brennen
/
lurkers-guide



								<p>

								<p>  Talia Winters runs into Ambassador Kosh, who wants to use her

								telepathic services in an important, upcoming negotiation.  She

								seems reluctant at first, but Kosh assures her that all

								arrangements--including legal clearances and payment--have already been

								arranged.  He instructs her to meet him in Red 3 at the "Hour of

								Scampering."

								<p>  Na'Toth, who is waiting at the docking bay for a

								ship to arrive, suddenly notices a certain woman come on board B5.

								Na'Toth is suddenly seized with rage and runs across the room,

								shouting, "Deathwalker."  She attacks the woman who has just come

								aboard, hitting her viciously until the security guards can stop

								her.

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/natoth-attack.gif">

								Na'Toth attacks.

								<p>  After Na'Toth is successfully detained, Sinclair is informed

								of the situation.  He asks Garibaldi who the victim is; Garibaldi

								explains that the woman came from Minbari space in a Minbari ship,

								in Minbari clothes, and with Minbari identification--but that she

								certainly isn't a Minbari.  When Garibaldi mentions that Na'Toth

								was yelling, "Deathwalker," during the attack, Sinclair's curiosity

								is piqued--both Sinclair and Garibaldi indicate that they are

								familiar with that name.

								<p>  Sinclair and Garibaldi go to question Na'Toth.  She explains

								that her family has taken a blood oath against the "Deathwalker."

								She took the blood oath after the Dilgar, Deathwalker's race,

								invaded a planet on which Na'Toth's grandfather lived.  Deathwalker,

								explains Na'Toth, used her grandfather and the other people on

								the planet in her experiments.  Everyone died, except Na'Toth's

								grandfather, who escaped--but only after having a machine--which

								slowly killed him--implanted in his brain.  Sinclair, however, does

								not believe that the woman who just came on board was Deathwalker,

								simply because the Dilgar invasion that Na'Toth mentioned occurred

								thirty years ago, and Deathwalker would be an old woman by now.

								Na'Toth explains that her senses would never fail her when it comes

								to identifying someone against whom she's taken a blood oath.

								Sinclair, still skeptical, orders Garibaldi to examine the contents

								of the injured woman's ship.

								<p>  When G'Kar arrives, he apologizes for the attack upon the

								victim and offers personally to make reparations to her.  Angrily

								staring at Na'Toth, he requests that his attache be released into

								his custody.  Though Sinclair refuses to release custody of

								Na'Toth, he does agree place her under house arrest, and allows her

								to be taken to G'Kar's quarters.  G'Kar thanks Sinclair and leaves.

								<p>  Winters, meanwhile, meets with Kosh again and agrees to work

								for him at the negotiations that he mentioned before--she comments

								that the clearances were indeed arranged and that the pay was very

								generous.  However, she explains that there is still something she

								doesn't understand.  Kosh interrupts her and merely says, "Understanding

								is a three-edged sword."  Soon, a man named Abbut arrives;

								he greets Kosh cordially and comments, "Oh, Kosh, you old dog!  You

								didn't tell me you were bringing a date!"  Talia explains that she

								is only a commercial telepath, who will be sitting in on the

								negotiations.  Kosh orders Talia to scan Abbut and to report on his

								thoughts.  She scans the man, but comments that he has no

								thoughts--his mind seems completely empty.  Kosh is pleased, and

								says that they can now proceed.  Kosh and Abbut begin to utter

								cryptic phrases to one another.

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/meeting.gif">

								Abbut, Winters, and Kosh meet.

								<p>  In the Med Lab, one of the doctors tells Franklin that the

								vital signs of the victim have stabilized but that the victim's

								species is still unknown.  Sinclair arrives, and Franklin explains

								to him that the victim is in surprisingly good shape, considering

								her injuries.  Her body is healing itself quite quickly, and

								Franklin wishes he knew what species she was.  Sinclair explains

								that the victim is a Dilgar, but Franklin doesn't believe him--Franklin

								notes that the Dilgar is a dead race, that after the

								invasion, the few Dilgar who were left were killed when the Dilgar

								sun went nova.  Sinclair calls up a reference file on "Deathwalker"--the

								computer informs them that "Deathwalker" is a name

								used to refer to Warmaster Jha'dur, "the most infamous leader of

								the Dilgar invasion of the non-aligned sectors in 2230....

								Specialist in biochemical, biogenetic, and cyber-organic weaponry."

