lurkers-guide/synops/038

<h3>Synopsis by Matthew Murray (mmurray@wsu.edu)</h3>

<p>
Garibaldi and Zack Allen are supervising the recent influx of Narn
refugees.  The station is running out of space and resources to treat the
many injured refugees from the Narn-Centauri war before they are fit to
return to the Narn homeworld.  Zack suggests trying to move them out
sooner, but Garibaldi tells him that is against Captain Sheridan's
orders.  Because Medlab is swamped, Zack asks Garibaldi to speak to
Sheridan about the matter.

<p>
Vir, outside the Zocalo, finds Morden sitting at a table.  Morden says
that he was expecting Londo instead, but Vir explains that Londo was recalled
to Centauri Prime for a consultation about the war effort.
Morden tells Vir he doesn't understand why Vir doesn't like him,
since he is doing so much to help out the Centauri.  Vir asks why
Morden sent for him.

<p>
"I sent for Ambassador Mollari," Morden tells him.  "But you're here,
he's not, and it can wait.  If restoring the Centauri Republic means
nothing to you, what does?  What do you want?"

<p>
<img align=right width=160 height=116 src="/lurk/gif/038/bye.gif">
"I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your
head and stick it on a pike, as a warning to the next ten generations
that some favors come with too high a price," Vir answers.  "I want to
look up into your lifeless eyes and wave like this.  Can you and your
associates arrange that for me, Mr.  Morden?"

<p>
Morden doesn't reply, but hands Vir a data crystal with information for
Londo.  As Vir is leaving, he waves to Morden, as he hopes to do after
Morden is dead.

<p>
Garibaldi enters Sheridan's office and asks him for some discretionary
power over the Narn refugees.  Sheridan tells him that he assumed the
station could handle the problem, and that it is hard to turn any of them
away.  He instructs Garibaldi to have Dr. Franklin sort through
everyone, give them only as much treatment as they need, and then send
them off as soon as possible.  Garibaldi agrees, saying that it will
not make Earth Central happy.  Garibaldi notices a monitor on the wall,
which contains a diagram of the Icarus, the ship Anna Sheridan was on
when she died.  Sheridan explains that he is
trying to sort through the rest of his wife's possession, and was going
over the mission information she sent him.  Garibaldi expresses his
regret, and asks to look at the information.  While filing through the
crew manifest, he sees a face he recognizes.  Sheridan at first
protests, saying that everyone on the ship died with Anna, but
Garibaldi insists he knows better.  "Captain, I know what I'm talking
about.  I've seen him before.  He's alive."  He shows the Captain the
picture he recognizes.  It's Morden.

<p>
Garibaldi insists that he knows Morden, which makes Sheridan extremely
upset, since Morden should be dead.
Sheridan asks why the security net didn't catch him,
and Garibaldi explains that, since they don't get death certificates on
everyone, Morden would not be found out unless he broke station rules, which he
hasn't done.  Sheridan orders Garibaldi to find Morden.

<p>
<img align=left width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/invite.gif">
Talia is in her quarters when her door chimes.  A man enters and
introduces himself as Pierce MacAfee.  She greets him and asks what she
can do for him.  He explains
that he is from the Ministry of Peace on Earth and would like her
support for a series of new programs.
He explains that the objective of the Ministry of
Peace is to help humans find peace with themselves, so it will be
easier to attain peace with other planets.  He tells her that he will be
giving a series of presentations about the programs, and that, because
she was recommended to him by her superiors, he would like her to attend.
She agrees.

<p>
Dr. Franklin is in his office listening to medical reports, and barely
able to keep his eyes open when Ivanova enters and notes that he hasn't
slept in 36 hours.  He tells her that he has to keep working, but she
suggests he have someone else take over.  When he tries to protest, she
orders him to get some sleep and then join her in the mess hall for
breakfast afterwards.  Though he initially protests, he eventually agrees,
and leaves to get some sleep.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/surround.gif">
A line of people are having their identicards checked by Zack Allen.
Morden gives his card to Zack, and is instructed to step out of line
and wait for a moment.  Morden tries to avoid doing so, but when he
tries to leave, he is surrounded by several security guards.

