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								  Synopsis by Matthew Murray (mmurray@wsu.edu)


								   While a man and a woman meet a docking ship, Sheridan, Ivanova,

								   Garibaldi, and Franklin are celebrating in Earheart's with many other

								   officers Corwin's promotion from lieutenant J.G. to full lieutenant.

								   Garibaldi asks why Marcus wasn't invited, but Ivanova explains that,

								   since Earheart's is for Earth Alliance personnel only, it wasn't

								   appropriate for him to be invited. Sheridan agrees with her, saying

								   it's probably best if he keeps a low profile.


								   Things are not quite as celebratory, however, in Downbelow, where a

								   lurker is screaming in pain while a strange small creature, resembling

								   a scorpion, burrows itself into his back while the man and the woman

								   who met the incoming ship earlier stand over him, watching

								   expectantly. They go over to him after it has integrated itself into

								   him, but are dismayed because their plan didn't work. Security is on

								   its way, so they quickly take their leave.


								   In C&C, Sheridan speaks with Ivanova privately about Corwin, and

								   whether or not he should be indoctrinated into their group working

								   against the Earth government. He asks her to meet with Corwin to

								   determine whether or not he would be a good choice.


								   Marcus runs into a friend of his, Duncan, who works in a bazaar. They

								   speak for a few moments, and though Marcus tries to convince the

								   sickly Duncan to see a physician, he refuses. Marcus promises to see

								   him again soon.


								   During Dr. Franklin's medical staff meeting, one of the other doctors

								   reports the unexplainable death of a man the previous night. Franklin,

								   wanting to determine the cause, asks that the body be brought to

								   MedLab 1.


								   Marcus is meeting with some of his informants, one of whom tells him

								   that the Shadows are beginning to gather around sector 800, on the

								   border of Centauri space, and that a package Marcus ordered will

								   arrive within a week. Marcus tells him to learn whatever he can about

								   the Shadow buildup. Marcus speaks with someone else who tells him that

								   one of his primary liaisons is no longer interested in working with

								   him. Marcus goes to pay the man a visit.


								   Dr. Franklin begins his analysis of the dead body, and while he finds

								   evidence of drugs, he can't find any other possible cause of death.

								   The computer, however, completes its scan, and finds one neural

								   anomaly. Franklin asks to see it, and the computer displays it: it is

								   the creature that entered the man earlier, and it is wrapped around

								   his spinal column. Franklin prepares to open up the patient.


								   Marcus finds his contact, Samuel, who seems to be in fine health, but

								   has no further interest in working with Marcus, or explaining why he

								   no longer wishes to do so. Marcus is quite suspicious about this, but

								   leaves anyway.


								   While Franklin completes the autopsy, finding a small, worm-like

								   creature in the dead man, the man and the woman seen earlier, with

								   Samuel, stand over the body of Duncan as yet another creature bores

								   its way into his back.


								   Franklin finishes studying the biomass, discovering that it is 100%

								   genetically neutral, meaning it can exist in any life form. He begins

								   working to discover if it came from the station itself, or if it was

								   brought there by someone else.


								   Marcus arrives back at the bazaar, trying to find Duncan, and is quite

								   perplexed when he is unable to do so. He speeks to another merchant,

								   who says that she saw Duncan earlier, but hasn't in a while.


								   Alone in C&C, Ivanova tells Corwin that, since he has been promoted,

								   it might be a good idea for them to talk and get to know each other

								   better. Though somewhat apprehensive, Corwin agrees, suggesting they

								   meet in the mess hall, but Ivanova suggests a more private venue: her

								   quarters. This startles him further, but he nonetheless agrees.


								   Marcus tries to explain to Garibaldi that the recent string of

								   disappearances might be a sign of a problem, but since no crime has

								   been committed, Garibaldi says there's nothing he can do. Marcus gets

								   angry at Garibaldi, claiming that he should look beyond protocol and

								   see what might be a serious problem, but this only angers Garibaldi

								   further. Garibaldi tells him that, if they are acting strangely, they

								   should speak to a doctor, but it isn't his jurisdiction. So, Marcus

								   speaks to Dr. Franklin who, at first agitated, eventually agrees to go

								   with him to investigate the problem.


