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


								   Sheridan is in his office when Ivanova arrives. He tells her that he

								   has been looking over his records and isn't sure how they will survive

								   when they begin running out of supplies, since even the black market

								   is unreliable. Ivanova tells him she will take care of the situation

								   for him, then says she is relieving him of command, since he has taken

								   no personal time in the previous nine months. He attempts to argue

								   with her, but she won't hear it, nor will she hear his attempts at

								   retaining command. Resigned, he leaves her alone with her work.


								   Franklin and Marcus, on the transport to Mars, are trying to pass the

								   time by playing I Spy which, since there are very few things of note

								   in the cargo hold, isn't going very well. Marcus disappears and

								   reappears a few moments later, carrying a man in a neck-lock. "It

								   would appear we have a spy on our hands, Stephen."


								   Franklin wants to know where the man came from, and he tells him and

								   Marcus that he got in through an access panel, which Marcus knew to

								   locked. The man says the Captain of the ship is his brother, and that

								   he helped him get through. Franklin wants to know why the Captain

								   didn't tell them, but the man says the Captain must have forgotten--

								   he gets forgotten a lot. When Marcus releases him, the man introduces

								   himself as John Demeter, commonly called Captain Jack. Marcus and

								   Franklin won't tell him who they are, but tell him that if he goes too

								   far into their section of the cargo bay, he'll pay the price. Captain

								   Jack says he won't push himself on them, and says that he was going to

								   offer to share his dinner with them, but Marcus won't have it-- they

								   have their own dinner: meal bars. Captain Jack, however, has something

								   much more appetizing: Insta-Eats. Franklin is attracted to the smell

								   of meat and potatoes coming from the small packet, but Marcus keeps

								   him from partaking, reminding him that they are to speak with no one

								   other than their contact.


								   Sheridan is in his office/quarters trying to enjoy his vacation, but

								   finds it difficult since every channel and station coming onto Babylon

								   5 has been blocked due to jamming, except ISN. Sheridan reluctantly

								   listens to it, only to find a replay of Garibaldi's interview with Dan

								   Randall. After rewatching it, Sheridan turns it off.


								   Sheridan approahces Garibaldi in Downbelow, and tries to talk to him

								   about the interview. Garibaldi no longer works for Sheridan, though,

								   so he isn't willing to talk-- he thinks Sheridan is upset because he's

								   challenging the Captain's authority. Sheridan considers it undermining

								   instead, but Garibaldi insists he is entitled to his opinion, and

								   thought free speech was something Sheridan was fighting for. Sheridan

								   wants to know where Garibaldi's anger is coming from-- he thought they

								   were friends, but Garibaldi tells him, "Yeah, well, maybe we both

								   thought wrong." Sheridan doesn't want Garibaldi to give Clark's

								   propaganda weight, and tells Garibaldi he's hurting the station and

								   the cause when he speaks out. Garibaldi starts to leave to meet with a

								   client, and tells Sheridan to go back to playing God. Sheridan follows

								   and reminds Garibaldi that his former job gives him credibility, which

								   he is using to undermine Sheridan's effort, and that, if Garibaldi

								   doesn't stop, he will make things very difficult for Garibaldi.

								   Sheridan tells Garibaldi to make a legitimate complaint if he has one,

								   but, if it's a personal attack, to stop. Garibaldi says he didn't make

								   it personal-- it was Sheridan who did so, as the focal point of a cult

								   of personality. The people are following Sheridan, not the cause.

								   Garibaldi feels Sheridan is starting to buy into his own publicity,

								   and Garibaldi says it's time someone started poking holes in that.

								   Sheridan tells Garibaldi that he doesn't want Garibaldi misusing his

								   authority, and hurting everyone else just to get at him. He storms

								   away, leaving Garibaldi behind. Among the many people in Downbelow who

								   witnessed this heated exchange, there is one particular group of three

								   men, near the back of the crowd, who seem particularly interested.


