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								  Synopsis by Matthew Murray (mmurray@wsu.edu)


								   On C&C, Ivanova tells Sheridan about a Markab cruiser that is ten

								   hours overdue that has resisted all attempts at communication. She

								   says she wants to send out Zeta squadron to find out what happened to

								   the ship, and that she will do so as soon as Lieutenant Keffer

								   returns, searching for what he once saw in hyperspace. Sheridan tells

								   Ivanova to order Keffer back to the station and curb further

								   expeditions.


								   Lazarenn, a Markab doctor, examines a dead Markab with Dr. Franklin.

								   The death seems rather mysterious, and Lazarenn tells Franklin he

								   would prefer to keep jurisdiction over his own species. But, since

								   this Markab is the fourth dead Markab in three days dead of natural

								   causes, Franklin is suspicious. He tells Lazarenn that he will

								   continue to run further tests.


								   Ivanova explains to Zeta squadron that their mission is to find the

								   Markab ship and determine the problem, if there is one. As she sends

								   them out, she tells Keffer that Captain Sheridan has ordered him to

								   curb his expeditions into hyperspace. Though he initially protests,

								   after he is threatened with a four-month suspension of flight

								   priveleges, he changes his mind, and leaves to join the squadron.


								   Sheridan sits down for dinner with Delenn and Lennier. Lennier has

								   spent two days engrossed in an exhaustive cooking ritual, preparing

								   food for Sheridan's dinner, so that he may better understand the

								   Minbari. Sheridan is anxious to begin eating, but is informed that he

								   must also follow certain rituals in the eating of the dinner. Delenn

								   explains that, if they are not followed, Lennier will have to begin

								   again. Delenn and Sheridan exchange bowls, give part of their meal to

								   Lennier in thanks, and Sheridan places one piece of food in the place

								   set aside for Valen's return. Sheridan is then able to take one bite

								   before he must meditate.


								   Zeta squadron arrives at the Markab vessel, and attempts to open

								   communication, to no avail. Keffer scans the vessel, but discovers no

								   life signs, though there are over two hundred life forms on the

								   vessel. All the Markab on the ship are dead. Meanwhile, Dr. Franklin,

								   while examining the Markab on the station, asks to have access to the

								   other dead Markab before they are sent back to their homeworld.


								   Zeta squadron returns to the station with the Markab ship in tow.

								   Franklin tells Ivanova that they need a full medical team to

								   investigate it, and that he thinks Sheridan should be there as well.

								   Sheridan, who fell asleep while observing the Minbari rituals of

								   eating, is awakened by Ivanova telling him to go to the docking bay

								   where the Markab ship has been brought. Sheridan apologizes, though

								   Delenn tells him that the meal was completed before he fell asleep.


								   Sheridan arrives in the docking bay to find Dr. Lazarenn there, not

								   wanting Sheridan or any other non-Markab inside. Dr. Franklin explains

								   that they aren't wanted aboard the ship because all four dead Markab

								   died from an infectious disease. Dr. Franklin demands to know how

								   terminal and contagious the disease is. "It is one hundred percent

								   terminal," Lazarenn imparts. "And one hundred percent contagious."


								   The plague continues to spread among the Markab population as Dr.

								   Franklin confronts Lazarenn and demands to know why he wanted to keep

								   the plague a secret. Lazarenn explains that the plague is not

								   something normally talked about -- it is considered a disease that

								   only occurs to an immoral people, because the first documented case

								   struck an immoral population isolated on the Markab homeworld, killing

								   the entire populace. They assumed that the plague had been wiped out,

								   and therefore was no longer a threat. Lazarenn explains that Drafa,

								   the disease, had been used to frighten children into behaving, and was

								   still believed to only inflict the immoral. Though the first new case

								   had been discovered nearly a year ago, the Markab were still scared to

								   admit that the problem had resurfaced, and since none of them wanted

								   to be considered immoral, it was kept secret, which made the disease

								   spread even faster. In an attempt to escape the disease, the Markab

								   have fled to every Markab colony, including Babylon 5, spreading the

								   plague throughout the Markab populace. Dr. Franklin doesn't understand

								   why he wasn't consulted, but Lazarenn tells him that he was forbidden

								   by his government, which refuses to assist in any way. Franklin's last

								   question is whether or not the disease is infectious beyond the Markab

								   species, but Lazarenn has no way of knowing.


								   A young Markab girl wanders through the corridors of Babylon 5,

								   looking for something. She soon locates what she is looking for, her

								   father, who is sitting against a wall. She touches him, and he falls

								   over. She cries out and turns around, into the arms of Delenn.


								   Dr. Franklin talks to the command staff and his medical officers. The

								   disease is invisible while in its incubation period of up to several

								   weeks, but after it shows up, the patients live for about a day.

