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								  Synopsis by Matthew Murray (mmurray@wsu.edu)


								   [INLINE] Sheridan is on a baseball field, practicing his swing, when

								   Garibaldi arrives. Sheridan explains that, because of difficult

								   negotiations between the Narn and the Centauri, he needed to take time

								   to get away from it all. Garibaldi says that, despite his problems,

								   Sheridan should be glad that he didn't have to spend his day in the

								   Triangle. Sheridan asks about it, and Garibaldi explains it is a

								   section of Grey Sector nicknamed by maintenance where there are

								   strange lights, sounds, and disappearances. That piques Sheridan's

								   interest, and despite Garibaldi's objection, he insists on going and

								   taking a look.


								   [INLINE] Londo and Vir step out of an elevator, discussing the authors

								   and songs of some of the finest Centauri operas. They lose themselves

								   in the music, and continue reminiscing when a black robed figure

								   appears, arms wrapped around Londo's neck. "How fitting you should die

								   with a song on your lips, Mollari," the figure tells him. The figure

								   calls him "passo liati," and Londo knows who it is -- an old friend of

								   his, Urza Jaddo. Londo asks Urza not play such a trick again, and

								   introduces Vir and Urza to each other. Londo suggests they return to

								   his quarters, drink brevare and talk, but Urza has to decline,

								   promising they will do so later.


								   [INLINE] Sheridan, flashlight in hand, walks down one of the corridors

								   in the Triangle. After searching around for a few moments, he sees a

								   body lying on the floor. He tries to wake the figure, but sees that

								   the being, a Markab, is dead. Sheridan tries to call Garibaldi, but

								   interference makes maintaining a clear channel very difficult.

								   Sheridan looks at the body again, and its hand suddenly reaches up and

								   grabs his face. Sheridan is able to wrench the hand away, and the body

								   falls down dead again. Sheridan finally contacts Garibaldi and tells

								   him to get to Gray 10 right away.


								   Dr. Franklin examines Sheridan and tells him that there is nothing

								   physically wrong with him, except for the common effects of a sudden

								   fright. He also explains that the body's movements were due to gas

								   buildups inside the body. Sheridan asks what killed the Markab, and

								   Franklin hypothesizes head trauma, but will not know for certain

								   without an autopsy. Garibaldi finds the Markab's identicard and

								   identifies him. Sheridan tries to explain how they should proceed

								   next, but his vision becomes very distorted. Sheridan tells Garibaldi

								   that he feels dizzy, and Garibaldi recommends that Sheridan rest and

								   hear a report later.


								   Londo begins preparing drinks, and Vir asks about Urza. Londo explains

								   that they had been friends since childhood, though their families had

								   been allied almost since the beginning of the Republic. Londo begins

								   reminiscing about his youth, even though Vir doesn't understand why

								   Londo's ties to the past are so strong. Urza enters, and Londo greets

								   him. They drink together.


								   [INLINE] In his quarters, Sheridan is awakened by some strange sounds.

								   He turns on the lights, looks around the room a little, and is

								   confronted by a large flying creature, which flies at him. He manages

								   to duck and grab a PPG; he fires at the creature, but the shots go

								   through it and destroy a statue behind it. Garibaldi, alerted by the

								   gunfire, enters with another security officer. Garibaldi asks what

								   happened, and Sheridan explains that the creature was a grylor, from

								   Janos VII, which once stalked him. Garibaldi suggests that it may have

								   been a nightmare, but Sheridan knows, or at least believes, it was

								   real. Sheridan asks what happened to the Markab, and Garibaldi says it

								   looks like suicide, though they don't know why he would have killed

								   himself. Sheridan suggests it may have been a religious ritual, but

								   Garibaldi disagrees. Sheridan tells Garibaldi to keep searching for

								   answers, and says he'll be in C&C if needed.


								   [INLINE] Urza and Londo, still drinking, are getting reacquainted,

								   talking about life and love. When they stop to get another drink, Urza

								   tells Londo that his name is much spoken of on Centauri Prime, and

								   that they believe that both his star, and that of the Republic, is in

								   ascension again. This pleases Londo, though he is still quite angry at

								   the Narns. Urza says that the previous Emperor wanted peace, but Londo

								   claims that the Emperor was wrong about the Narns. Urza explains that

								   the Narns were lured into the war by the same faction that murdered

								   the previous Prime Minister, which Londo says he heard was an

								   accident. Urza tells him that was the "official story," but not really

								   true. Urza tells Londo that a resolution is about to be brought before

								   the Centaurum, claiming that Urza's family is traitorous to the

								   Republic. Londo believes they couldn't prove it, but Urza says proof

								   isn't necessary, only the accusation, and that he will be disgraced if

								   the "villains" have their way. Urza asks Londo to stand with him to

								   save his family, and Londo says he will do what he can. This pleases

								   Urza, who leaves, promising a banquet to celebrate their reunion.


