lurkers-guide/synops/029

<h3>Synopsis by Matthew Murray (i9717029@unicorn.it.wsu.edu)</h3>

<p>
Garibaldi finds Vir awaiting the arrival of Londo's three wives in
the customs area.  A female Centauri approaches the two, and
introduces herself to Vir as Timov, one of Londo's wives.  She tells
him to take her to Londo, and they leave together.  As they leave, in
another portion of the arrivals area, Garibaldi witnesses an interchange
between two people, who seem to be on the brink of fighting.  At
the height of the tension, one of them suddenly backs down and walks away.

<p>
Garibaldi reports the incident to Sheridan, saying that the man who
didn't back away from the fight was named Stoner, and that he was
little more than a typical freelance navigator and part-time trader.
Sheridan asks what the problem is, but Garibaldi can't explain it,
saying that he had a negative "gut feeling" about Stoner when he first
saw him.  Talia enters Sheridan's office, and remarks that Sheridan has
settled nicely into his new position.  Sheridan asks her to confirm
some rumors they picked up from the PsiCorps net.  Sheridan tells
Garibaldi that they will talk about Stoner later, but Talia recognizes
the name.  They ask whether she knows him.  "Only in the most unpleasant
sense," she says.  "I was married to him."

<p>
While Londo is in a bar celebrating with a large number of his friends,
Vir tells Timov, waiting in Londo's quarters, that Londo will be there
soon.  Timov asks Vir what Londo is hiding, and why she had been called
there.  She asks Vir what Londo said about her to him when another of
Londo's wives, Daggair, enters.  Vir apologizes to Daggair for
missing her arrival.  Timov tells Vir that, if he knew Daggair as well
as she did, he wouldn't miss her.  The two of them continue
squabbling.

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=96
src="/lurk/gif/029/waiting.gif"> Waiting for Londo.

<p>
Talia, at the Earth History Exhibition, examining some artifacts from
Earth, is approached by Sheridan.  He asks her why she was in such a
hurry; she didn't say much before she left his office.  She tells him
that she wasn't in the mood to talk.
Sheridan asks if she is now.  She tells him that, as the
station commander, it isn't his concern.  He agrees with this, but says
that he considers her a friend, or at least an ally, and will be there to
talk if she so chooses.

<p>
Ivanova rings the bell at Delenn's quarters, and the chime is answered
by the frustrated voice of Delenn from inside.  She asks if Ivanova is
alone, and admits her.  Ivanova is surprised to see Delenn there,
having considerable trouble with her hair.  Delenn says that her
transformation is supposed to be a bridging between the humans and the
Minbari and that her transformation should be looked upon as a great
honor, but comments that she cannot get her hair to do what she wants.
Ivanova notices that Delenn's hair is brittle, and Delenn explains that
she has been washing it with the same chemical compound all Minbari use
to strip away the outermost layer of their skin once a day, to
symbolize rebirth.  Ivanova says she should try bathing instead, but
Delenn only asks Ivanova to help.  Ivanova protests, saying that she
has duties to which she must attend, but eventually decides to assist
Delenn.  She calls to C&C telling them that she will be preoccupied for
a while.

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=96
src="/lurk/gif/029/hair.gif"> Bad hair day.

<p>
Talia tells Sheridan that, during a telepath's first year in the
PsiCorps academy, they are assigned an advanced trainee to assist them,
and that Matthew Stoner was hers.  She liked him, and he helped her
learn the difficult tasks that telepaths must perform.  But, the
PsiCorps learned that Talia and Stoner were genetically compatible and
could produce children with equally good or better telepathic skills
than their parents'.  They were soon married, though only for a short
time -- the marriage was annulled by PsiCorps soon after Stoner left
PsiCorps.  Sheridan asks how he managed to leave, but Talia doesn't know.
"He had connections.  He had... something.  No one in authority wanted to
talk about it."

<p>
G'Kar and Sheridan are walking together, and G'Kar asks if Sheridan has
settled into his duties.  Sheridan asks why everyone keeps asking him that,
and G'Kar explains that, because strange things happened to
Sinclair, Sheridan should be on his guard.  G'Kar tells Sheridan that
bizarre happenings give him headaches, and that he has had them many
times recently, due to the strange events of recent weeks on Babylon
5.  Londo appears, and seems to be quite cheerful indeed.  He too asks
Sheridan if he has settled in, and asks G'Kar how he is.  Londo
says that the day is "glorious" and he leaves, after commenting on
G'Kar's health.  G'Kar walks away, rubbing his head.

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=96
src="/lurk/gif/029/headache.gif"> "I get these <em>headaches</em>."