<p>
Sheridan sits across a table from Morden, saying nothing.  Morden says
that it is traditional to charge someone if they are being held.
Sheridan says nothing, but produces a picture of his wife and gives it
to Morden.  Morden asks what the picture is supposed to mean, and
Sheridan's only reply is to show a news report on the Icarus.  Morden
finally understands the matter, and he explains that he was on board
the Icarus, but doesn't remember what happened.  He was in an EVA suit,
unconscious, when a transport came to investigate the Icarus'
disappearance.  The shock and trauma of whatever happened erased his memory.
Sheridan asks why Morden didn't check in with
Earth Central, and Morden says that it took him a long time to remember
his name, let alone file a report.  He claims he sent a message, but
that it must never have been recieved.  Sheridan calls him a liar, and
Morden tries to leave, but Sheridan won't let him.

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/table.gif">
"You're not going anywhere."

<p>
Morden reminds Sheridan
that he can't be held without charges.  Sheridan explains that,
since Morden is officially "dead," he has no rights and no legal
recourse.  "You're playing a very dangerous game, Captain," Morden
tells him.  "It could cost you your command."  Sheridan insists that Morden
won't be leaving until he tells the truth.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/gods.gif">
Ivanova and Franklin sit together in the mess hall, finishing their
breakfast.  Franklin mentions that he had bad dreams, dreams of the patients
he's lost.  Ivanova agrees that it is difficult to
think about all of the Narn refugees since, by the time they arrive, they
are behind help.  Franklin asks her if she believes in God, and she
tells him that most of the time, she does.  Franklin tells her that he
is a foundationist, and believes that "God is too big to be defined by
words" and that "the closer you get to defining God, the further away
it gets."  She asks what this has to do with his dreams, and Franklin
tells her that, just before patients die, he can see God reflected in
their eyes.  "I've seen
a lot of reflected Gods today, Susan, and I'm wondering how we can keep
believing in them when they've stopped believing in us."

<p>
<img align=left width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/interrogate.gif">
Sheridan continues his interrogation of Morden, finding discrepancies
in his story as they continue.  As it continues, Sheridan becomes more
angry and more tyrannical.  Sheridan asks what happened to the Icarus,
but Morden claims he doesn't know.  Sheridan tells Morden that, by the
time he is through, Morden will wish he had died with the others.<br clear=all>

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/nightwatch.gif">
Pierce MacAfee addresses a group of people in a conference room,
explaining about the Ministry of Peace.  He explains that its objective
is to help people find peace with themselves.  Looking at Babylon 5 as
a microcosm of Earth, MacAfee explains they have developed a system
called the Night Watch, the purpose of which is to detect possible
problems.  He says it is a volunteer organization, and that it pays
fifty credits a week.  All they need to do is wear a black armband, so that
people know the Night Watch is around.  The Ministry of Peace wants
to raise public
awareness and help people think about peace.  Zack Allen, sitting near
Talia in the audience, asks what else is entailed by being in the Night
Watch.  MacAfee says that those that work against peace simply don't
know any better, and they need to be taught and rehabilitated; it's up
to the Night Watch to spot such people and report them.  By
doing this, they can protect society from harmful ideas and
misinformation.  "We're less interested in actions than we are in
attitudes," MacAfee tells them.  "We must help protect society
against its own worst instincts." He says he is proud to be a part of
the organization, and hopes that the others will join him.

