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322 lines
16 KiB
322 lines
16 KiB
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<p>
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Garibaldi is trying to put together an old motorcycle when he's visited by
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Lennier. Shaal Mayan (cf.
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<a href="/lurk/guide/007.html">"The War Prayer"</a>)
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is about to visit the station again, and, given what happened the last time
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she was there, Delenn wants to arrange extra security. After delivering the
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message, Lennier takes an interest in Garibaldi's bike -- a 1992 Kawasaki
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Ninja in mint condition. Garibaldi has been trying to assemble it for years.
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He has all the parts and a manual, but it's in Japanese. Lennier offers
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to help, and Garibaldi gives him the manual.
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<p>
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<img align=middle src="/lurk/gif/016/len-gar.gif"> Lennier accepts the manual.
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<p>
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Two men, one with a scar by his right eye, are looking at a file about
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Ivanova. "What do you think?" asks the scarred man.
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<p>
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"Most of the personnel will be no trouble. This one, however..."
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<p>
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"Anything you can't handle?"
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<p>
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"I don't <em>have</em> to handle it. Her record's spotless. There's no
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reason to include her."
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<p>
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"That's not your decision. And she <em>will</em> be included. Records don't
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always tell the whole story. That's one of the reasons you're here, Mr. Gray.
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Remember?"
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<p>
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"As you wish. When do we begin?"
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<p>
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"As always, Mr. Gray, when the time is right."
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<p>
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Sinclair meets with Garibaldi and Ivanova. A recent attack on Station
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Phobos, on one of Mars' moons, has been tied to Martian separatist groups,
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perhaps Free Mars, or one of the even more radical groups. Earthforce is
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concerned that Babylon 5 will be used as a transfer point to ship arms to
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the rebels. Ivanova points out that it'll be hard to stop; the station's
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trade agreements with many of the aliens allow them to sell arms. Sinclair
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tells the two of them to keep a close watch on incoming and outgoing ships,
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and notify Earthforce of any that are carrying weapons.
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<p>
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The scarred man, meanwhile, is sitting next to a security officer, Welch,
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and begins
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to ask him about the station and about Sinclair. He introduces himself as
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Aaron Franks, of Quartermaster Corporation, and says his company is interested
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in becoming one of Babylon 5's suppliers. Welch brushes him
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off; Franks goes to another station crewman and starts talking to him. Welch
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notifies the security station.
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<p>
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<img align=middle src="/lurk/gif/016/burger.gif"> Welch tries to eat his
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lunch.
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<p>
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Lennier watches a file on the history of motorcycles on Earth, and is
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fascinated by what they once represented. "Sexual prowess and rebellion,"
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he muses.
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<p>
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Garibaldi watches Franks talk to a bartender. When Franks leaves, Garibaldi
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asks the bartender what he wanted. He was asking about Sinclair -- how often
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he comes to the bar, who he drinks with, and so on.
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<p>
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Garibaldi catches up with Sinclair and tells him that Franks, and an
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associate, Harriman Gray, both listed as representatives of Quartermaster,
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have been asking all sorts of questions. Sinclair tells Garibaldi to look
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into it, as it might be a cover for arms shipments; Quartermaster is a
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major military supplier. "Walk softly," Sinclair cautions. "The last thing
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we need is a corporate lawsuit."
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<p>
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Gray is in his quarters when Garibaldi comes to the door. Gray slips on
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a pair of black gloves and, somewhat flustered, tries to convince Garibaldi
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that he and Franks are there to negotiate a deal to supply the station.
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Just then, Franks arrives. He offers Garibaldi a drink, and is pleasantly
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surprised when Garibaldi turns him down. He tells Garibaldi that his name
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isn't Franks at all. He's Colonel Ari Ben Zayn, of Internal Investigations,
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and Gray is a military specialist from Psi-Corps. They're on the station,
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Ben Zayn says, to conduct a special investigation of Babylon 5's command
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staff.
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<p>
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Later, Ben Zayn talks to Sinclair, Ivanova, and Garibaldi. With the recent
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events on Mars and elsewhere, Earthforce needs to know who's loyal and who
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isn't. Sinclair vouches for his crew, and objects to Ben Zayn's tactic of
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questioning people without his knowledge. Ben Zayn says he has ever right
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to do so; his authority comes directly from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He
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says he's not here to persecute anyone; it's a routine investigation.
