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								  Synopsis by Matthew Murray (mmurray@wsu.edu)


								   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.


								   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.


								   "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?"


								   [INLINE] "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?"


								   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.


								   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.


								   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.


								   [INLINE] 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.


								   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.


								   [INLINE] 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.


								   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.


								   [INLINE] "You're not going anywhere."


								   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.


								   [INLINE] 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."


								   [INLINE] 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.


								   [INLINE] 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.


								   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.


								   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.


								   [INLINE] 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.


								   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 _is_ dead. He says that he has to know, and that nothing

								   else matters to him.


								   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.


								   [INLINE] 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.


								   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.


								   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.


								   [INLINE] "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."


								   Sheridan, impatient, interrupts. "Delenn, I'm sure this is all very

								   interesting, but what does any of this have to do with Morden?"


								   "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."


								   "Shadows?"


								   "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."


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


								   Delenn, saying nothing, slowly focuses her gaze upon Kosh. "That is

								   why Kosh cannot leave his encounter suit. He would be recognized."


								   "Recognized? By who?"


								   "Everyone," Kosh intones.


								   "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.


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


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


								   "Z'ha'dum?" Sheridan says. "That's the world G'kar's been warning us

								   about all year."


								   "Sheridan," intones Kosh, as the small circular opening in his

								   headpiece opens. "Learn."


								   [INLINE] Sheridan looks into the hole, and his face is covered by a

								   strange green light. He sees a spaceship approaching a world.


								   "The Icarus," Delenn says, "your wife's ship, sent to investigate the

								   ruins of an ancient race no one has ever heard of before."


								   "Z'ha'dum," Kosh says.


								   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.


								   [INLINE] [INLINE] [INLINE]


								   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."


								   "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."


								   "But were they all killed? Delenn, maybe... maybe some of them were

								   kept alive as prisoners. Anna might still be alive! Morden..."


								   "...must be released!"


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


								   "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."


								   "How are they going to know?"


								   "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."


								   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.


								   [INLINE]


								   "What did you see?" asks Zack.


								   "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.


								   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.


								   [INLINE] 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."


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


								   "Then I die," Sheridan tells him. "But I will not go down easily, and

								   I will not go down alone. You will teach me?"


								   Kosh has but one answer for this question. "Yes."


								   [14][Next]


								      [15]Last update: October 11, 1995


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