<p>
Sheridan goes to Garibaldi's office.  He tells Garibaldi that he's close
to getting the truth out of Morden -- all he needs is to find one provable
lie in Morden's story.  Garibaldi points out that Sheridan has had Morden
locked up for ten hours without charges, which is blatantly illegal.
He offers to have Morden followed, but Sheridan refuses.  The two argue
about regulations.  Finally, Garibaldi says he can't be present as chief
of security while something like this is going on, and threatens to resign
if Sheridan persists.  Sheridan says nothing.  Garibaldi lays down his PPG,
security card, and link, and leaves the room.

<p>
Sheridan is still sitting in Garibaldi's office when Zack Allen
enters.  Sheridan tells Zack that Garibaldi has taken a leave of
absence, and that he wants him in charge of Morden until Garibaldi's
return.  Zack agrees, and Sheridan receives a call from C&C saying that
Vir Cotto wants to meet with him.  Sheridan says he will meet with Vir
in ten minutes.  Before he leaves, Sheridan asks Zack to bring Talia
to the office so that he may speak with her.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/immunity.gif">
Sheridan meets with Vir.  Vir says he's come to ask that Morden be released;
this stuns Sheridan, who asks how Vir knows Morden.  Vir is vague on the
subject.  Sheridan asks why Vir thinks the station personnel have Morden.
Vir replies that Morden didn't show up for a meeting, and since the records
show he's still on the station, he deduced that Sheridan's people had Morden.
Morden is a guest of the Centauri Republic, Vir continues, and is thus
eligible for diplomatic immunity.
This stuns Sheridan, and he asks why Morden is so
important to the Centauri Republic.  Vir says that it is an internal
matter, and once again asks for Morden's release, but Sheridan refuses,
on the grounds that diplomatic immunity only applies once charges are
filed.  Morden, Sheridan says, is in protective custody.  "Protecting him
from what?" asks Vir.  "I haven't decided yet," Sheridan says, and leaves.

<p>
As Sheridan walks down a corridor, Ivanova catches up with him.
She tells him that she was briefed by Garibaldi, and
is worried about Sheridan's behavior.  
Sheridan tells her that he knows he may be acting
inappropriately, but that Anna meant a lot to him, and that he can
simply not let that part of his life vanish away so easily now that he
has proof her death may have been something more than an accident --
if she even <em>is</em> dead.  He
says that he has to know, and that nothing else matters to him.

<p>
Talia apologizes, but tells Sheridan that she can't help him.  She says
that Psi Corps rules do not permit unauthorized scans in these
circumstances.  Sheridan tries to get around the regulations by
pointing out that Morden is "officially" dead, but Talia still doesn't
agree to his wishes.  She says that she can do nothing unless he agrees
to a scan.  Sheridan asks her to wait outside, then tells Zack Allen
to move Morden to a holding cell and escort Talia back to her quarters
through a section of the station that will cause the two of them to
pass each other.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/hall-shadows.gif">
Morden moves down the hall slowly, accompanied by a full security
escort.  When he and Talia meet, their gazes lock, and she sees his
face become hidden in shadows.  She holds her hands
to her head and screams, and tries to avert her gaze, but not before
she sees the vague outlines of two strangely-shaped beings next to Morden.
She falls back into Zack's arms.

<p>
Dr. Franklin examines Talia, who insists she's all right, but says
that, when she looked at Morden, she felt as if she were falling into a
bottomless well, and that she felt a great coldness.  She also says she
thought she saw a shape with him.  Sheridan enters and begins to
apologize, but cannot finish before she
slaps him full across the face and storms out.  Sheridan tells Franklin
he had it coming, and Franklin agrees.  Franklin gives Sheridan some advice.
He knows very well how people act when someone they love dies, but it's
not always possible to do anything about it, even if Sheridan sometimes
thinks he can fix everything.  He says Sheridan has to face that fact,
but he doesn't have to do it alone.  Sheridan smiles in understanding
and leaves.