<p>
Timov and Daggair are still in Londo's quarters with Vir, quarreling
over Londo and their relative positions in Londo's life.  Londo soon
enters and greets the two wives.  Timov asks where he was, and why she
has been summoned to Babylon 5.  Londo begins to explain, but stops when he
doesn't see his third wife.  Timov asks again why they have been called
to the station, and Londo tells her that the following day is the
thirtieth anniversary of his ascension date.  Both wives had
forgotten, but the Emperor hadn't, and, for the occasion, granted Londo
any wish he desired.  Londo tells Timov and Daggair that he asked for a
divorce, but that the Emperor wanted him to keep one wife, so that he
would look good at affairs of state.  He tells them that, the next day, he
will choose the one wife he wants to keep, leaving the others without
the wealth and privileges that they had accrued during their marriage.
The two wives begin to fight again when Londo's third wife, Mariel,
arrives in the quarters.

<p>
Stoner consults with a merchant about various objects in his
possession.  The merchant claims that most of Stoner's objects have
little value, but one in particular, a strange Centauri carving, is
interesting to him.  Garibaldi appears and asks Stoner where he obtained
that statuette.  Though Stoner provides ample documentation to support
his claim that he found it on an archeological dig, Garibaldi escorts
Stoner away, to talk in private.

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=96
src="/lurk/gif/029/vendor.gif"> Garibaldi harasses Stoner.

<p>
Meanwhile, Lennier arrives in Delenn's quarters to find Delenn's hair
in curlers, with Ivanova standing nearby.  The sight puzzles Lennier,
but he tells Delenn that they were invited to the party celebrating
Londo's anniversary.  Delenn tells him to accept.  As he leaves, he asks
Delenn if the curlers hurt her, but she tells him they do not.
Wondering about what she is doing, he leaves.

<p>
Garibaldi confronts Stoner in his office, asking him about his recent
activities, wondering if, perhaps, he is running from something or
someone.  Stoner asks why Garibaldi is picking on him so much, and
Garibaldi tells Stoner that he and Talia are friends.  Stoner pretends
that he didn't know she was there, and asks Garibaldi if she told
Garibaldi about him.  When Garibaldi says no, Stoner asks if Garibaldi
wants to know any of Talia's most personal secrets.  He persists until
Garibaldi finally grabs him and orders him to be quiet.  Stoner asks
Garibaldi if he really wanted to talk to him, and after thinking for a
moment, Garibaldi lets him go.  Garibaldi tells Stoner that, if he
harrasses Talia to any extent, Garibaldi will find some way to get back
at him, and that he plans to keep an eye on Stoner.  "Use both eyes,"
Stoner says as he leaves.  "You'll need them."

<p>
Mariel approaches Sheridan telling him that she got separated from
Londo while touring the station.  She introduces herself, and is about
to have him kiss her hand when Londo and his wives appear.  Londo takes
Sheridan aside while the three wives continue to fight amongst
themselves.  Londo warns Sheridan that Mariel is very much attracted to
men of power, like a moth to a flame, but it is the men, and not her, that end
up being burned.

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=96
src="/lurk/gif/029/group.gif"> Sheridan meets Londo's wives.

<p>
Talia is in the Eclipse Cafe, trying to decide what she wants to eat,
when Stoner sits down next to her.  She tries to move away, but he
won't let her.  He asks her if she has nothing to say to him, and she
asks him why he came there.  He tells her that he feels they had
something together once, though she disagrees with that, saying that
she doesn't want to be with him.  He reminds her that she doesn't want
to be involved in PsiCorps, but that, once you are in, you are in for
life.  She tells him that he is the one exception, and he explains to
her that all anyone needs to do is lose their telepathic abilities.  He
tells her that anyone can do it, including her.  He
says he can arrange to have the same thing happen to her, and
that, if she agrees, the two of them can be together.  After Talia
leaves, Garibaldi catches up to her by the elevator.  He tries to
explain to her that he talked to Stoner, but she doesn't want him to be
involved.  He claims that her safety is an important priority of his,
but she wants him to forget about it.

<p>
Londo, in his quarters, answers his door when it chimes.  Mariel is
there, and she tells him that she thinks that she is the wife he should
keep, because she loves him so much.  Daggair appears and tells her
that it is Londo's decision.  Londo says that he would like all his
wives to be present, but when Timov appears, she tells him that she
doesn't want to be part of his "sexual olympics." He tells her that
Daggair and Mariel were merely expressing their feelings for him, and
Timov does the same by slapping him across the face.  He tells her that
she hasn't changed, and she says that he has -- he's devolved.