								The picture that the computer displays looks like the present

								victim, though Franklin comments that the victim is too young to be

								that same Jha'dur and too old to be her daughter.  He even searches

								for signs of cryonic freezing, but the computer scan does not turn

								up any relevant evidence.  Franklin notes that he will have the Med

								Corps send him all information they have on the Dilgar.  Garibaldi

								suddenly enters, holding a Dilgar uniform which, according to the

								inscription, belongs to Jha'dur.  He also brings an unusual drug,

								which he gives to Franklin.  Meanwhile, Ivanova informs Sinclair

								that he has a Gold Channel transmission from Senator Hidoshi.

								Sinclair, his curiosity piqued, leaves, but orders Garibaldi to

								keep quiet the situation with the victim--Sinclair says that he

								doesn't want any rumors concerning Jha'dur floating around the

								station.

								<p>  In G'Kar's quarters, Na'Toth apologizes for shaming and

								angering G'Kar, but G'Kar tells her that no apology is necessary.

								He explains that he understands her need to fulfill her blood oath

								(and comments that he has many blood oaths himself), but tells

								Na'Toth that hers, in this instance, complicates matters.  He

								explains that Jha'dur has made an important discovery that could be

								potentially very useful to the Narns.  He tells her that, in this

								case, service to the Narn government is more important than her

								blood oath--therefore, she must not kill Deathwalker, because the

								Narn government has ordered them to send Deathwalker to Narn

								<em>alive</em>.  Na'Toth reluctantly agrees--she will <em>delay</em> her vengeance,

								but not abandon it.  G'Kar says that he's proud of

								Na'Toth--and promises to help her fulfill her blood oath after

								Jha'dur's discovery is secured.

								<p>  Senator Hidoshi's message has come through to B5.  The senator

								asks if the recently-attacked victim is still alive.  When Sinclair

								tells him that she is, the senator orders Sinclair to send the

								victim to Earth immediately when she is fit to travel.  Sinclair,

								however, protests, saying that there is evidence that the victim is

								Jha'dur, the infamous Deathwalker.  Hidoshi, however, dismisses

								Sinclair's protests; he says that Deathwalker has been dead for

								many years.  He refuses to give Sinclair any further information,

								and abruptly ends the conversation.

								<p>  In the Med Lab, as Franklin is studying the victim's drug, the

								victim suddenly awakes and moves over to him angrily.  "How dare

								you pry into my life's work?" she says to him.  She asks to see

								Commander Sinclair immediately.

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/jhadur-franklin.gif">

								Jha'dur fends Franklin off.

								<p>  Sinclair, on his way to the Med Lab, is stopped by Ambassador

								Mollari, who asks if the rumors he's heard about Deathwalker are

								true.  Sinclair only tells him that he should know better than to

								listen to rumors.

								<p>  When Sinclair arrives at the Med Lab, he dismisses Franklin

								from the room.  She looks at him, slightly admiring him.  "You know

								the way of command," she says, "Yes, the Wind Swords are right to

								fear you.... [The Wind Swords] have sheltered me for many years, in

								return for certain services.  They speak of you often, Sinclair.

								They say you have a hole in your mind."  She tells him that she is

								indeed Warmaster Jha'dur, and explains the reason for not aging:

								she has discovered a disease-preventing drug that also retards the

								aging process of all known humanoid species.  "It's still unstable

								and difficult to produce in sufficient quantity, but it works, as

								you can see," she says.  Sinclair immediately realizes the

								implications of such a drug:  virtual immortality.  She tells him

								that, with the help of Earth, she will bring it to "all the worlds

								of this galaxy" before the end of the year.

								<p>  "Then the willows must scuttle carefully," says Ambassador

								Kosh at the negotiations with Abbut--and, after Abbut asks, "Does

								Saturn have rings?" Kosh ends the negotiations for the day.  Talia,

								however, is still curious (for she's been scanning Abbut all day

								and his mind is still blank--not to mention the fact that she

								doesn't understand anything either Abbut or Kosh are saying), and

								asks Kosh to explain the negotiations.  Kosh only replies, "You

								seek meaning? ... Then listen to the music, not the song."  After

								Kosh leaves, Talia asks Abbut to explain the negotiations, but he

								refuses, replying that it's "not too good to reflect too much."  At

								that moment, Talia suddenly sees herself in her own mind, reflected

								numerous times, as if she were looking into a mirror.  She leaves,

								even more confused.