<p>
He is barely outside of MedLab when Delenn and Kosh appear.  Delenn
tells Sheridan that Morden must be released at once.
Sheridan can't believe that they are interested in
Morden as well, and wants to know why everyone is so interested in
him.  Delenn says that Babylon 5 could be in terrible danger, and that
Sheridan will have to trust them, but that isn't enough for Sheridan.  He
demands answers.  Delenn and Kosh look at each other, and Kosh nods to
her.  She agrees to give Sheridan the answers he wants, but warns him
that, when he learns what they know, he will never be able to
sleep well again.  "Come, Captain," she says.  "The greatest nightmare
of our time is waiting for you."  She hurries off, followed by Kosh,
and Sheridan is close behind.

<p>
<img align=left width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/firstones.gif">
"There are beings in the universe billions of years older than either
of our races," Delenn begins.  "Once, long ago, they walked among the
stars like giants...  vast and timeless.  They taught the younger races,
explored beyond the rim, created great empires... But to all things
there is an end.  Slowly, over a million years, the First Ones went
away.  Some passed beyond the stars, never to return.  Some simply
disappeared."

<p>
Sheridan, impatient, interrupts.  "Delenn, I'm sure this is all
very interesting, but what does any of this have to do with Morden?"

<p>
"Not all of the First Ones have gone away.  A few stayed behind, hidden
or asleep, waiting for the day when they may be needed...when the
Shadows come again."

<p>
"Shadows?"

<p>
"We have no other name for them.  The Shadows were old when even the
Ancients were young.  They battled one another over and over across a
million years.  The last great war against the Shadows was ten thousand
years ago.  It was the last time the Ancients walked openly among us.
The Shadows were only defeated, not destroyed.  A thousand years ago,
the Shadows returned to their places of power, rebuilt them, and began
to stretch forth their hand.  Before they could strike, they were
defeated by an alliance of worlds, including the Minbari... and the few
remaining First Ones who had not yet passed beyond the Veil.  When they
had finished, the First Ones went away... all but one."

<p>
"There's still one of them left.  Where?"

<p>
Delenn, saying nothing, slowly focuses her gaze upon Kosh.  "That is
why Kosh cannot leave his encounter suit.  He would be recognized."

<p>
"Recognized?  By who?"

<p>
"Everyone," Kosh intones.

<p>
"For centuries, the Vorlons stood alone, the last remaining Guardians,
watching and waiting.  Then, last year, I sent Kosh a message."  Delenn
tells Sheridan of the time, before she began her transformation,
that she sent Lennier to Kosh with a question, to which Kosh answered
yes.

<p>
"If yes was the answer, what was the question?"  Sheridan asks.

<p>
"'Have the Shadows returned to Z'ha'dum?'" She tells him.

<p>
"Z'ha'dum?"  Sheridan says.  "That's the world G'kar's been warning us
about all year."

<p>
"Sheridan," intones Kosh, as the small circular opening in his
headpiece opens.  "Learn."

<p>
<img align=left width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/icarus2.gif">
Sheridan looks into the hole, and his face is covered by a strange
green light.  He sees a spaceship approaching a world.

<p>
"The Icarus," Delenn says, "your wife's ship, sent to investigate the ruins
of an ancient race no one has ever heard of before."

<p>
"Z'ha'dum," Kosh says.

<p>
Sheridan, still mesmerized by a strange light from the encounter suit,
sees the crew of the Icarus, on the surface of Z'ha'dum, exploring the
planet.  He sees inside a great crevice, where a strange and terrifying
creature stirs, eventually opening its fiery eyes.

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/zhadum1.gif">
<img align=middle width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/zhadum2.gif">
<img align=middle width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/zhd3.gif">

<p>
As the Shadow
awakens, the opening in the headpiece of the encounter suit closes, and
Sheridan returns his focus to Delenn.  "Anna...The Icarus," he says
weakly, "They found something.  They woke something up."

<p>
"Yes," Delenn says.  "Once awakened, the Shadows could not allow them
to leave in case they would warn others.  Those who would not serve
were killed."