								   Sheridan enters C&C as a jump gate comes online and a ship comes

								   through. While looking at a control panel, Sheridan begins seeing

								   strange patterns again. He tries to clear his eyes, but when he looks

								   out the viewport, he sees the Icarus, his wife's ship, appear and then

								   explode. Sheridan orders the area outside scanned, but no one else has

								   seen anything. Ivanova asks if anything is wrong, and Sheridan says

								   that he has to see to something.


								   Sheridan explains what just happened to Dr. Franklin, who tells him

								   that there is nothing physically wrong with him, but that there may be

								   a new virus that can't be detected. He offers to put Sheridan in touch

								   with a Markab doctor who may be able to help him, but suggests that

								   his hallucinations are more likely stress-related. Dr. Franklin puts

								   Sheridan on medical leave, and, despite Sheridan's protests, Franklin

								   orders him to relax and enjoy himself.


								   Londo finally makes contact with Refa. Londo asks Refa if what he

								   heard about Urza was true, and Refa says it is. Londo offers to vouch

								   for Urza personally, but Refa won't go along, despite Londo's claims

								   of being Urza's friend. Refa says he cannot stop the resolution,

								   because it has already gone through. Refa says that Urza's house is

								   already crumbling, and anyone that tries to help will go along with

								   it. Londo becomes outraged at Refa's impudence, claiming that Refa's

								   plans would have been no use without his help. Refa says there is

								   little he can do, but promises he will try. Londo tells Vir to get him

								   a drink, and then communicate with his contacts on Centauri Prime, as

								   he will need more help.


								   Sheridan is back on the baseball field practicing when Garibaldi

								   enters. Sheridan asks if they found out anything else about the

								   Markab, and Garibaldi tells him that the Markab passed through sector

								   14 on his voyage here. Sheridan says he thought that sector was

								   restricted, and Garibaldi explains it is, ever since the incident the

								   previous year when Babylon 4 returned. Garibaldi explains that it was

								   kept out of the station logs because EarthForce wanted to perform

								   their own investigation. Garibaldi explains what happened to Sheridan,

								   saying that, even though the station is gone, an anonmaly is still

								   believed to remain. Garibaldi presents Sheridan with a copy of the

								   information, made before it was turned over to EarthForce, and leaves

								   Sheridan to his batting practice.


								   Londo and Vir enter the exquisitely decorated and catered banquet,

								   where they meet up with Urza. The three of them sit down at a table,

								   and Urza toasts to their friendship and to the Republic. Londo

								   comments on the calibre of the guests at the party, and Urza tells him

								   that, with Londo's help, they will spread the word. Londo tells him

								   that this isn't necessary, since he helped, but Urza says that the

								   resolution was already presented, and will almost certainly pass.

								   Londo begins saying that Refa promised to help, but this angers Urza,

								   who says that Refa is responsible for the resolution in the first

								   place, and wants him out of the way because of how much he knows. Urza

								   seems insulted that Londo would help Refa, but Londo says that he has

								   a destiny to fulfill, and only if he does, will the Centauri return to

								   their rightful place in the galaxy. Urza says he doesn't want to

								   return to that kind of glory, and Londo offers to help, but Urza tells

								   him that the way they are proceeding will never do any good.


								   [INLINE] Londo offers to leave, but Urza will not let him go. He snaps

								   his fingers, and a large case is brought to the table, from which

								   Londo draws a finely-crafted sword. Londo says he cannot accept the

								   gift, but Urza takes the sword from him and embeds it in the table,

								   challenging him to a duel to the death. Londo asks why he would do

								   this, and Urza tells him he would do it to save himself and his family

								   from dishonor. Londo accepts the challenge, and Urza tells him to

								   return in two hours for the duel. Londo and Vir leave.


