanning Abbut all day
and his mind is still blank--not to mention the fact that she
doesn't understand anything either Abbut or Kosh are saying), and
asks Kosh to explain the negotiations.  Kosh only replies, "You
seek meaning? ... Then listen to the music, not the song."  After
Kosh leaves, Talia asks Abbut to explain the negotiations, but he
refuses, replying that it's "not too good to reflect too much."  At
that moment, Talia suddenly sees herself in her own mind, reflected
numerous times, as if she were looking into a mirror.  She leaves,
even more confused.
<a name="windswords">
<p>  Sinclair has meanwhile sought out Lennier to ask him about
Jha'dur's involvement with the Wind Swords, a branch of Minbari
warriors (Delenn has temporarily left the station, so Lennier was
the next logical person to ask).</a>  Sinclair explains that the woman
whom Na'Toth attacked is indeed Jha'dur, and that Jha'dur claimed
that the Wind Swords sheltered her.  Lennier does not think that
the Wind Swords--though they are the most militant of the Minbari
warrior castes--would shelter such a villain as Jha'dur, but he
says that he will look into the matter.  Since he cannot speak
directly to his rulers without permission, he says that he will
contact Delenn.  Sinclair asks that Lennier keep the information
regarding Jha'dur's presence on the station confidential for now,
and Lennier agrees.
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/sinclair-lennier.gif">
Sinclair speaks with Lennier.
<p>  G'Kar, meanwhile, apologizes to Jha'dur on behalf of the Narn
empire.  He says that the Narns are willing to make reparations for
Na'Toth's attack--and he, on behalf of the Narns, makes a generous
offer for Jha'dur's recently discovered drug.  "You're very well
informed, G'Kar," she replies, "Our reports always said you were a
clever one--and a good resistance leader, too.  If Earth Alliance
hadn't taken a hand in our invasion, we might have helped your kind
wipe the Centauri out completely."
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/jhadur-gkar.gif">
G'Kar speaks with Jha'dur.
<p>  G'Kar comments that Jha'dur is
also very well informed (and adds that the Narns aren't through
with the Centauri yet)--and offers to triple whatever price Earth
has offered her for her discovery.  She agrees to <em>consider</em> his
offer, <em>if</em> he brings her Na'Toth's head within the hour.  G'Kar
leaves the room, bruskly and considerably annoyed.  After he
leaves, she laughs a loud, evil laugh.
<p>  Sinclair, Ivanova, Garibaldi, and Franklin discuss the current
situation.  Franklin claims that, according to the data that he
received from Earth, the woman is indeed Jha'dur--her very
appearance, he adds, seems to prove her claim about her drug
(assuming there isn't another reason that explains why she hasn't
aged).  Garibaldi is skeptical, though Franklin's analysis of the
serum suggests that the drug can do what Jha'dur says it can do. 
Sinclair says that Earth agrees with the potential of Jha'dur's
drug and has ordered Sinclair to send Jha'dur to Earth immediately. 
Garibaldi is angered that Sinclair seems to be willing to release
Jha'dur to Earth so easily:  "She wiped out entire races, destroyed
whole planets, experimented on living beings.  <em>Now</em> she wants to
make everybody immortal?" says Garibaldi.  He suggests that they
should let the League of Non-Aligned Worlds deal with her--he
suggests that Earth should just take her serum and develop it
themselves, but Franklin says that the serum is too complex to
realistically develop without her assistance.  Ivanova suggests
that Earth--though she considers its moral stance dubious--is
better equipped to handle an issue like this than is the B5 staff. 
Sinclair agrees, and prepares to send Jha'dur to Earth.  After the
staff leaves, Garibaldi questions Sinclair's judgment, but Sinclair
replies that if the immortality serum can be developed, a galaxy
without sickness or death would result.  "She can save more lives
than she took, and she can make the deaths she caused have
meaning," says Sinclair. 
<p>  "Better pray to that God of yours you're right, Jeff,"
responds Garibaldi, "because if any of the League ambassadors find
out about this 'deal,' they'll tear Babylon 5 to pieces."
<p>  G'Kar, in his quarters, anxiously tells Na'Toth that one of
his agents has just informed him that Sinclair intends to smuggle
Jha'dur off B5.  He quickly contacts Ambassador Kalika, a leader of
the League of Non-Aligned Worlds and tells her of the situation.
<p>  Sinclair, meanwhile, is preparing to escort Jha'dur off the
station.  Before she leaves, however, he asks her why she wants to
bring immortality to the races of the galaxy.  She responds that,
if she brings immortality to the people of the galaxy, it will
ensure that the Dilgar are remembered honorably--it will stand as
a monument to her and her race.  "Delicious irony ..." she says,
"that those who cursed us will have to thank us for the rest of
time."