								   Garibaldi asks how far it has spread, and Franklin explains that they

								   have to assume the entire Markab population has been exposed. Sheridan

								   asks if the plague is limited to the Markab, but Franklin doesn't

								   know, and says that's what they need to find out. If the disease is

								   airborne, the recycled air aboard the station could put everyone at

								   risk. Sheridan asks Franklin what to do, and Franklin wants every

								   Markab brought in for testing so they can discover how the disease

								   works. The disease, he explains, takes over the central nervous

								   system, keeping it from working properly. Sheridan orders Ivanova to

								   put the station under quarantine, keeping all ships in the station,

								   and preventing other ones from coming in. One of the medical officers

								   suggests segregating the Markab away from everyone else, but Franklin

								   says that will only cause the disease to spread among the Markab

								   faster and that, if the disease is airborne, it won't make any

								   difference. Garibaldi says that, if all the Markab are in one place,

								   he can watch over them better when turmoil strikes the station.


								   Turmoil does strike the station, causing a panic when no one is able

								   to leave the quarantined station. The Markab are continuously tested

								   for the plague, as more continue to get sick and die. The Markab

								   ambassador is outraged by the way the Markab are being treated,

								   blaming Sheridan for spreading fear among his people. He tries to

								   explain that his people are moral, and believes that Sheridan might be

								   part of a conspiracy against the Markab, or that even the immorality

								   of the humans had infected them. The Markab ambassador begins to

								   leave, and tells Sheridan that he and the rest of the Markab are going

								   into isolation to protect themselves from the immorality of others.

								   Dr. Franklin calls Sheridan and tells him that the disease is indeed

								   airborne, and that his people have found a dead Pak'ma'ra with no

								   visible signs of death. He believes the disease may be spreading into

								   the general population.


								   The Markab ambassador herds his people into their isolation area,

								   reassuring them that they are pure and that they will be spared the

								   plague if they are good. The other races aboard the station are all

								   too happy to see them go.


								   Dr. Franklin orders an autopsy performed on a dead Markab before it is

								   too late, but none of the other medical officers want to risk

								   exposure. Franklin offers to go in, but is interrupted by Lazarenn,

								   who offers to go in instead, since he knows much more about the

								   plague. Since the isolation booth is sealed, no one else will be in

								   danger should he contract the disease. Lazarenn enters the booth and

								   appraoches the dead Markab to begin the autopsy.


								   Sheridan receives a call from Ivanova who tells him that the violence

								   against the Markab is increasing aboard Babylon 5. 4,000 of the

								   station's 5,000 Markab have entered the isolation zone, but the rest

								   may be in considerable danger if found by other races. Sheridan wants

								   the violence stopped as quickly as possible. Ivanova suggests he get

								   some sleep. Sheridan agrees, but as he is about to rest, Delenn enters

								   and tells Sheridan that she wants to be allowed into the isolation

								   zone to help the Markab. Delenn says that she has been taught to help

								   others when they are in need, and though Sheridan tries to convince

								   her otherwise, he is unable to dissuade her. She says that she

								   understands the risk, and that she and Lennier should do all they can

								   to help the Markab, since they may all be in need of similar help very

								   soon. She knows that she may have to remain in there if she contracts

								   the disease, but she is willing to make the sacrifice. Sheridan

								   relents and decides to let her enter the zone. "All life is

								   transitory," she tells him. "A dream. We all come together in the same

								   place at the end of time. If I don't see you again here, I will see

								   you in a little while, in the place where no shadows fall." She starts

								   to leave, but Sheridan stops her.


								   "Delenn...? When I do see you again, call me John?" She smiles, nods,

								   and leaves.


								   A few humans attack a Markab, and kick him in the stomach while he is

								   down on the ground. Garibaldi arrives and stops the torture, but the

								   Markab is near death. He reaches a bloody hand out to Garibaldi.

								   Hesitating only fractionally, Garibaldi takes the Markab's hand.


								   Delenn and Lennier approach the gate to the isolation zone and are

								   admitted by the EarthForce officer attending it. They enter quickly,

								   and are immediately assaulted by the great pain and death they see all

								   around them, though they are able to keep a somewhat pleasant

								   attitude, knowing that they may be able to help.


								   Dr. Franklin injects himself with stims in order to keep himself

								   awake. Lazarenn, still inside the isolation area, tries to convince

								   Dr. Franklin to sleep, but Franklin says that, if the plague has

								   spread, that won't matter much. They haven't found out anymore about

								   the Pak'ma'ra, but more and more Markab continue to die, though the

								   violence has been brought under control. Franklin explains that he

								   doesn't understand why humans never learn from all the diseases they

								   face, such as the Black Death, AIDS, and Chalmer's Syndrome. Lazarenn

								   asks about the Black Death, and Dr. Franklin explains how it hit

								   Europe in the 14th century, and that it too was considered an immoral

								   disease, possibly sent by the devil. Cats, the familiars of the

								   devils, were killed by the millions, but since they were the only way

								   to control the rat population, the true way the disease was spread,

								   the plague spread even faster. Lazarenn finds the situation humorous,

								   since often the strategy that makes the least sense is the one that's

								   done the most. He then collapses against the window of the isolation

								   booth, and explains that his suspicions are confirmed: he has

								   contracted the plague. He tells Franklin to run tests as quickly as

								   possible, now that he has someone in the earliest stages of infection.