<p>
Garibaldi is in his quarters when Talia enters, to apologize for her
behavior toward him earlier.  He accepts her apology, and she tells him
that she is planning to leave Babylon 5 with Stoner.  Garibaldi asks
why, and Talia explains that, while she and Matt were at the academy,
the PsiCorps began performing experiments on telepaths to increase
their abilities.  Matt volunteered, but instead of having his powers
enhanced, they were taken away.  She tells her that he offered to do
that for her, and she tells Garibaldi that she wants to have it done.
Garibaldi tries to change her mind, but Talia is adamant.  "I'm tired
of being part of an organization that scares the hell out of me."

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=96
src="/lurk/gif/029/apology.gif"> Talia apologizes.

<p>
As Mariel approaches the vendor Stoner was earlier negotiating
with and purchases the strange Centauri statuette, Sheridan and Ivanova
consult with each other about matters aboard the station.  Ivanova
tells Sheridan that Londo's party, celebrating his anniversary, is that
evening, and that all attendees must be barefoot.

<p>
That evening, at a ceremony set in a large room with a large painting
of Londo in the background, Londo goes over to G'Kar, whom Londo's
wives notice is wearing a full uniform, including boots.  They ask if
he knows what an insult that is, and G'Kar claims that he does.  Londo
says he doesn't mind, and that "nothing is too good for my esteemed
Narn colleague."  After subtly tossing something to Mariel,
G'Kar walks away with another headache.

<p>
<img align=middle width=150 height=112
src="/lurk/gif/029/party.gif"> "Nothing's too good for my dear friend G'Kar."

<p>
Elsewhere in the room, Delenn, now with her long hair straightened and
curled, approaches Garibaldi.  He says that she looks nice, but she
tells him that he looks distressed, or soul sick, as the Minbari would
say.  "You know, it's funny.  I met this woman, and I took to her
immediately.  Then, I met this guy who had hurt her, and instantly, I
hated him."

<p>
"We Minbari believe, as do some humans," Delenn tells him, "that souls
travel together.  Some groups of souls are drawn onto the other in
life to relive good relationships from the past, and, if possible, to
make right the bad ones."

<p>
Garibaldi's attention is drawn away by Londo's voice; he is now
opening the presents that the guests have brought.  He graciously
accepts Lennier's gift of a deck of cards, and opens another
gift.  Mariel says it is from her, but Daggair says that, in a way, it
is from all three of his wives.  He opens it, and finds the strange
statuette inside.  He admires it for a few seconds, but two small darts
fire from its eyes and hit Londo in the head.  He falls over in pain.
Sheridan calls for an emergency medical team.

<p>
While Londo is in MedLab, unconcious, Dr. Franklin tells Sheridan that,
because they don't have any Centauri blood that matches Londo's blood
type, and synthesizing Centauri's blood has never been successfully
done, creating an antitoxin will be very difficult.  Mariel tries to
tell the other wives, all of whom are at Londo's side, that she didn't
know what the statue would do.  Daggair tells her to be quiet, and she
leaves.  Daggair mentions to Timov that
Londo has not made his divorce decree yet and, if he dies, they would
be secure for life.  Timov has a difficult time believing Daggair's
callousness, but she claims that she is only looking out for herself, as she
has been taught through life.

<p>
Garibaldi interrogates Stoner, who says that he handled the artifact
many times without incident, and that it probably wouldn't do anything
until it was held by a Centauri.  Sheridan enters, and tells Garibaldi
and Stoner that Londo is near death.  He asks Stoner if he knows
anything about the artifact, but all Stoner can tell him is that he
found it on an abandoned Centauri planet.  Sheridan explains the colony
had been abandoned because they were forced out by the Narns.
Garibaldi also tells him that the Narns probably rigged up the
statuette as a trap for the Centauri.  Garibaldi tells Stoner that he
won't let him go until he speaks with G'Kar about the statue.  He also
warns Stoner that he will find some way to convict him.  Garibaldi
and Sheridan both leave.

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=96
src="/lurk/gif/029/interrogate.gif"> Stoner in hot water.

<p>
Londo is still unconcious when, much later, Timov enters MedLab and
approaches Dr. Franklin.  She tells him that she and Londo have the
same blood type, but that she didn't tell him before, because she
wasn't sure what she wanted to do.  She tells him that, although she
might like to see him die, she does have principles, and that she would
prefer to win her battle against Londo in some other, more satisfying
way.  She offers her blood to Franklin, on the condition that Londo
never learn she gave it to him.  Franklin accepts this, and escorts her
away.