								   Franklin and Marcus are eating their meal bars, while Captain Jack

								   continues to enjoy his own fine cuisine, which Franklin is not too

								   happy about. Marcus reminds him that they aren't supposed to talk with

								   anyone until they hear their contact's passphrase, which Captain Jack

								   begins speaking to himself. Captain Jack explains that he wanted to

								   check them out first, and then offers them some of his food. He hands

								   Marcus and Franklin their new identicards, and explains that, since

								   they get very few passengers, their access to the transit bureau is

								   limited to what they could steal--in this case, Jim Fennermen and

								   Daniel Lane, on their way to Mars--for their honeymoon. Neither Marcus

								   nor Franklin is thrilled by this, but they resolve to make the best of

								   it as the transport approaches Mars.


								   Garibaldi is approached in the corridor by the three men who watched

								   his exchange in Downblow. One of them, the older of the three, tells

								   him they wanted to talk to him about his "former friend, Captain

								   Sheridan." The man explains that there are other people who share

								   Garibaldi's feelings about Sheridan, who aren't thrilled with Sheridan

								   turning against Earth. The man says he wanted to see what else they

								   had in common. He explains that he has extensive information on

								   Garibaldi, and wants to know if his objections are only half-hearted.

								   Garibaldi tells him he can wonder whatever he wants, and begins to

								   walk away, but the man stops him, saying that someone can become a

								   threat to a cause he believes in when other things, his ego or sense

								   of destiny, for instance, get in the way. If this applies to Sheridan,

								   he asks Garibaldi if he would feel obligated to intervene. Garibaldi

								   says he won't sell Sheridan out, but the man asks if Garibaldi really

								   can just stand by and watch the cause die, if he could have done

								   something to stop it. Without answering, Garibaldi walks away.


								   While riding in a transport tube, Captain Jack explains that they have

								   been hearing some interesting stories about Babylon 5 on Mars

								   recently--such as the Babylon 5 crew using aliens to take everything

								   over, or that they had written off Mars entirely. Marcus assures him

								   that Captain Sheridan hadn't had time to deal with it while dealing

								   with the Shadow War--something Captain Jack knew nothing about. They

								   don't get much information on Mars, he explains, but Marcus is not

								   thrilled about having fought in a war about which the very people they

								   wanted to help knew nothing. Captain Jack doesn't even know who won

								   the war. Marcus jokes that the worst part of it all is being married

								   to Franklin, are married, and though Franklin objects, he is subjected

								   to several more well-spirited jabs as the transport tube pulls into

								   the station.


								   Ivanova is in Sheridan's office, talking to four smugglers, each of

								   whom had, at one time or another, been caught on Babylon 5. She says

								   they were doing their job, and that, with the new conflict with Earth,

								   they hardly seen any of them anymore. One of the smugglers explains

								   it's becuase the penalties have become so much stiffer now--they are

								   in serious trouble with the EarthAlliance, and no one is buying new

								   weapons. Ivanova informs them that, in such a case, they should start

								   thinking about the future. She wants them to help bring in needed

								   supplies--food, medicines, spare parts--to Babylon 5. The smugglers

								   protest--there is no profit in bringing in those things. Ivanova tells

								   them, that, as long as they work for Babylon 5, they will get all the

								   equipment, repairs, and service they require to stay in operation,

								   but, if they don't, they might fall victim to unfortunate accidents.

								   They will all still make a profit, but, beyond that, Babylon 5 will be

								   willing to overlook their crimes against EarthGov, since everyone is

								   entitled to a fresh start. She asks them, with all they'll gain, what

								   more they could ask for. One of them, as he leaves, asks her, "You

								   seeing anybody, Ivanova?"


								   Franklin, Marcus, and Captain Jack are making their ways through some

								   underground tunnels, to find the leaders of the Resistance. After a

								   short walk, they get where they are going, but find a welcome they

								   didn't expect--three armed men with weapons aimed right at them. The

								   leader tells tell them get up against the wall, but Franklin wants to

								   know what's going on--he thought they were expected. The leader

								   explains that they're expecting lots of people. He thanks Captain Jack

								   for bringing Franklin and Marcus to them. One of the men searches

								   Marcus and finds his Minbari pike. Marcus tries to explain that he's a

								   Ranger, which doesn't mean anything to the leader. The three men with

								   guns and Captain Jack lead Franklin and Marcus away. Franklin demands

								   to talk to someone in charge, and the leader says he's Number 2.