								<a name="windswords">

								<p>  Sinclair has meanwhile sought out Lennier to ask him about

								Jha'dur's involvement with the Wind Swords, a branch of Minbari

								warriors (Delenn has temporarily left the station, so Lennier was

								the next logical person to ask).</a>  Sinclair explains that the woman

								whom Na'Toth attacked is indeed Jha'dur, and that Jha'dur claimed

								that the Wind Swords sheltered her.  Lennier does not think that

								the Wind Swords--though they are the most militant of the Minbari

								warrior castes--would shelter such a villain as Jha'dur, but he

								says that he will look into the matter.  Since he cannot speak

								directly to his rulers without permission, he says that he will

								contact Delenn.  Sinclair asks that Lennier keep the information

								regarding Jha'dur's presence on the station confidential for now,

								and Lennier agrees.

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/sinclair-lennier.gif">

								Sinclair speaks with Lennier.

								<p>  G'Kar, meanwhile, apologizes to Jha'dur on behalf of the Narn

								empire.  He says that the Narns are willing to make reparations for

								Na'Toth's attack--and he, on behalf of the Narns, makes a generous

								offer for Jha'dur's recently discovered drug.  "You're very well

								informed, G'Kar," she replies, "Our reports always said you were a

								clever one--and a good resistance leader, too.  If Earth Alliance

								hadn't taken a hand in our invasion, we might have helped your kind

								wipe the Centauri out completely."

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/jhadur-gkar.gif">

								G'Kar speaks with Jha'dur.

								<p>  G'Kar comments that Jha'dur is

								also very well informed (and adds that the Narns aren't through

								with the Centauri yet)--and offers to triple whatever price Earth

								has offered her for her discovery.  She agrees to <em>consider</em> his

								offer, <em>if</em> he brings her Na'Toth's head within the hour.  G'Kar

								leaves the room, bruskly and considerably annoyed.  After he

								leaves, she laughs a loud, evil laugh.

								<p>  Sinclair, Ivanova, Garibaldi, and Franklin discuss the current

								situation.  Franklin claims that, according to the data that he

								received from Earth, the woman is indeed Jha'dur--her very

								appearance, he adds, seems to prove her claim about her drug

								(assuming there isn't another reason that explains why she hasn't

								aged).  Garibaldi is skeptical, though Franklin's analysis of the

								serum suggests that the drug can do what Jha'dur says it can do.

								Sinclair says that Earth agrees with the potential of Jha'dur's

								drug and has ordered Sinclair to send Jha'dur to Earth immediately.

								Garibaldi is angered that Sinclair seems to be willing to release

								Jha'dur to Earth so easily:  "She wiped out entire races, destroyed

								whole planets, experimented on living beings.  <em>Now</em> she wants to

								make everybody immortal?" says Garibaldi.  He suggests that they

								should let the League of Non-Aligned Worlds deal with her--he

								suggests that Earth should just take her serum and develop it

								themselves, but Franklin says that the serum is too complex to

								realistically develop without her assistance.  Ivanova suggests

								that Earth--though she considers its moral stance dubious--is

								better equipped to handle an issue like this than is the B5 staff.

								Sinclair agrees, and prepares to send Jha'dur to Earth.  After the

								staff leaves, Garibaldi questions Sinclair's judgment, but Sinclair

								replies that if the immortality serum can be developed, a galaxy

								without sickness or death would result.  "She can save more lives

								than she took, and she can make the deaths she caused have

								meaning," says Sinclair.

								<p>  "Better pray to that God of yours you're right, Jeff,"

								responds Garibaldi, "because if any of the League ambassadors find

								out about this 'deal,' they'll tear Babylon 5 to pieces."

								<p>  G'Kar, in his quarters, anxiously tells Na'Toth that one of

								his agents has just informed him that Sinclair intends to smuggle

								Jha'dur off B5.  He quickly contacts Ambassador Kalika, a leader of

								the League of Non-Aligned Worlds and tells her of the situation.

								<p>  Sinclair, meanwhile, is preparing to escort Jha'dur off the

								station.  Before she leaves, however, he asks her why she wants to

								bring immortality to the races of the galaxy.  She responds that,

								if she brings immortality to the people of the galaxy, it will

								ensure that the Dilgar are remembered honorably--it will stand as

								a monument to her and her race.  "Delicious irony ..." she says,

								"that those who cursed us will have to thank us for the rest of

								time."

								<p>  However, on the way to her ship, Jha'dur and her escort party

								is stopped by a group of ambassadors from the League.  The

								ambassadors demand that a full assembly of the Council be called

								immediately to discuss Jha'dur's trial--they will not allow Jha'dur

								to pass them ("You will have to kill us all, first," says Ambassador

								Kalika, who leads the group of ambassadors).  Sinclair has no

								choice but to agree.

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/kalika-confront.gif">

								The League confronts Sinclair.