								   [INLINE] Sheridan is watching some images of Babylon 4's return when

								   he is suddenly gripped by a powerful headache. He looks around the

								   room in agony, his vision again blurred, and he sees his parents

								   standing there. He approaches them, but they are enveloped in a bright

								   flash of light. Sheridan looks over at the frozen picture of Babylon 4

								   on the viewscreen, and believes he knows what to do. He quickly

								   leaves, leaving his commlink behind while Dr. Franklin tries to

								   contact him.


								   Vir tries to talk Londo out of the duel, but Londo will not hear of

								   it, saying that to deny the challenge would be disgraceful.


								   Garibaldi receives a communication from Dr. Franklin, who asks him

								   where the captain is. A device Franklin gave Sheridan to measure his

								   stress monitored a strange neural surge just a few minutes earlier,

								   which caused the link to go dead, and Sheridan would not answer

								   communication requests. Garibaldi calls his security officers, telling

								   them to look out for the captain.


								   At C&C, a Starfury is detected to be about ready to launch from the

								   station, and the pilot is identified as Captain Sheridan. He tells

								   Ivanova not to worry, and that he will be back soon. Sheridan

								   overrides the Starfury's controls, opens the bay doors, and launches

								   the ship. Ivanova calls Garibaldi.


								   Urza's assistants prepare him for the duel when Londo and Vir enter.

								   Londo tries to convince Urza to not fight, but Urza refuses. Urza

								   tells Londo that he has often beaten him with such weapons, but Londo

								   says that his life was never on the line before. Londo begins removing

								   his jacket.


								   Garibaldi, in a Starfury of his own, contacts Sheridan asking him what

								   he is doing. Sheridan says he is giving someone a lift, and that he

								   thinks the answer lies in sector 14. Ivanova, who has been listening,

								   realizes the significance, and Sheridan confirms her suspicions. The

								   two Starfuries continue their voyage.


								   A referee tells Londo and Urza to begin the duel. They hold their

								   swords before them, bow to each other, and begin the fight. During the

								   course of the fight, they both manage to inflict some damage to each

								   other.


								   [INLINE] Sheridan arrives in sector 14 and tells the computer to scan

								   the area. The computer replies, saying it cannot scan the area because

								   of increased levels of tachyon particles. A large glowing area appears

								   immediately in front of Sheridan's Starfury. Sheridan begins to

								   scream, and a long stream of light shoots out from his mouth and into

								   the glowing disturbance. After a few moments, the stream of light

								   completely vanishes into the disturbance, and it closes. Garibaldi,

								   right behind, grapples Sheridan's ship. He tows Sheridan back to

								   Babylon 5.


								   [INLINE] The fight between Urza and Londo continues, both of them very

								   tired, and somewhat injured. After a few moments, Urza disarms Londo

								   and sends him carreening to the ground, and prepares to deal the death

								   blow, but Londo grabs his sword and thrusts upward. Urza falls to the

								   ground, but Londo catches him. Londo asks Urza why he did this, and

								   Urza tells him that he did it for his family, because he didn't want

								   them to share in his disgrace. This way, Urza dies alone, and Urza

								   makes Londo promise to look after them, which Londo promises to do.

								   Urza tells Londo that he will miss him, and dies in Londo's arms.


								   Sheridan explains to Franklin, Garibaldi, and Ivanova that the

								   lifeform that inhabited him was sentient, but alien, adn was trying to

								   survive and return to its home. Sheridan explains that the alien

								   entered the Markab's body and drove him mad. He explains that he

								   deduced what it wanted by the images it created in his mind, using his

								   emotions for communication. The prospect of such a new and different

								   alien life form very much excites Franklin.


								   Londo pours some more bravare when Vir enters, telling Londo that the

								   arrangements he asked for regarding Urza's family were made. Vir tries

								   to tell Londo that he didn't have a choice and had to kill Urza, but

								   Londo isn't sure -- he tells Vir that Urza was more skilled with the

								   blade, and that, by the rules of the conflict, Urza's family must be

								   taken in by him, which makes them immune to the effect of the

								   resolution; that was the reason for the challenge in the first place.

								   Londo tells Vir that, for the first time, he questions the choices he

								   has made. Vir tries to convince Londo that he should make new choices,

								   but Londo replies that he has started down the path and must continue

								   on it until it ends. He sends Vir away, saying that he wants to try to

								   get some sleep, if he is able.


								   [14][Next]


								      [15]Last update: October 11, 1995


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