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								  Synopsis by Matthew Murray (n9641343@cc.wwu.edu)


								   Z Minus 7 Days


								   Delenn appeals to the League of Non-Aligned Worlds to assist the Army

								   of Light in the war against the Shadows. The League, however, is not

								   inclined to join them, without knowing what they are getting into.

								   Lennier urges them to trust Delenn, but they aren't sure, and even

								   though Delenn believes many of her previous actions should have earned

								   their trust, none of them are sure they want to weaken their own

								   defenses. Delenn promises that she will work to keep the other ships

								   as safe as possible, using as many ships as she can spare. She reminds

								   them that their time is short.


								   Sheridan, addressing the War Council, explains that he believes the

								   Shadows are trying to lure everyone into one place, sector 83, in

								   order to attack them all at once. One ship, the White Star, will be

								   sent there to inform the fleet when the Shadows arrive. Sheridan

								   orders Ivanova and Marcus not to engage the Shadows without further

								   orders. He warns them both that, even if everything goes as planned,

								   they can hope for little more than a fifty percent chance of success.


								   Delenn returns to the council chamber to find the entire League of

								   Non-Aligned worlds gone, except for the Drazi ambassador. He explains

								   that the others went to speak with their governments, and that the

								   other ambassadors have agreed to commit their ships. He hopes she's

								   right about her plan, as it will cost them all greatly otherwise.


								   Ivanova and Marcus prepare to leave in the White Star, and the only

								   further advice Sheridan has for them is an old Egyptian blessing. As

								   the White Star begins the journey to sector 83, Marcus asks Ivanova

								   what the captain meant by the blessing. "May God stand between you and

								   harm in all the empty places you must walk," explains Ivanova.


								   As Garibaldi walks down the corridor, he is met up by Zack on his way

								   to lunch. Garibaldi doesn't care to join him, since he is still more

								   than a little concerned about Dr. Franklin, who is still on Walkabout.

								   Zack doubts Franklin's choice, and Garibaldi agrees that it may be an

								   immature course. Zack tries to convince Garibaldi that he did

								   everything he could to help, but Garibaldi is not so sure; perhaps he

								   tried to help Franklin in the wrong way. Even though he knows it's too

								   late to help further, he hopes Dr. Franklin will find what he's

								   looking for--himself.


								   [INLINE] In a crowded marketplace in Downbelow, a family of visitors

								   to Babylon 5 tentatively makes their way, the mother not able to

								   understand its appeal. She insists she heard the sqalid conditions are

								   due to Babylon 5's secession from Earth, though her husband disagrees.

								   While they argue, their daughter loses her ball, which is caught by

								   Dr. Franklin, lurking amongst the crowd. Though all he does is return

								   it to her and try to make her smile, the mother is vary wary and pulls

								   her away.


								   Z Minus 6 Days


								   Ivanova enters the White Star's sleeping chambers and awakens Marcus,

								   who is quick to run a check on the weapon systems. Ivanova observes

								   that Marcus is fluent in Minbari, and Marcus explains that part of his

								   training as a Ranger was to learn to be able to speak and think in a

								   Minbari tongue, and that, to the Minbari, it is as important as

								   fighting prowess. He offers to teach Ivanova, who politely refuses.

								   Though she does relent a little, she is intrigued by some words he

								   speeks to her: "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met," though

								   she can't understand the Minbari tongue he speaks them in. He tells

								   her it is a greeting that means, "My words are inadequate to the

								   burden of my heart." She finds the saying unusual, but is anxious to

								   get to bed, though sleeping on the diagonal bed proves less than easy

								   for her. Marcus pesters her a little more but eventually leaves,

								   leaving Ivanova to attempt to rest. However, she has very little

								   success.


								   Sheridan is in his quarters charging up his PPG when Delenn enters

								   with a progress report on the fleet. She explains that, as difficult

								   as forming the fleet was, keeping it at full strength will be even

								   harder. Sheridan tells Delenn he wishes she would stay behind during

								   the battle, what with everyone else being tied up, but she insists it

								   is important for her to go and that, when she returns, they will spend

								   the night together. Delenn explains to Sheridan, who misinterprets her

								   remark, that "when Minbari become close as we have become close, it is

								   tradition that they spend three nights together. The male sleeps, the

								   female watches." This confuses Sheridan until Delenn explains that

								   Minbari believe one's true face is only revealed during their sleep,

								   when they have no need to put on a different one for the people they

								   meet during the day. If the female likes what she sees, the ritual

								   continues. Delenn insists to Sheridan that she already does, and he

								   needn't worry about the lofty consequences, should that not happen.

								   "History awaits," she tells him as she leaves.


								   [INLINE] As Franklin is exploring some of the dark environs of

								   Downbelow, he witnesses two thugs savagely beating up on a man.

								   Franklin tries to come to the man's assistance, but a vicious battle

								   between Franklin and the assailants ensues, leaving Franklin bleeding

								   profusely. The man he tried to save was dealing drugs and refuses to

								   help for fear of being caught. Some time later, Franklin is still

								   alone, despite his frantic shouting and attempts making progress out

								   of the secluded alcove in which he's trapped.