								   Marcus asks to speak to Number One, but the leader tells them they

								   have word that a hit squad was coming into kill the leader of the Mars

								   Resistance, from one of the outer sectors, and he has no reason to

								   believe Franklin and Marcus aren't that hit squad. The leader says he

								   only trusts the people he knows, and since he doesn't know Marcus and

								   Franklin, and they weren't specifically cleared through by Babylon 5,

								   he wants to test them first. He wants their identicards so they can

								   check Marcus and Franklin's story. If they are who they say they are,

								   they will talk. If not, they will be leaving "feet first." Marcus and

								   Franklin surrender their identicards, which Number Two takes. Captain

								   Jack asks to pay his regards to Number One, but Number Two wants him

								   to stay behind to comfort them, and to take blood samples so they can

								   match it against their DNA samples. Captain Jack and the two gunmen

								   stand behind to watch over Franklin and Marcus.


								   Delenn enters the garden to find Sheridan there, obviously distracted.

								   He explains that he's mad at himself over the way his talk with

								   Garibaldi turned out. He says Garibaldi is like a complete stranger,

								   and that he feels like he's better at fighting wars than

								   relationships. Sheridan says he wishes he could find a way to turn

								   things around, but Delenn explains that Garibaldi has to find his own

								   way, as does Sheridan--their paths may simply not cross anymore. "It

								   is the way of things." Sheridan tells her it doesn't make it any

								   easier, but he asks her what she wanted. Delenn tells him that Ivanova

								   told her that he had some time off, and she begins to tell him of

								   another ritual they must perform in their relationship. He tells her

								   he's almost "ritualed out" and asks how many more there are. She says

								   there are as many as 50 more, and explains that this one--the

								   shan'fall--is about preparation and mutal understanding. She tells him

								   that they will spend the night together, discovering each other's

								   centers of pleasure, though it is done respectfully, with prayer and

								   meditation, since they should know all about each other if they are to

								   continue with their relationship. She tells him to meet her in her

								   quarters, and leaves. Sheridan is obviously quite taken with the idea.


								   As Marcus and Franklin wait for word from Number Two, Captain Jack

								   tries to apologize to Franklin for what happened, but Franklin isn't

								   interested in listening. Cpatain Jack pulls a picture out of his

								   pocket and shows it to Franklin--it's his daughter, who just turned

								   eighteen. He hasn't talked to her in a while, but thinks about her all

								   the time, and is doing what he's doing to help her. Franklin notices

								   her address on the back, which Captain Jack claims he wrote down so he

								   couldn't forget it. Marcus asks Captain Jack if he's ever met Number

								   One, and Captain Jack says he's met her many times, and that they're

								   very close--Captain Jack says he wanted to bring her back something,

								   but couldn't find anything. They are interrupted by Number Two who has

								   done his check--and the numbers and DNA don't match. He wants to know

								   where their contacts are, and then threatens to kill them both. He is

								   stopped, though, by a woman who comes in from the corridor, telling

								   Number Two to wait a little longer. She explains she wanted to see

								   them for herself, and she wants to know what they're up to. Franklin

								   and Marcus notice something on Captain Jack's back, and fight away

								   their guards as Captain Jack attempts to fire on the woman, Number

								   One. Franklin tackles her to the ground, moving her out of the line of

								   fire just as Captain Jack fires. Marcus fires himself, and hits the

								   creature on Captain Jack's back. The dead creature is still there, but

								   Captain Jack is nowhere to be found.


								   As Franklin studies the creature, Number Two comes in, explaining that

								   he found their real identicards--Captain Jack must have replaced them

								   with the fake ones. Franklin might have an explanation--Captain Jack

								   might not have had a choice. The creature was controlling Captain Jack

								   by overriding neural impulses. It was controlling him the whole time,

								   but Franklin realizes that Captain Jack had been giving him hints,

								   such as the photograph with his daughter's address, so that they knew

								   where to find her if he didn't survive. One of the scouts comes

								   back--they didn't find Captain Jack, but they did find out he broke

								   into a weapons case and stole a thermal grenade.