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<p>
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<img align=middle src="/lurk/gif/016/brief.gif"> Ben Zayn briefs the command
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staff.
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<p>
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Ivanova objects to the presence of Gray; regulations prohibit the use of
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telepaths in routine investigations. Ben Zayn tells her there are new
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regulations; all staff must submit to scans. Ivanova refuses, growing
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angry, but Sinclair stops her and says he'll check the regulations himself.
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Ben Zayn attaches Garibaldi to his staff over Sinclair's objections, and
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the two of them leave Sinclair and Ivanova alone in Sinclair's office.
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Ivanova reiterates her refusal to submit to a scan.
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<p>
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Garibaldi tells Ben Zayn he thinks the whole investigation is a sham. Ben
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Zayn orders Garibaldi to collect all the files -- including classified ones --
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on the station's staff, and report back with them later that night.
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<p>
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Lennier intercepts Garibaldi in the hallway and says he's managed to
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translate the manual. He offers to help with the bike; Garibaldi eventually
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agrees.
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<p>
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In his office, Garibaldi instructs the computer to put together the files Ben
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Zayn requested. While that's going on, he tells it to find out all it can
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about Ben Zayn and Gray.
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<p>
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Gray pays a visit to C&C, where Ivanova is on duty. As she tries, without
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a hint of subtlety, to brush him off, he tells her that as a child, he wanted
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nothing more than to be a pilot. He worked for it, applied to the academy,
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was accepted -- and then his talents were discovered. It is against the
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law for psis to serve in the regular military, but Psi Corps offered him
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a chance to work in its military branch. It's not the same thing as Ivanova's
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brand of soldiering, he says, "but half a dream is better than none."
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<p>
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Ivanova isn't moved at all. And when Gray says he won't intrude on her
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privacy, just scan those thoughts pertaining to her duty, she lashes out,
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exclaiming that such a scan isn't only an assault on her, but on her honor.
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"If you enter my mind for any reason," she continues, seething, "I will
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twist your head off and use it for a chamberpot!"
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<p>
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Later, Ben Zayn is grilling Garibaldi about Sinclair's actions -- specifically,
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the fact that he failed to so much as file a complaint about the Vorlons'
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destruction of Deathwalker's ship (cf.
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<a href="/lurk/guide/009.html">"Deathwalker"</a>.)
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Garibaldi points out that it'd be useless to complain to the Vorlons anyway,
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and suggests Ben Zayn ask Sinclair about such things directly. Ben Zayn
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answers that he intends to, at 1200 hours, and tells Garibaldi to inform
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Sinclair, then get some sleep.
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<p>
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Garibaldi goes to Sinclair, who has taken over for Ivanova in C&C. He is
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concerned that maybe Sinclair <em>does</em> have something to hide: "I know
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you're a by-the-book kind of guy, but let's face it, we've had to rewrite
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the book a few times to make B5 work." Garibaldi warns Sinclair to watch
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out for Ben Zayn; he's dangerous, as is Gray. Sinclair promises to take
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care of it all, and tells Garibaldi to get to bed.
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<p>
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When Garibaldi returns to his quarters, he finds Lennier chanting over the
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motorcycle. "I am about to embark upon the mysteries of the 'fuel injection
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system,'" Lennier says. Garibaldi tells him to come back sometime after
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1200 the next day. After Lennier leaves, Garibaldi inspects the bike. "Not
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bad," he says. "Not bad at all."
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<p>
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Ivanova has a bizarre dream, in which her mother is injected with drugs by
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two dark men in masks. Gray is there, warning Ivanova not to interfere.
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"Only one way out," says Ivanova's mother as she's injected. Then it's
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Ivanova, not her mother at all, who's being held by the masked men. "Only
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one way out," she says, dazed. Ivanova bolts awake in bed, covered in sweat.
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<p>
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<img align=middle src="/lurk/gif/016/dream.gif"> Ivanova's mother loses
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consciousness.
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<p>
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Sinclair is in his quarters, studying regulations, when Ivanova comes in
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and offers her resignation, the only way to avoid the scan. Sinclair assures
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her it's not necessary -- he's found a way around the scans. He asks why
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she's so afraid of being scanned, anyway; didn't her mother make contact
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with her?
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<p>
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"Yes, she did," answers Ivanova. "You can't imagine what it's like. To share
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your own mother's love for you. To feel it in your thoughts. No one's ever
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been that close to me, Commander. And no one must <em>ever</em> intrude upon
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that memory. Especially Psi Corps."