								<p>  Talia, the day after the last session of negotiations between

								Kosh and Abbut, tells Kosh that she doesn't believe she can

								continue to monitor the negotiation.  "Your belief does not enter

								into it," replies Kosh, "We have a contract."  Soon, Abbut arrives

								and greets Talia again.  As he kisses her hand, she suddenly sees

								herself in her mind--it appears as if she's in some sort of

								computerized matrix.

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/winters-lights.gif">

								Talia among the lights.

								<p>  The session of the Council is about to begin.  Sinclair

								mentions to Garibaldi that he's sort of relieved that the matter

								has been made public--Jha'dur will get the justice she deserves

								(Sinclair figures that, though the Narns and Centauri both had once

								collaborated with the Dilgar and would therefore probably not want

								a trial, the Minbari--being an honorable race--will vote for a

								trial.  With Earth's vote--and with Kosh's usual abstention--the

								Council will be tied, and the League will cast the deciding vote).

								Garibaldi apologizes to Sinclair for saying some hot-headed things

								to him regarding Sinclair's decision to comply with Earth's orders,

								but Sinclair tells him not to worry about it--he tells Garibaldi

								that he had thought the same things himself.  When Lennier arrives,

								he tells Sinclair that he has spoken with Delenn--and has been

								given instructions.

								<p>  When the meeting opens, Kalika presents a motion to hold a

								war-crimes trial for Jha'dur on Babylon 5.  Londo is the first to

								vote on this motion--he expresses his sympathy for the League, but

								says that he must vote "no" because Deathwalker never committed any

								crimes against the Centauri.  G'Kar votes "yes" on condition that

								the trial be held on Narn--however, when Kalika does not accept

								this condition, G'Kar votes "no."  Sinclair votes "yes," and

								explains that Kosh has declined to take part in this session of the

								Council.  Lennier explains that, since the Minbari were not a part

								of the conflict between the Dilgar, Earth, and the League, the

								Minbari have no right to judge her.  He therefore votes "no."

								Kalika, angered at the Council and disappointed with B5's ability

								to treat the League fairly, storms out of the Council chambers but

								threatens that this will not be the last time that the Council

								hears from the League.

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/kalika-council.gif">

								Ambassador Kalika makes her case.

								<p>  After everyone leaves, Lennier apologizes to Sinclair for his

								vote.  He explains that the Wind Swords did, indeed, shelter

								Jha'dur.  The Minbari government did not know about the involvement

								of the Wind Swords at first--but when the Earth-Minbari war broke

								out, the Wind Swords came to the Council with devastating weapons

								that they obtained from Deathwalker.  The Minbari government,

								needless to say, is embarrassed about the Minbari involvement and,

								just as they could not admit their when they originally found out,

								so they cannot let that information be made public in a trial now.

								<p>  Meanwhile, a ship has come through the jumpgate.  It belongs

								to one of the members of the League, and it threatens to attack B5

								if Jha'dur is not extradited to its government.  As the ship draws

								closer, Ivanova readies B5's weaponry and threatens to defend B5

								against the ship.  The League ship aborts its attack but stays near

								B5.  However, more League ships continue to come through the

								vortex.  One by one, they begin to surround B5.  Sinclair, whom

								Ivanova has contacted, orders Ivanova to stall these ships.

								<p>  Meanwhile, Sinclair attempts to negotiate with Kalika.  He

								tries to draw on Earth's traditional friendship with the League,

								but Kalika refuses to listen.  Sinclair, all his other options

								having run out, finally decides to inform Kalika of the full

								situation with Jha'dur.

								<p>  Ivanova informs Sinclair that she has successfully stalled the

								League ships--she has gotten them to debate over which of them has

								the most valid claim to try Jha'dur.  Sinclair is pleased, but

								hopes that her maneuver will buy B5 enough time.  Suddenly, the

								League ships begin to move out of firing range of B5.  Ivanova is

								surprised, and asks what Sinclair did.  He tells her that he

								"played a wildcard."  He tells Ivanova that the situation isn't

								completed yet--Sinclair will be in closed session with the League.

								Once again, he praises Ivanova for her ingenuity.

								<p>  "A herring is just a herring, but a good cigar is a Cuban,"

								comments Abbut, at the negotiations with Kosh.  "A stroke of the

								brush does not guarantee art from the bristles," replies Kosh.  "Do

								you understand, Ms. Winters?"  Again, Talia finds herself seeing

								strange visions in her head--she is walking and is suddenly

								attacked by a mysterious man.  She screams out in pain.  "Our

								business is completed," says Kosh.  Abbut takes off his hat,

								removes a data crystal from his partly cybernetic head, and gives

								it to Kosh.

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/abbut-brain.gif">

								Abbut's unusual head.