								   In the transport tube, Captain Jack's communicator beeps. He answers

								   it, and Number One tells him that what happened wasn't his fault. She

								   wants him to come back, but he won't do it. He tells her they found

								   him in the middle of the night and attached that thing to him. He

								   tried to warn them, but the creature wouldn't let him. She tells him

								   that they killed it, but Jack knows you can't kill it all--it always

								   grows back. Number One tries to convince him not to do anything

								   stupid. Captain Jack tells her he always wondered whether or not the

								   transport tubes on Mars could withstand anything, and just as the

								   creature begins to regrow, Captain Jack pushes a button on the

								   grenade, and the transport car explodes, taking Captain Jack with it,

								   not destroying the tube in the process.


								   Garibaldi is just finishing up with a client when Sheridan returns.

								   Sheridan says he wants to apologize for what happened, and asks if

								   they could try again. As he is speaking, though, a Brakiri woman comes

								   up to him and recognizes him as the one who went to Z'ha'dum, died,

								   and returned with the knowledge of good and evil. Sheridan tries to

								   stop her, but she insists on a blessing, which Sheridan doesn't want

								   to provide. Garibaldi grabs her away from him. "Come on! He's not the

								   Pope! He doesn't look anything like her," Garibaldi tells her.

								   Sheridan asks Garibaldi to leave her alone, and Garibaldi asks

								   Sheridan if it's because he likes what she's saying. Sheridan insists

								   it's because Garibaldi is hurting her, but Garibaldi won't let go.

								   Sheridan forces Garibaldi to let go of her, but for his attempt

								   receives a punch directly to the jaw, courtesy of Garibaldi. Security

								   comes to the rescue, but Sheridan won't let them do anything. He tells

								   Garibaldi that, because of all they've been through, he gets one punch

								   for free, but, should Garibaldi try it again, Sheridan will fight

								   back. Sheridan turns and walks away, as does Garibaldi soon after.


								   Sheridan goes to Delenn's quarters, still rubbing his jaw, and rings

								   the bell. Delenn lets him in, but when he enters, he is surprised to

								   find Delenn isn't alone--Lennier and several other religious caste

								   Minbari are there with him. She explains that they are there for the

								   ritual--they will pray and meditate, but wait outside her bedroom, to

								   make sure that things don't go too far. Sheridan whispers to her that

								   he can't do it, but she tells him that it is important to her that he

								   do it properly. The engagement means a lot to him, and the Minbari

								   ceremonies mean a lot to her. Delenn leads Sheridan into her bedroom

								   and closes the door.


								   Sheridan, apparently just after having woken up, enters an elevator to

								   find Lennier there. Sheridan doesn't say anything, but he doesn't need

								   to. Lennier, apparently somewhat distrought, turns to him and has only

								   one thing to say. "Whoo-hoo?"


								   Number One tells Franklin and Marcus that the other leaders of the

								   Resistance are on their way, but it will take a couple of days. Marcus

								   isn't too happy about this, but Number One is willing to put them up

								   in a hotel where she has some control. She asks them to go out to

								   dinner with her, but Marcus declines, allowing Franklin to go alone

								   with her. Before they leave, Marcus asks her where they are staying.

								   She tells him it's the Red Planet Hotel, and mentions that, for some

								   reason, they were given the honeymoon suite. "Right. Fine," Marcus

								   says as they leave. "I'll remind you of this when we decide on custody

								   of the children."


								   Garibaldi is sitting alone when he is approached by Wade and his

								   cohorts. Wade tells Garibaldi that he heard about the fight with

								   Sheridan. "I, uh... I think he's lost it," Garibaldi tells them. "He's

								   starting to believe the things everybody's been saying about him, and

								   buying into this hero worship stuff. It's become about him. Not what

								   we've been saying, not what we've been fighting for. And if he could

								   see straight, he'd agree with me, but uh... In the end... We're going

								   to lose everything we've been working for because of one man."


								   "That's what happens," Wade tells him. "That's exactly what happens

								   when one man begins to matter more than the cause. Are you with us?"


								   "I won't hurt him," Garibaldi insists.


								   "No one's asking you to," Wade says. "You give him to us when we tell

								   you to. We'll see to it that he gets the help that he needs. Are you

								   with us?"


								   Garibaldi does have to think for a moment, but does come to a

								   decision. "I'm with you."


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								      [15]Last update: August 23, 1997


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