								   [INLINE] Ivanova discovers the solution to sleeping on the White Star

								   -- removing the pillows from each of the beds, and making a bed from

								   them -- just as Marcus calls her to tell her that she's needed on the

								   bridge. When she arrives, he shows her that a small ship, made of the

								   same material as Shadow vessels, has appeared. It seems to be some

								   sort of a scout ship, but the White Star has little time to spare --

								   they can't move without their energy signature being picked up, and

								   since the planet they are hiding behind is about to come out of

								   eclipse, they are going to be seen very soon. The sun appears, and the

								   White Star is revealed to the scout ship. It sees them and begins to

								   send out a warning signal, but Ivanova orders Marcus to jam it before

								   it can warn the Shadows.


								   Delenn, Sheridan, and Lennier, aboard the command ship of the fleet,

								   prepare for the battle. The telepaths are safe, and the other White

								   Star ships are on their way. Delenn is very worried about Ivanova, but

								   Sheridan insists she will be fine. Delenn leads Sheridan to the place

								   where he will lead the battle--a chamber much like that in which the

								   Grey Council met. Delenn tells him that he will be able to keep track

								   of the battle. Sheridan doesn't understand how, but Delenn promises

								   him he will when the time comes.


								   [INLINE] Franklin, still bleeding and weaker than before, continues to

								   cry out for help, but to no avail. He mutters to himself about how

								   stupid what he's done is, and another voice from nearby agrees with

								   him. He looks up to see a healthy, clean-cut version of himself

								   standing nearby, agreeing. "You said you had to keep walking until you

								   met yourself. Well, here I am. So, if we're gonna talk, let's talk.

								   Only, I don't think you have enough time."


								   The Shadow scout ship fires upon the White Star, but does no damage.

								   Ivanova is determined to prevent the Shadow vessel from getting out of

								   jamming range, and she prepares to fire. She returns fire on the

								   vessel, and does some damage, but angers it greatly -- the ship moves

								   to ram them, delivering a glancing blow that takes the White Star's

								   jump engines offline. Marcus detects an energy surge several thousand

								   kilometers away, and he puts it up on the view screen. Dozens of

								   full-sized Shadow vessels begin appearing. Without the jump engines

								   on-line, the White Star is in trouble. They know that they have no

								   chance of escape, so they signal their fleet.


								   As the Minbari fleet moves to assist the White Star, and the Shadow

								   vessels continue to move closer, Dr. Franklin continues his

								   conversation with himself, who tells him that he has spent his whole

								   life running away from his father, his future, his life, and his work.

								   The other Franklin is upset at the wounded Franklin, who, when he

								   finally had everything he needed including a good job and people that

								   cared about him, just gave it up and ran away. He is also less than

								   happy that Franklin won't stop dying long enough to answer his

								   charges. He tells Franklin he doesn't care if he dies, as the two of

								   them parted ways a long time ago.


								   [INLINE] As the White Star's jump engines begin to come back on-line,

								   Marcus determines that a Shadow vessel has detected the White Star,

								   and is moving to intercept. As it comes closer, a jump point opens,

								   and numerous ships emerge -- including the White Star fleet, Minbari

								   heavy cruisers, and the ships of the League of Non-Aligned worlds. As

								   Sheridan watches in the command room of the lead Minbari ship, a

								   circular viewscreen descends around him and Delenn, and he dispenses

								   his orders to the fleet. The battle begins.


								   "Blood pressure's dropping fast," Franklin says, taunting his wounded

								   alter ego. He asks Franklin what he has to live for, and what he could

								   possibly want, since he threw it all away the first time. Franklin

								   insists he wants to do it all over again, and begins to regain his

								   determination. He begins to move, and pull himself up the ladder that

								   leads out of his prison. With his healthy self taunting him all the

								   way, and despite his wounded condition, Franklin is eventually able to

								   get out. With great difficulty, he makes his way through the station,

								   until he finally arrives in a Downbelow market area, where he is

								   dragged away by security personnel.


								   The battle rages on, with all of the ships, Shadow and non-Shadow

								   alike, taking heavy damage. However, despite the Shadows' superior

								   numbers, Sheridan's battle expertise and the large number of telepaths

								   at his disposal manage to help keep the Shadow ships at bay, if only a

								   little. The battle comes to its conclusion, and despite heavy losses

								   on all sides, the Shadows, realizing what they are up against,

								   eventually retreat, leaving a massive graveyard of ships behind. As

								   they stand amidst the remains of their fleet, Sheridan and Delenn

								   embrace, knowing they have, for now at least, triumphed.


								   Franklin, on a gurney, is taken back to Medlab as the remants of the

								   fleet and the numerous casualties therefrom are returned to the

								   station. Garibaldi asks Sheridan, once he is back in the docking bay,

								   how the battle went, to which Sheridan replies that it went okay, but

								   not great. Two of their ships were destroyed for every one of the

								   Shadow ships that were taken out, and Marcus reminds them that this

								   time they had the advantage -- they knew where the Shadows were going

								   to strike. Next time they won't be so lucky. But Ivanova is still

								   impressed -- they were able to unite with the League of Non-Aligned

								   Worlds against the Shadows.


