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389 lines
18 KiB
389 lines
18 KiB
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<h3>Synopsis by Matthew Murray (mmurray@wsu.edu)</h3>
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<p>
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Sheridan is brought around to face Londo, and Sheridan insists that
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what he sees on Centauri Prime couldn't happen. He demands to know
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what year it is, and Londo tells him it is the last year, day, and hour
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of Sheridan's life -- seventeen years after he began the war against the
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Shadows. Londo tells the guards that he is tired, and wants Sheridan
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taken back to his cell. Londo promises Sheridan he will meet whatever
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God he worships when next they meet, and Sheridan is taken away.
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<p>
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On Babylon 4, Major Krantz arrives on C&C to find that there is still
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another hour or hour and a half until the sensors are back online
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following the explosion. He says that he wants search teams increased
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so that they are prepared in case anyone tries to breach the hull.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/caught.jpeg" alt="">
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Ivanova and Marcus are searching through the station for an access
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panel, and though Ivanova thinks it will take a bit of luck to find
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one, Marcus insists he doesn't believe in it. Ivanova, however,
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keeps walking and doesn't notice that Marcus has disappeared until she
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is trapped in the corridor between two security guards. Marcus,
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however, drops down on them from above, and they are able to easily
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dispatch the guards. After Marcus accidentally dislodges the cover
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from an access panel with his staff, Ivanova is able to get right to
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work.
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<p>
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Even though Sheridan is alone in his cell back on Centauri Prime,
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without his time stabilizer, he is still unstuck in time, and reappears
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briefly upon Babylon 4, noticed only by Zathras, as he reaches, in pain,
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for a time stabilizer. Meanwhile, Sinclair and Delenn prepare to set
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up their equipment, but the room in question is currently occupied by a
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group of officers. Delenn is then overtaken by a strange feeling, which she
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describes as someone walking over her grave.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/cell2.jpeg" alt="">
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Sheridan reappears back in the future just in time to have a
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visitor -- an older Delenn. He asks why she is there, and she insists that
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she didn't tell them anything, and that there is nothing they can do to
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her. She was allowed one last moment with him, and she tells him that she
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isn't afraid, that their son is safe. She tells him that she loves him,
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and kisses him.
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<p>
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Ivanova finishes her tampering, and the computer announces a hull
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breach in the area. The pressure doors fall down behind the evacuating
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crewmembers, leaving Sinclair,
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Ivanova, Delenn, and Marcus to do what they need to until the station
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personnel manage to burn through the door.
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<p>
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Sheridan tells Delenn in the future that he isn't really there, and
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that he isn't supposed to be -- he tells her that the last thing he
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remembers was his time stabilizer being hit. She believes him, and
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remembers that he had told her, a long time ago, that he had seen this
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moment in their future. She tells him that there is much pain and
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grief ahead of him, and that she sees in his eyes an innocence he lost
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long ago. Delenn tells
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him that the war against the darkness can never truly be won, but that
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they've created something that will endure for a thousand years, that they
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succeeded at everything they set out to do, but at a terrible price.
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Sheridan asks if there is anything he can do, but Delenn knows the only
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way to change this future is to surrender to the Shadows -- a price too
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high to pay. The guards arrive again, and it is time for them to
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leave.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/keeper.jpeg" alt="">
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Sheridan and Delenn are once again brought before Londo, who has
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apparently been drinking quite a bit. Londo says he has to drink,
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since it is the only way they can be alone -- he has no desire to wake
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"it" -- his keeper. It doesn't care why he does what he does, as long as
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he does it, and as long as Sheridan ends up dead. Londo sits forward,
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painfully, showing the keeper attached to his neck. The alcohol is the
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only way Londo can control himself for any period of time, though he
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has very little time left. Londo tells them that his world and all he
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hoped for is gone. He tells them that they are his last chance for the
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Centauri, and his own redemption. He tells them he has a ship hidden
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behind the palace, but that, in exchange for their lives, they must help to
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free the Centauri. Londo tells them to leave quickly, since his keeper
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is beginning to wake. They leave the throne room quickly, and are taken
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away by a guard. After they have gone, another visitor comes to
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Londo -- G'Kar, whom Londo refers to as "old friend." Londo says they
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have no hope if the keeper wakes up and sees what he has done. They
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have unfinished business, and Londo wants it to end before the keeper
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stops him. He says he is as tired of his life as G'Kar is, and G'Kar
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knows what to do. He places his hands around Londo's throat, but after
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G'Kar begins to choke Londo, the keeper wakes up, and Londo puts his
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hands around G'Kar's neck as well.
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<p>
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As Sheridan and Delenn move toward the ship, Sheridan lurches suddenly,
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and knows he's being pulled back again. But, before he goes, Delenn
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gives him words to take with him back to the past. "Treasure the
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moments you have. Savor them for as long as you can, for they will
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never come back again. John, listen to me. Do not go to Z'ha'dum. Do
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you understand? Do not go to Z'ha'dum!" Upon hearing these last
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words, he falls to the floor, and is pulled away in time.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/vir.jpeg" alt="">
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In the throne room, both Londo and G'Kar lie on the floor, dead.