								   Corwin approaches a flower vendor, and tries to explain his situation,

								   with some difficulty, since he isn't sure himself what the situation

								   is. Coming to the conclusion that he has a date with someone

								   aggressive, the flower vendor gives him a large bouquet of synthetic

								   roses, saying that no woman is ever offended by roses, except by their

								   absence. Corwin agrees, and pays 40 credits for them.


								   Franklin and Marcus go to Duncan's quarters, but despite their

								   incessant paging, he doesn't answer. Franklin reluctantly uses his

								   medical override to open the door, and Marcus rushes in, finding

								   something troubling inside. Franklin joins him, where they see that a

								   strange substance has eaten through one of the walls. Marcus goes

								   through the hole it created, and Franklin follows. It leads out into a

								   hall, where there is another man on the ground, with another creature

								   absorbing into his back. Franklin rushes to help him, but is stopped

								   and held at gunpoint by a group of those previously affected.


								   Franklin and Marcus, in a makeshift prison cell, talk about the

								   situation, while Franklin explains the parasitic being he examined. He

								   warns that they could take over the whole station, but Marcus doesn't

								   understand why the creatures would take over the lurkers rather than

								   the crew. Franklin tries to get some of the others to help the fallen

								   man, but they refuse to do anything. He tries to explain that the

								   creatures are controlling them, but they say nothing. Franklin asks if

								   they can understand him, and one of them explains that the man will

								   stay there until they are finished, saying that Franklin's safety may

								   be in jeopardy should he try to interfere. Franklin backs further into

								   the cell, telling Marcus that they need to escape, which might be

								   difficult, since two of their three captors have firearms. Marcus says

								   that all they need to do is to get one of them to leave, which will

								   even up the odds. Franklin doesn't understand this, but knows that,

								   since Marcus told Garibaldi of their plan, he will be there soon. It

								   turns out, however, that Marcus did in fact not inform him. They are

								   on their own.


								   Corwin arrives in Ivanova's quarters, bearing the bouquet of roses.

								   It's quickly clear she doesn't consider the meeting a date; desperate

								   to not look foolish he claims to have found the flowers lying outside.

								   She says that it is silly to spend money on high-priced synthetics,

								   but that she finds it romantic, and confides in him that she has a

								   weakness for roses. She thanks him for keeping them out of someone

								   else's hands, but definitely wants to find out who brought them to

								   her.


								   Duncan arrives at Franklin and Marcus's prison, and tries to explain

								   his situation, and how he was helped. He says that he was Duncan, but

								   is now part of another species, the Vindrizi, and warns Marcus that he

								   will hurt Marcus if he interferes. The part of him that was Duncan

								   doesn't want that to happen. Duncan invites them to view the process,

								   but all Franklin understands is that the Vindrizi seem to kill

								   everyone they inhabit. Duncan tells him that only certain humans are

								   suitable for a merger, and that the Vindrizi want only to save lives,

								   and that there is no other way.


								   Ivanova gives Corwin a cup of real coffee, which she grows in the

								   hydroponic gardens, counter to regulations. She explains that

								   sometimes you have to bend the rules to get what you want, and Corwin

								   agrees saying that, if it doesn't hurt anyone, or is good for Earth,

								   he has no complaints. She asks him what he does if his orders conflict

								   with what is good for Earth. Corwin tells her that everything will

								   fall apart if the chain of command isn't obeyed. He says that, if he

								   saw someone trying to gather officers to act against EarthDome, he

								   would report them, and asks if there is anyone she wants him to watch.

								   She says the question is merely hypothetical, asked only to learn

								   where everyone stands. She thanks him for coming, says good night to

								   him, and he leaves.


								   Still in their prison, Marcus asks Franklin about Ivanova, and if he

								   has done something to offend her. Franklin assures him that it just

								   takes her time to get to know someone, and that she hasn't adjusted to

								   him yet. Marcus says that he is looking forward to finding out more

								   about her. Franklin finds it funny that they are talking about this in

								   their situation. As Franklin begins to convince Marcus that he isn't

								   her type, several of the Vindrizi-inhabited lurkers arrive and take

								   Franklin away, saying that one of them is ill, and that they need his

								   medical expertise. They take him to a room where a lurker is on the

								   table, dying. Franklin tries to convince them that the only way to

								   save him is to remove the Vindrizi from him, but they will not accept

								   no for an answer saying that, should he not help, he will be directly

								   responsible for the man's death.