								   "So here's the big question," Garibaldi says. "Now that we've shown

								   them we can hurt them, how long until they come knocking at our front

								   door?"


								   "That's what worries me," Sheridan says as he and Delenn leave.


								   Z Minus 4 Days


								   Garibaldi goes to visit Franklin, being treated for his wounds in

								   Medlab. Franklin finally regains consciousness, and Garibaldi tells

								   him that he is disappointed -- he lost 30 credits in a bet because of

								   it. Franklin, though still in great pain, is willing to admit that he

								   found what he needed -- a short, sharp kick to the head, which

								   Garibaldi says he would have been only too happy to provide. Franklin

								   also says that, when he found himself, he didn't like the person he

								   met too much. Garibaldi gets ready to leave, but reminds Franklin

								   before he goes never to do something like this again -- he can't

								   afford to lose another 30 credits.


								   In Hyperspace, a Shadow vessel is travelling, but it stops for a

								   moment, and something emerges from it -- a ship. It flies off quickly

								   in an opposite direction from the Shadow vessel.


								   Sheridan tells everyone that, though they did everything they could,

								   they took a big loss, and that it is only a matter of time until the

								   Shadows come looking for them. Sheridan wants to know how and when,

								   but Delenn suggests that they may be reluctant to do so, and with the

								   weapon on Epsilon 3 at their disposal, they may be foolish to try.

								   Ivanova doesn't understand why, when the Shadows could have attacked

								   at any time during the past year, they waited so long to attack now?

								   As Sheridan ponders this, he remembers part of his dream from long ago

								   -- something he's been doing ever since Kosh died.


								   Ivanova, with a large raven on her shoulder, asks Sheridan, "Do you

								   know who I am?"


								   Sheridan explains that, not too long after he had the dream, Ivanova

								   revealed that she was a latent telepath, and that she said she

								   sometimes didn't know who she was. Ivanova doesn't know how Kosh knew

								   that, but that the image does fit. He explains further that the dream

								   showed him wearing the uniform of a PsiCop, and Ivanova realizes that

								   that foreshadowed their siding with Bester. Sheridan further explains

								   he had an image of Garibaldi, with a dove on his shoulder.


								   "The man in between is searching for you."


								   Ivanova surmises that that could refer to Sinclair, but Sheridan is

								   unsure, feeling that there must be another explanation. He moves on to

								   the next part of his dream -- Ivanova, dressed in a black veil.


								   "You are the hand."


								   Ivanova doesn't understand why she would say anything that sounded so

								   strange, but Delenn explains that Sheridan has two hands, both equal,

								   but opposite, and that it is possible that is the "man in between" to

								   which Sheridan's dream was referring -- Sheridan's equal and opposite.

								   The final part of Sheridan's dream -- his looking up and seeing

								   himself -- seems to support that theory as well. Sheridan orders that

								   all of Babylon 5's squadrons be on flybys, since sooner or later,

								   trouble will find them. And he expects it to be sooner.


								   Before long, Franklin is back up and around, advising those beneath

								   him in Medlab. Though he is confined to a wheelchair, he can still do

								   what he does best: give orders. Sheridan comes into Medlab and tells

								   Franklin that his job is waiting for him, should he still want it.

								   Franklin doesn't have to hesitate very long before saying yes.

								   Sheridan asks him if he is sure, but Franklin knows he is. Franklin

								   tells Sheridan that he used the stims to do more, when what he needed

								   was to do better, and he knows that he ran away when he quit to avoid

								   being fired. He explains that he has, for his entire life, looked at

								   himself in terms of what he wasn't, but never what he was, and that he

								   missed a lot of important things because of it. He knows he can't go

								   back and undo his past mistakes, but can appreciate what he has now,

								   and he can define himself by what he is and not what he isn't.

								   Sheridan asks what that is. "I'm alive," Franklin tells him.

								   "Everything else is negotiable." Sheridan's commlink beeps, and he

								   answers it. It is an officer telling Sheridan that Delenn is awaiting

								   him. Sheridan leaves, and as he goes, Franklin continues his advising.


								   Later that evening, as another visitor arrives on the station,

								   Sheridan is in his quarters, asleep, while Delenn watches him

								   silently. Ivanova, however, is having trouble sleeping. Zack

								   interrupts her, telling her there is someone new onboard the station,

								   that he considers very important, and that concerns the captain. As

								   Sheridan sleeps, Delenn gets up from his beside and moves out to the

								   front room, where she finds a snow globe. She picks it up, turns it

								   over, and watches the falling flakes silently. The door to Sheridan's

								   quarters burst open, and a shadow appears in the doorway. What she

								   sees is enough to cause her to lose her hold on the snow globe, which

								   falls to the ground and shatters.


								   [INLINE] "Hello," the figure, a woman, says as she appears in the

								   doorway. "You must be Delenn. I'm Anna Sheridan. John's wife."


								   Z Minus 2 Days


								   [14][Next]


								      [15]Last update: December 22, 1996


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