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<p>
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Ben Zayn studies a file about Sinclair. When Gray asks why, Ben Zayn says
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he wants to know everything he can about Sinclair, part of the reason Gray
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is there. When Gray objects, claiming such things are against the rules,
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Ben Zayn tells him to stop being naive, and says that Bester (cf.
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<a href="/lurk/guide/006.html">"Mind War"</a>)
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will appreciate anything Gray can do.
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<p>
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Sinclair arrives and says he'll be ready to begin as soon as Gray leaves
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the room. He says he studied the regulations carefully, and found that a
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telepath can only be used to determine the truth of answers to specific
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charges, not for routine loyalty tests. Gray sides with Sinclair: "Even
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Psi Corps doesn't consider it a carte blanche rule."
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<p>
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"I don't remember asking for your opinion," Ben Zayn answers angrily, but
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he dismisses Gray.
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<p>
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Gray visits Ivanova in a lounge. She's surprised to see him, but he
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explains that Sinclair knows the regulations better than Ben Zayn. "I will
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long savor the look on the Colonel's face," he says. "Not many people are
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willing to stand up to him. It was very refreshing."
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<p>
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<img align=middle src="/lurk/gif/016/gray.gif"> Gray talks with Ivanova.
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<p>
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Ivanova says Gray doesn't seem like other Psi Corps people; she finds his
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dislike of Ben Zayn unexpected.
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<p>
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Gray answers that he has no love for Ben Zayn; he's efficient, but lacks
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compassion. "As for Psi Corps, I doubt you really know any of our people
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very well. Especially Miss Winters."
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<p>
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"You're scanning me," Ivanova objects.
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<p>
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"I'm sorry. The thought of Miss Winters was very loud in your mind when I
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mentioned Psi Corps. I couldn't help but pick it up. Please, forgive me.
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I <em>am</em> surprised you were aware of it." He pauses. "Of course.
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She must have been in your mind numerous times before she was given the
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sleepers. Your mother."
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<p>
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Ivanova is furious, and demands that Gray not mention her mother again.
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Before she can say more, she's called to C&C.
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<p>
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Sinclair is defending his handling of the dockworkers' strike (cf.
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<a href="/lurk/guide/012.html">"By Any Means Necessary"</a>)
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when Ivanova calls in from C&C with a matter demanding his attention.
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<p>
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Ben Zayn tells her to handle it on her own. That's too much for Sinclair,
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who says he won't tolerate Ben Zayn disrupting the operation of the station.
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He gets up to leave, but Ben Zayn blocks his path. "I've seen plenty like
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you," he says. "Hotshots promoted through the ranks without any real
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leadership ability." He assumes control of Babylon 5, relieving Sinclair.
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Garibaldi barely stops Sinclair from slugging Ben Zayn.
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<p>
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<img align=middle src="/lurk/gif/016/bait.gif"> Ben Zayn baits Sinclair.
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<p>
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Sinclair, says Ben Zayn, quoting a regulation, is working against the best
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interests of Earthforce, and he can prove it with Mr. Gray's help. Which,
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now that he is bringing up specific charges, he is within his rights to
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demand. He tells Garibaldi to confine Sinclair to quarters.
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<p>
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Walking to his quarters with Garibaldi, Sinclair says he'll go straight to
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the top and contact HQ. He tells Garibaldi to get to C&C, where Ben Zayn
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is no doubt telling Ivanova he's in charge.
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<p>
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And, in fact, that's exactly what's happening. Ben Zayn orders Ivanova to
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report along with Sinclair and Garibaldi for a scan in the morning, then
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retires to his quarters. Ivanova tells Garibaldi she won't submit.
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<p>
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"You'll be charged with insubordination," Garibaldi says.
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<p>
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"And I'll be replaced and dishonorably discharged. It's a very Russian
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ending. I should've expected it." She flees C&C. Garibaldi catches up to
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her.
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<p>
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"You once offered me a drink," Ivanova says (cf.
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<a href="/lurk/guide/003.html">"Born to the Purple"</a>.)
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"If that offer's still good, I could sure use it."
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<p>
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Garibaldi says he has something to take care of, but tells her he'll meet
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her in the casino in ten minutes.