								<p>  "What was on that data crystal he gave you," asks Talia.

								<p>  "Reflection, surprise, terror.  For the future," responds

								Kosh.

								<p>  Kalika tells Sinclair that scientists from the League have

								checked Dr. Franklin's data--and they agree with it.  And while

								Kalika agrees that the discovery is "astounding," she still feels

								that Deathwalker must be punished.  Sinclair agrees, and proposes

								a compromise:  Jha'dur will be delivered to Earth, where she will

								work with Earth scientists--in addition to a group of scientists

								that the League can send.  After the drug is developed, the League

								will be given custody of Jha'dur.  Kalika likes the idea, but wants

								to make sure that it can trust Earth to honor it later.  Sinclair

								says that once this agreement is made public, Earth will have no

								choice.  Another of the ambassadors from the League wants to know

								how the Council will react to this decision, but Sinclair says that

								this agreement is a private matter between Earth and the League--just as it was thirty years ago, when Earth helped the League

								defeat the Dilgar, as Sinclair points out.  Kalika agrees:  "It is

								fair ... and wise."

								<p>  Before Jha'dur leaves, Sinclair speaks with her.  She feels

								that Sinclair is naive to believe that Earth will turn her over to

								the League once the drug was developed.  Sinclair says that he'll

								see to it personally, but Jha'dur feels this will cost him his

								command.  Jha'dur explains to Sinclair the true purpose behind her

								giving the serum to Earth:  "You and the rest of your kind take

								blind confidence in the belief that we are monsters--that you could

								never do what we did.  The key ingredient in the [serum] cannot be

								synthesized; it must be taken from living beings.  For one to live

								forever, another one must die.  You will fall upon one another like

								wolves.  It'll make what we did pale by comparison.  The billions

								who live forever will be a testimony to my work, and the billions

								who were murdered to buy that immortality will be the continuance

								of my work.  Not like us?  You will become us.  That's my monument,

								Commander."

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/jhadur-mad.gif">

								"You will become us."

								<p>  The group of ambassadors have all assembled to watch the

								departure of Jha'dur.  Surprisingly, Kosh joins them.  Suddenly,

								there is a report from the bridge--there's another disturbance at

								the jumpgate.  A Vorlon ship flies through and, to the elation of

								many of the ambassadors, quickly targets and destroys Jha'dur's

								vessel.  "Why?" asks Sinclair.

								<p>  "You are not ready for immortality," responds Kosh.

								<p>

								<img align="middle"

								src="/lurk/gif/009/vorlon-attack.gif">

								The Vorlon ship attacks.

								<p>  Later, Sinclair and Garibaldi discuss the situation.  "Hell of

								an irony, don't you think?" asks Garibaldi,  "We find a reason to

								keep Jha'dur alive, and the Vorlons smoke her for the same reason."

								Sinclair wonders things will always work out similarly:  little

								powers at the mercy of big powers; politics before morality.

								Garibaldi responds that this seems to work for everyone--except

								Sinclair.  As they speak, Talia arrives and explains that she is

								confused by recent negotiations she attended.  She tells them that

								nothing about the negotiations made sense; the two parties spoke in

								riddles, and she kept seeing images in her mind--images which she

								feels were deliberately provoked.  She explains that, four years

								ago, she was assigned to scan the mind of a suspect in a murder

								case.  The suspect was a serial killer--she had never been inside

								a mind like his, and it frightened her so much that she still has

								nightmares about it.  However, at the negotiation table recently,

								she feels those thoughts were deliberately provoked.  When Sinclair

								asks Talia whom Kosh was dealing with, she tells them.  Garibaldi

								knows who Abbut is.  He explains that Abbut is a "Vicar"--a slang

								term, derived from "VCR," referring to a type of alien that is part

								machine, part sentient--they act as living recorders that can

								record just about everything, including brain-wave patters.

								Garibaldi suggests that Kosh set her up--and Sinclair guesses that

								Kosh did this because Vorlons are usually suspicious of telepaths,

								and if Kosh knows what her deepest fears are, he can use them

								against her later on.

								<p>  Garibaldi and Sinclair wonder what Kosh could be up to--the

								many things he's been doing recently have piqued their curiosity.

								<p>

								Shawn Bayern

								<em>bayern@cshl.org</em>

								<hr>

								Copyright 1994, Shawn Bayern.  All rights reserved.  Permission is

								granted to distribute this synopsis <strong>noncommercially</strong> as long as

								the synopsis and this copyright notice remain intact.  Babylon 5 is

								a copyright of the PTN Consortium; no infringement of that

								copyright is intended by writing these synopses.