<p>  However, on the way to her ship, Jha'dur and her escort party
is stopped by a group of ambassadors from the League.  The
ambassadors demand that a full assembly of the Council be called
immediately to discuss Jha'dur's trial--they will not allow Jha'dur
to pass them ("You will have to kill us all, first," says Ambassador
Kalika, who leads the group of ambassadors).  Sinclair has no
choice but to agree.
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/kalika-confront.gif">
The League confronts Sinclair.
<p>  Talia, the day after the last session of negotiations between
Kosh and Abbut, tells Kosh that she doesn't believe she can
continue to monitor the negotiation.  "Your belief does not enter
into it," replies Kosh, "We have a contract."  Soon, Abbut arrives
and greets Talia again.  As he kisses her hand, she suddenly sees
herself in her mind--it appears as if she's in some sort of
computerized matrix.
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/winters-lights.gif">
Talia among the lights.
<p>  The session of the Council is about to begin.  Sinclair
mentions to Garibaldi that he's sort of relieved that the matter
has been made public--Jha'dur will get the justice she deserves
(Sinclair figures that, though the Narns and Centauri both had once
collaborated with the Dilgar and would therefore probably not want
a trial, the Minbari--being an honorable race--will vote for a
trial.  With Earth's vote--and with Kosh's usual abstention--the
Council will be tied, and the League will cast the deciding vote). 
Garibaldi apologizes to Sinclair for saying some hot-headed things
to him regarding Sinclair's decision to comply with Earth's orders,
but Sinclair tells him not to worry about it--he tells Garibaldi
that he had thought the same things himself.  When Lennier arrives,
he tells Sinclair that he has spoken with Delenn--and has been
given instructions. 
<p>  When the meeting opens, Kalika presents a motion to hold a
war-crimes trial for Jha'dur on Babylon 5.  Londo is the first to
vote on this motion--he expresses his sympathy for the League, but
says that he must vote "no" because Deathwalker never committed any
crimes against the Centauri.  G'Kar votes "yes" on condition that
the trial be held on Narn--however, when Kalika does not accept
this condition, G'Kar votes "no."  Sinclair votes "yes," and
explains that Kosh has declined to take part in this session of the
Council.  Lennier explains that, since the Minbari were not a part
of the conflict between the Dilgar, Earth, and the League, the
Minbari have no right to judge her.  He therefore votes "no." 
Kalika, angered at the Council and disappointed with B5's ability
to treat the League fairly, storms out of the Council chambers but
threatens that this will not be the last time that the Council
hears from the League.
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/kalika-council.gif">
Ambassador Kalika makes her case.
<p>  After everyone leaves, Lennier apologizes to Sinclair for his
vote.  He explains that the Wind Swords did, indeed, shelter
Jha'dur.  The Minbari government did not know about the involvement
of the Wind Swords at first--but when the Earth-Minbari war broke
out, the Wind Swords came to the Council with devastating weapons
that they obtained from Deathwalker.  The Minbari government,
needless to say, is embarrassed about the Minbari involvement and,
just as they could not admit their when they originally found out,
so they cannot let that information be made public in a trial now.
<p>  Meanwhile, a ship has come through the jumpgate.  It belongs
to one of the members of the League, and it threatens to attack B5
if Jha'dur is not extradited to its government.  As the ship draws
closer, Ivanova readies B5's weaponry and threatens to defend B5
against the ship.  The League ship aborts its attack but stays near
B5.  However, more League ships continue to come through the
vortex.  One by one, they begin to surround B5.  Sinclair, whom
Ivanova has contacted, orders Ivanova to stall these ships.
<p>  Meanwhile, Sinclair attempts to negotiate with Kalika.  He
tries to draw on Earth's traditional friendship with the League,
but Kalika refuses to listen.  Sinclair, all his other options
having run out, finally decides to inform Kalika of the full
situation with Jha'dur.
<p>  Ivanova informs Sinclair that she has successfully stalled the
League ships--she has gotten them to debate over which of them has
the most valid claim to try Jha'dur.  Sinclair is pleased, but
hopes that her maneuver will buy B5 enough time.  Suddenly, the
League ships begin to move out of firing range of B5.  Ivanova is
surprised, and asks what Sinclair did.  He tells her that he
"played a wildcard."  He tells Ivanova that the situation isn't
completed yet--Sinclair will be in closed session with the League. 
Once again, he praises Ivanova for her ingenuity.
<p>  "A herring is just a herring, but a good cigar is a Cuban,"
comments Abbut, at the negotiations with Kosh.  "A stroke of the
brush does not guarantee art from the bristles," replies Kosh.  "Do
you understand, Ms. Winters?"  Again, Talia finds herself seeing
strange visions in her head--she is walking and is suddenly
attacked by a mysterious man.  She screams out in pain.  "Our
business is completed," says Kosh.  Abbut takes off his hat,
removes a data crystal from his partly cybernetic head, and gives
it to Kosh.