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<p>
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Sinclair speaks with an Earthforce general. Though he has the power, the
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general won't intervene. It seems there are some powerful people in favor
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of the investigation, people Sinclair has made angry over the years, and
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with a vote on the President's new immigration
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policy coming up in the Senate, the President can't risk upsetting them by
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agreeing to stop Ben Zayn.
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<p>
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A drunk man bumps into Ivanova in the casino. "Hey, look at the cute
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commander," he says, fondling her hair.
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<p>
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"Cute?" Ivanova asks.
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<p>
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<img align=middle src="/lurk/gif/016/cute.gif"> "Cute?"
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<p>
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Garibaldi tells Sinclair that Ben Zayn was among the top ten candidates
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for command of Babylon 5, while Sinclair was... somewhat lower. Ben Zayn,
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Garibaldi has discovered, is also associated with Bester, the Psi Cop whose
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partner was killed on the station. In fact, Bester assigned Gray to Ben
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Zayn. Sinclair speculates that the investigation might be Bester's way of
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getting revenge, as he promised he would. Further speculation is cut short
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as Garibaldi is called away; there's a big problem in the casino.
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<p>
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Ivanova throws punches left and right, holding her own in a huge brawl that's
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quickly trashing the entire casino area. Garibaldi arrives and manages to
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calm her down. He leads her away and tells his men to clean the place up.
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<p>
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Arriving a few minutes early to his interview, Sinclair finds Gray getting
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a feel for the room. He tells Gray that Bester assigned him to Ben Zayn,
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and, in fact, that Bester and Ben Zayn are good friends. "Maybe you're
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scanning the wrong people," he says, just before Ben Zayn walks in.
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<p>
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Ben Zayn calls Garibaldi and Ivanova in. Gray instructs Sinclair to remain
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calm; the scan won't hurt if he doesn't resist. Sinclair asks if Gray will
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be scanning Ben Zayn too; the regulations, after all, say that all involved
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parties are subject to scan, and Ben Zayn is certainly involved. Besides,
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Sinclair says to Ben Zayn, the intent of a question is often as important as
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the answer. "For instance, if I were to ask you why you turned a routine
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investigation into a personal hunt for my scalp..."
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<p>
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Sinclair baits Ben Zayn further, about Bester and the fact that he didn't
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get command of Babylon 5. Ben Zayn says he deserved Babylon 5, but thanks
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to the Minbari, Sinclair got it. He says he knows all about Sinclair and
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the Minbari, and soon Sinclair won't be their agent any more.
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<p>
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<img align=middle src="/lurk/gif/016/scar.gif"> Ben Zayn loses his temper.
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<p>
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Gray says he can feel the hatred in Ben Zayn's mind, vile and filthy. Ben
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Zayn slaps Gray hard, sending him falling from his chair, then pulls a gun
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on Sinclair, Garibaldi, and Ivanova, daring them to try to take it away.
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<p>
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From the floor, Gray transmits intense pain to Ben Zayn, who stumbles long
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enough for Sinclair to grab the gun and knock him down with a punch. The
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investigation, such as it was, is over.
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<p>
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Later, Garibaldi goes to his quarters, and is dismayed to find Lennier there,
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putting the finishing touches on the motorcycle. "I've been working on
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it for years," he says. "It was sort of my purpose in life. But now it's...
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done."
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<p>
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Lennier apologizes profusely, but Garibaldi forgives him. The two of them
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inspect Lennier's handiwork. "Too bad we can't ride it," Garibaldi muses.
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<p>
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"It is quite ridable," says Lennier. It seems he installed a clean, efficient
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Minbari power source in place of the combustion engine.
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<p>
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Sinclair and Ivanova talk about the investigation as they walk down a
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corridor. "I never thought I'd be grateful to a member of Psi Corps," says
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Ivanova. "I hope things don't turn out too badly for Mr. Gray."
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<p>
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The circumstances, Sinclair assures her, will vindicate Gray. As for Bester,
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he'll stay in the shadows, but most likely the whole affair will have some
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repercussions on Bester, too.
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<p>
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As Sinclair and Ivanova enter a transport tube, Garibaldi and Lennier zip
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by on the motorcycle. "It's good to have things back to normal," quips
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Ivanova as the bike zooms up the curve of the corridor.
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<p>
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<h3>Synopsis by <a href="http://www.midwinter.com/~koreth/">Steven Grimm</a></h3>
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