<p>
"But were they all killed?  Delenn, maybe... maybe some of them
were kept alive as prisoners.  Anna might still be alive! Morden..."

<p>
"...must be released!"

<p>
"After what you just showed me, how can you ask me to let him go?"

<p>
"Because right now, they do not know how much we know.  The last time,
the Shadows lost because they moved too quickly.  Now, they are being
careful, gathering their forces slowly.  If you push Morden, sooner or
later, he will tell you what happened.  Then he will be killed.  And
you will be killed.  The Shadows will move now, before we're ready for
them."

<p>
"How are they going to know?"

<p>
"Because Morden is never alone!  Listen to me.  Aside from the Vorlons,
we do not have the First Ones to help us this time.  We are on our
own!  We will have only one chance to stop them, and if we fail,
billions will die.  There comes a moment when each of us must pledge
himself to something greater than himself.  You told G'kar he had to
decide between revenge and the good of his own people.  Now you must
make the same decision, Captain.  It will be the most important
decision of your life."

<p>
Zack tells Sheridan, who is watching Morden in his cell, that he should
get some sleep.  Sheridan asks Zack how much he knows about World War
II, but Zack admits he doesn't know much.  Sheridan tells him how the
British government knew, throughout most of the war, the code that the
Germans used for all their secret messages.  The British
discovered that the Germans were planning to bomb Coventry, but
if they evacuated, the Germans would change the code.  If the city
weren't evacuated, hundreds would die.  The British decided not to evacuate, and
the city was destroyed.  Sheridan says he saw an old newsreel of Churchill
visiting Coventry, and is still haunted by the look in
Churchill's eyes as he realized what he had done.  Zack says he's glad
he doesn't have to make that decision, because he doesn't think he
could handle it.  "How many lives is a secret worth?" he asks.  A
strange sound comes from the monitor on which Sheridan is watching
Morden.  Zack explains they had been picking up the sound for a while,
but that they believe it is due to faulty microphones in the cell.
Sheridan asks Zack to change the view on the monitor to scan for
different wavelengths of light.  Zack does so, and while he's doing it,
Sheridan sees three spider-like black creatures in the room for a brief
moment.

<p>
<img align=middle width=128 height=92 src="/lurk/gif/038/friends2.gif">

<p>
"What did you see?" asks Zack.

<p>
"Nothing," Sheridan replies.  "Shadows."  He tells Zack to free
Morden, and tell him it was all a mistake, and that he is free to leave
if he chooses.  Zack leaves as Sheridan continues to study Morden's
face.

<p>
Garibaldi is eating when Sheridan approaches and returns all his
security equipment.  Sheridan explains that he freed Morden, and that
Garibaldi was correct.  Garibaldi asks
why Sheridan changed his mind, but Sheridan won't say.  Garibaldi says that
makes him uncomfortable, but hopes that, the next time something similar
happens, Sheridan will listen to him.  Sheridan assures him there won't be
a next time.  Garibaldi asks if Sheridan is okay as he leaves, and
Sheridan claims he is.  Zack Allen approaches Garibaldi and asks if
Sheridan is all right.  Garibaldi says he doesn't know, and then asks
Zack about the arm band he is wearing, which displays the colors of the
Ministry of Peace.  Zack says that fifty credits more per week, for doing
what he does anyway, is a good deal.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/038/fight.gif">
Sheridan, wearing an oxygen mask, enters Kosh's quarters.  "I let him
go," he tells the Ambassador.  "But there is a price tag attached.
You've been trying to help me so we can understand each other.  That's
not what I want any more.  I want you to teach me how to fight them, how
to beat them.  Because sooner or later, I'm going to Z'ha'dum, and I'm
going to stop them."

<p>
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die," Kosh warns.

<p>
"Then I die," Sheridan tells him.  "But I will not go down easily, and
I will not go down alone.  You will teach me?"

<p>
Kosh has but one answer for this question.  "Yes."