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/abbut-brain.gif">
Abbut's unusual head.
<p>  "What was on that data crystal he gave you," asks Talia.
<p>  "Reflection, surprise, terror.  For the future," responds
Kosh.
<p>  Kalika tells Sinclair that scientists from the League have
checked Dr. Franklin's data--and they agree with it.  And while
Kalika agrees that the discovery is "astounding," she still feels
that Deathwalker must be punished.  Sinclair agrees, and proposes
a compromise:  Jha'dur will be delivered to Earth, where she will
work with Earth scientists--in addition to a group of scientists
that the League can send.  After the drug is developed, the League
will be given custody of Jha'dur.  Kalika likes the idea, but wants
to make sure that it can trust Earth to honor it later.  Sinclair
says that once this agreement is made public, Earth will have no
choice.  Another of the ambassadors from the League wants to know
how the Council will react to this decision, but Sinclair says that
this agreement is a private matter between Earth and the League--just as it was thirty years ago, when Earth helped the League
defeat the Dilgar, as Sinclair points out.  Kalika agrees:  "It is
fair ... and wise."
<p>  Before Jha'dur leaves, Sinclair speaks with her.  She feels
that Sinclair is naive to believe that Earth will turn her over to
the League once the drug was developed.  Sinclair says that he'll
see to it personally, but Jha'dur feels this will cost him his
command.  Jha'dur explains to Sinclair the true purpose behind her
giving the serum to Earth:  "You and the rest of your kind take
blind confidence in the belief that we are monsters--that you could
never do what we did.  The key ingredient in the [serum] cannot be
synthesized; it must be taken from living beings.  For one to live
forever, another one must die.  You will fall upon one another like
wolves.  It'll make what we did pale by comparison.  The billions
who live forever will be a testimony to my work, and the billions
who were murdered to buy that immortality will be the continuance
of my work.  Not like us?  You will become us.  That's my monument,
Commander."
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/jhadur-mad.gif">
"You will become us."
<p>  The group of ambassadors have all assembled to watch the
departure of Jha'dur.  Surprisingly, Kosh joins them.  Suddenly,
there is a report from the bridge--there's another disturbance at
the jumpgate.  A Vorlon ship flies through and, to the elation of
many of the ambassadors, quickly targets and destroys Jha'dur's
vessel.  "Why?" asks Sinclair.
<p>  "You are not ready for immortality," responds Kosh.
<p>
<img align="middle"
src="/lurk/gif/009/vorlon-attack.gif">
The Vorlon ship attacks.
<p>  Later, Sinclair and Garibaldi discuss the situation.  "Hell of
an irony, don't you think?" asks Garibaldi,  "We find a reason to
keep Jha'dur alive, and the Vorlons smoke her for the same reason." 
Sinclair wonders things will always work out similarly:  little
powers at the mercy of big powers; politics before morality. 
Garibaldi responds that this seems to work for everyone--except
Sinclair.  As they speak, Talia arrives and explains that she is
confused by recent negotiations she attended.  She tells them that
nothing about the negotiations made sense; the two parties spoke in
riddles, and she kept seeing images in her mind--images which she
feels were deliberately provoked.  She explains that, four years
ago, she was assigned to scan the mind of a suspect in a murder
case.  The suspect was a serial killer--she had never been inside
a mind like his, and it frightened her so much that she still has
nightmares about it.  However, at the negotiation table recently,
she feels those thoughts were deliberately provoked.  When Sinclair
asks Talia whom Kosh was dealing with, she tells them.  Garibaldi
knows who Abbut is.  He explains that Abbut is a "Vicar"--a slang
term, derived from "VCR," referring to a type of alien that is part
machine, part sentient--they act as living recorders that can
record just about everything, including brain-wave patters. 
Garibaldi suggests that Kosh set her up--and Sinclair guesses that
Kosh did this because Vorlons are usually suspicious of telepaths,
and if Kosh knows what her deepest fears are, he can use them
against her later on.
<p>  Garibaldi and Sinclair wonder what Kosh could be up to--the
many things he's been doing recently have piqued their curiosity.
<p>
Shawn Bayern
<em>bayern@cshl.org</em>
<hr>
Copyright 1994, Shawn Bayern.  All rights reserved.  Permission is
granted to distribute this synopsis <strong>noncommercially</strong> as long as
the synopsis and this copyright notice remain intact.  Babylon 5 is
a copyright of the PTN Consortium; no infringement of that
copyright is intended by writing these synopses.