<p>
Lou Welch, a security officer, enters Garibaldi's office, with the
information he could find on Stoner.  It all fits in with Stoner's
story.  Garibaldi tells Welch he wants to talk to Stoner again, but
Welch tells him that Stoner is eating.
Garibaldi asks why he is eating so soon; dinner shouldn't be served for
another hour.  "He just... asked," Welch says.  "I don't know.  There's
something about this guy that just makes you want to <em>like</em> him."

<p>
Londo finally awakes, again surrounded by his three wives and Dr.
Franklin.  Daggair and Mariel tell Dr. Franklin that they are happy
that Londo is back, but Timov says nothing but that she is feeling
fatigued and wants to go to back to quarters.  Mariel and Daggair both
follow her out.  Londo tells Franklin that he considers all his wives
nightmares, and that Timov is the worst of them.  Dr. Franklin asks him
if he can make a personal observation.  Londo agrees.  "Stick it," Dr.
Franklin says, before walking away.

<p>
Stoner tells Talia that he doesn't understand why she wouldn't want to
leave PsiCorps.  She tells him that she is a telepath, and could never
accept having that piece of her taken away.  He tries to convince
her that he wanted them to be happy, and that he thought if he told her about
the cure, she would go happily.  She tells him that her powers are a
part of her, and she could never give them up.  Stoner claims he can
understand, and tells Talia she's coming with him.  Her
attitude suddenly changes, and she says that she will.  The two of them
leave the room, but Stoner is assaulted by Garibaldi when they exit.
"Thanks, Talia, for your help.  I love being right."

<p>
G'Kar is in his quarters, talking to Mariel.  "You know," he says, "the
problem with mysteries is that in order to get rid of the headaches, I
have to figure them out.  Here, we're faced with a staggering set of
coincidences.  A Centauri artifact, an ancient booby trap, it seems,
happens to show up on Babylon 5 just in time to be purchased as a gift
for Londo.  And rather hide or deny responsibility, the gift giver
makes it a point of saying she gave it to him, which neatly avoids any
accusation of malicious intent because, usually, when you're trying to
kill someone, you hide the attack.  And there, you see, my head no
longer throbs."

<p>
Mariel asks him who he will tell his theory to.
G'Kar says he won't reveal it, but that Londo will figure it out
eventually.  As she leaves, he warns her to not be overconfident -- if
he were married to Londo, he'd be concerned right now.  "G'Kar," Mariel
says as she leaves, "if you were married to Londo, we'd <em>all</em>
be concerned."

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=96
src="/lurk/gif/029/rumormonger.gif"> "Do I look like a rumormonger?"

<p>
Sheridan confronts Stoner one last time, telling him that, although
they thought that he and PsiCorps were no longer related, PsiCorps
communicated with them, telling them to turn Stoner over as soon as
possible.  Stoner tells Sheridan that he left under agreeable
circumstances, but Sheridan tells him that he doesn't believe he left
PsiCorps' employment at all and that, instead of his telepathic
abilities being removed, they were changed, and that Stoner became an
empath instead, a fact Sheridan believes is substantiated by recent
events on the station.  Garibaldi suggests that he was released because
PsiCorps knew that other telepaths would learn what happened to
Stoner.  Stoner tries to deny the allegations, but Garibaldi says he
believes that Stoner was sent there to convince his genetically perfect
mate, Talia, to undergo the procedure, so other empaths could be
created.  Stoner tries to use his abilities to force Garibaldi to let
him go, but Garibaldi tells him that security guards are watching the
room's proceedings outside and that, if Stoner tries to get away with
anything, he will not succeed.  Stoner tries to tell Talia that he
thought they were perfect together, and that he only wanted what was
best for Talia, to make up for past mistakes.  He claims
that he does know the cure, and asks her to look into his mind, but she
refuses.  "See you in some other lifetime," Garibaldi tells Stoner as
he leaves.

<p>
As Londo's wives prepare to leave the station, Vir presents Timov with
Londo's itinerary, so that she will know which ones she should attend,
and to which she should accompany him.  Daggair and Mariel are upset at
Londo's choice, but Londo tells him that they should be grateful,
because he did provide them with a sum of money as a going-away
present.  After they leave, Timov asks why Londo chose her as his
remaining wife, because she does not, and will not, love him, and they
will not get along.  "Because, with you, I will always know where I
stand," he tells her.  He kisses her hand, and leaves as she
departs.

<p>
Delenn runs into Ivanova and thanks her for helping her with her hair
trouble, and the other help she has provided.  Ivanova tells Delenn that,
if she has any other questions or problems, she will be glad to help.
As the two board an elevator, Delenn does ask something else.  "Do you
have any idea why I suddenly started getting these... odd cramps?"