								   Marcus, alone in his prison, notices that the odds are now two against

								   one. With the odds even as he sees it, he convinces one of the guards

								   that a small device sitting on the table is actually a vital medical

								   device that Franklin needs. Marcus instructs him on the use the

								   device, which turns out to be his retracting pole; the guard knocks

								   himself out with it. Marcus is able to defeat the other guard easily,

								   and escapes his cell. He finds Franklin's hand link, and tries to use

								   it, but the computer won't let him, since he isn't Franklin. He grabs

								   his pole and runs off, while Ivanova, who detected the attempted use

								   of Franklin's link, sends security to brown 84 to find the culprit.


								   Marcus easily defeats a guard patrolling the hallway. He grabs the

								   guard's weapon, and quickly finds Franklin. He grabs Franklin away

								   from the Vindrizi. The Vindrizi try to convince Franklin to continue

								   helping the lurker, but Marcus decides to try to talk to them in order

								   to get away safely. When he tries to threaten the Vindrizi, he is

								   interrupted by Duncan, who begs him not to do what he's doing. Marcus

								   asks what sort of a life Duncan will have if he is forced to remain

								   merged with a creature. Duncan explains that he and the others weren't

								   taken over, but volunteered.


								   While Garibaldi and other security officers mobilize to search the

								   sector, Duncan explains that the Vindrizi were created over a hundred

								   thousand years ago to be living records of history, bearing evidence

								   of planets, cultures, and civilizations that will exist long after the

								   other races have died and all other knowledge has been destroyed or

								   forgotten. The only way the Vindrizi can survive is to take over the

								   bodies of other races. They choose those near death, so that they may

								   have new life and a purpose, which they may not have had before.

								   Marcus says that he doesn't trust the Duncan he sees now -- only the

								   one he knew. As if by request, the Vindrizi inside Duncan thrusts its

								   way out of him and scurries away. Duncan explains that his life,

								   before the Vindrizi, was destined to be completed in Downbelow, but,

								   when merged, he saw and knew things that he had never dreamed of

								   before. After the explanation, Franklin agrees to help the Vindrizi,

								   but only if he can be assured that he can approve all volunteers, and

								   that they all agree to it beforehand. The Vindrizi agree, and Franklin

								   calls Garibaldi, informing him of his location, and ordering a medical

								   team. Marcus tries to apologize to Duncan, but it does no good. Duncan

								   is sad at all he has lost, but apparently bears no ill will.


								   Ivanova approaches Sheridan in C&C. Sheridan indicates toward Corwin,

								   without saying a word, as if asking what her analysis of his potential

								   was. She shakes her head, and they both look away sadly.


								   Marcus catches up with Duncan in the docking bay, just as he is about

								   to leave. Marcus tries to convince him not to, but Duncan insists he

								   must. In the time while he was inhabited by the Vindrizi, he learned

								   that he was special, and he wants to go out and find things that might

								   make him feel that way again. Marcus again apologizes, but Duncan says

								   that he realizes he did what he did only because he cared, and tells

								   Marcus that he realizes that maybe everyone should become special

								   before it's too late. Duncan tells Marcus that maybe, when he finds

								   what he's looking for, he'll return. Duncan boards his ship, leaving

								   Marcus alone.


								   Back in Earheart's, Franklin explains that so far, everything the

								   Vindrizi told him is the truth. Garibaldi asks what Franklin thinks of

								   Marcus; Franklin says Marcus did a good job, and tells Ivanova that

								   Marcus might appreciate a second chance with her. "That's it," she

								   says to herself. "He must have sent them!" She quickly excuses herself

								   and rushes out.


								   Bearing the bouquet of synthetic roses, she marches forcefully through

								   the station, finally arriving at a table where Marcus is eating. She

								   thrusts the roses down on the table in front of him, haltingly

								   ordering him to "Keep 'em," before marching away again.


								   "Thank you," he calls after her. "I will!" He picks up the bouquet

								   admiringly. "Well, I guess there's hope for us after all!"


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								      [15]Last update: February 24, 1996


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