								   Delenn and Lennier minister to the Markab in the isolation zone,

								   trying to make them more comfortable, though it doesn't seem as if

								   they are doing much good. Delenn sees the young Markab girl she met

								   earlier, who is now unable to find her mother. Delenn calls to

								   Lennier, telling him to find her mother. When Lennier asks how he

								   should find her, Delenn responds, "Faith manages." Delenn asks the

								   girl her mother's name, and the girl tells her that her name is Mama.

								   "Faith manages," repeats Lennier as he begins the search.


								   Dr. Franklin examines some of the data from the tests, and continues

								   to run more tests, though they only have a very short period of time.

								   Lazarenn explains how he feels, and Franklin orders still more tests.

								   While he is suffering, Lazarenn thinks back to how he and Franklin

								   first met many years ago. It was when Franklin was on layover on the

								   Markab homeworld, and Franklin was hitchhiking on starships. Franklin

								   looked upon everything as a test in those days. "Sometimes the test is

								   not to find the answer, it is to see how you react when you realize

								   there is no answer." A medical officer comes up with the results of

								   the Pak'ma'ra autopsy -- the plague is now affecting the Pak'ma'ra as

								   well. Franklin, exasperated and irritable, orders some officers to

								   find out what happened to the Pak'ma'ra, before time runs out.


								   The young Markab girl is still worried about her mother, and asks

								   Delenn if she has been found yet. Delenn says no, but says she knows

								   what the young girl is going through. She once became seperated from

								   her parents on a visit to the city, and she became more and more lost

								   until she found herself in an old temple, where she decided to wait

								   until her parents arrived. Though her parents didn't come for hours,

								   she felt safe there, and fell asleep. A tall figure told the young

								   Delenn that she would be fine as long as she believed her parents

								   would come. The figure told her that he would not allow harm to come

								   to her. At that moment, Delenn's parents arrived in the temple. As she

								   completes the story, Lennier too arrives with the young girl's mother.

								   The young girl runs to her mother and hugs her, and soon turns around

								   to thank Delenn, but is barely able to keep her balance. The smile

								   vanishes from Delenn's face as she realizes what is happening.


								   Dr. Franklin continues tests on the Pak'ma'ra, but continues to find

								   nothing. He tries to cross-reference Markab yellow cells with

								   Pak'ma'ra green cells. Lazarenn speaks up, but is unable to say much

								   beyond, "The yellow cells could be..." He attempts to say more, but

								   fails, and dies while speaking to Franklin. Franklin, in his rage,

								   overturns a cart of medical equipment, but his anger evaporates when

								   the computer reports that a match has been found.


								   Franklin explains to Sheridan that the plague works by neutralizing

								   the chemicals in the synaptic gaps of a body, which prevent the

								   chemicals from relating messages from the brain between neurons. A few

								   races use specialized cells to manufacture chemicals used in neural

								   relays, but since humans don't work that way, they aren't in danger.

								   Franklin says the disease can't be destroyed, but he can stimulate

								   production of yellow and green cells so that they will eventually be

								   able to fight off the disease. He's prepared enough for five hundred

								   doses of the cure, but hasn't had time to test it, and there is nearly

								   no time left.


								   Franklin, Sheridan, and Ivanova go to the isolation zone and enter,

								   and are greeted by a grisly sight. There is nearly complete silence as

								   they look around the isolation zone and see that every Markab has

								   died. Delenn and Lennier appear. Franklin asks if anyone is left

								   alive, and Lennier tells him that they are all dead.


								   Lennier departs, but Delenn, overcome by the situation, falls crying

								   against Sheridan's shoulder.


								   Delenn tells Sheridan that he should be congratulated for finding a

								   way to stop the plague. Sheridan tries to explain that it is because

								   of Franklin that they were able to prevent further infection. Sheridan

								   asks what happens next time, and Delenn says that, if they honor the

								   memory of those who died, and remember what happened, the other races

								   will grow, and further problems of this sort will not occur.


								   "Medical ships dispatched to the Markab homeworld have confirmed the

								   death toll," an ISN reporter says. "The entire planetary population

								   has been wiped out by the plague. Over two billion dead, in addition

								   to another two or three million on other colonies and outposts.

								   Although it is expected that some Markabs may have survived on

								   isolated colonies, for all intents and purposes, the Markab

								   civilization has been destroyed." Franklin, sitting at a bar beneath a

								   video screen, listens painfully to the news report as other patrons of

								   the bar joke about the deaths of the Markab and spread rumors about

								   the dead Markab. The bartender shuts off the television set, refusing

								   to listen anymore.


								   "Nothing changes," Franklin says to himself. He gets up from the bar

								   and walks away.


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								      [15]Last update: October 11, 1995


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