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Another figure, however, arrives and picks up the imperial medallion Londo wore
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around his neck. It is Vir.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/suit.jpeg" alt="">
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While the others move to set up the equipment, Zathras tells them that
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he believes that the power supply in a spare blue space suit may be
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able to make the time stabilizer work long enough for Sheridan to be
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rescued. Though Marcus isn't convinced that Sheridan will reappear in
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the suit, Zathras' plan succeeds, and that is indeed where he
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reappears. Sheridan comments, however, that he feels like he could
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drift away again at any moment. Marcus tells Sheridan that they have
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secured a path to the central power core, and Sheridan plans to go with
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Sinclair, until Delenn arrives, glad to see that Sheridan has
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returned. He doesn't, however, tell her what he learned in the
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future.
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<p>
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Sinclair and Sheridan are nearly done placing the homing device in the
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power core, while Ivanova reports to them that she has rigged the
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scanners to make it look like the station is about to explode. C&C
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discovers this, but Major Krantz insists that they increase the output
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to the power core, despite its not having been tested. The sudden
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increase throws Sinclair and Sheridan away from the station just as the
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surge of tachyon particles increases, and Babylon 4 begins its journey
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through time.
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<p>
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Zathras understands the problem, but insists it isn't his fault. He is
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able to stop the station's movement through time, but not before
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Sheridan becomes unstuck in time yet
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again. Zathras tells them that the time device placed in the core
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activated prematurely, sending them four years into the future, to when
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Babylon 4 reappeared before. Zathras says they can't do anything else
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until they adjust the time system. Ivanova tries to contact Sheridan,
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but Sinclair reports that he has gone again, and that they have a
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slight problem.
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<p>
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On C&C, the first officer convinces Major Krantz that, despite all
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their work, it is necessary to evacuate to protect the lives of those
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on the station. Krantz reluctantly agrees and orders a distress signal
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to be sent out. Just as they are sending it, though, another increase
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of tachyon particles hits the station, and Delenn...
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/globe.jpeg" alt="">
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...is standing against a wall in Sheridan's quarters, watching him sleep
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peacefully.
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She walks over to a nearby table, and picks up a snow globe, which she
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turns over, and admires. Without warning, the door to the quarters
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opens, and a woman's voice says, "Hello." Delenn, in shock, drops the
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snow globe, which shatters at her feet...
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<p>
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...just as she finds herself again aboard Babylon 4. Zathras explains
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what she experienced
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was a timeflash, where one sees oneself forward or backward in time,
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due to the instability of the system. Sinclair arrives, but he isn't
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quite the Sinclair they knew -- he now appears much older. He explains
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that, when he and Garibaldi went to Babylon 4 previously, they were
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exposed to the time field without any protection. He didn't want
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Garibaldi along because he knew that Garibaldi, too, would have
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something similar happen to him if they should be exposed to it again.
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Sinclair says they need to finish their job, and that they need to get
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Sheridan back. Zathras says he can fix the time stabilizer, but needs
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equipment. Ivanova and Zathras leave to try to find the equipment
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elsewhere on the station. Sinclair says he is going back to the core
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to readjust the equipment, and tells Marcus and the rest to stay with
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the White Star and monitor the readings.
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<p>
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While Zathras searches through some equipment to find the tools he
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needs to repair the the time stabilizer, Lennier reports to Sinclair
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that seven ships are approaching the station -- one of which contains
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Garibaldi and another Sinclair. Zathras finally finds what he needs to
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repair the time stabilizer, and finishes just as he is discovered by
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several security guards who level their PPGs at him.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/capture.jpeg" alt="">
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Zathras tries to explain to the security guards that he means no harm
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as he takes them away, and Ivanova sees this and reports back to the
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White Star. Marcus tells her that it will take them another two hours
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to finish the repairs, but Ivanova knows they don't have that much
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time. She says she will find a way to get to C&C to adjust the power
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there.
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<p>
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While Major Krantz brings the other Sinclair and Garibaldi onto the
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station, explaining to them what happened aboard the station before it
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was brought forward in time, Delenn arrives back in the station from
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the White Star and sees Sheridan, still in his space suit, reappear.
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<p>
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Krantz introduces the other Sinclair and Garibaldi to Zathras, who
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looks up at Sinclair, and says, "Not the One." This confuses Sinclair,
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but Zathras won't say anything else to him, and claims merely that he
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does what he is told.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/candc.jpeg" alt="">
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Everyone on C&C evacuates, leaving Ivanova free
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to sneak in and begin readjusting the power to the fusion reactors.
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<p>
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Zathras tells Sinclair and Garibaldi that they need Babylon 4 for a
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great war, as a place to gather to fight and organize, to help save the
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galaxy "on the side of Light." Zathras explains further, saying that,
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without the station, it is the end of everything. "The One leads us.
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The One tells us to go, we go."
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<p>
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Two security guards arrive in the corridor to find a figure in a blue
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space suit, appearing and disappearing. The guards run and tell Major
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Krantz, and everyone leaves the room where Zathras was being
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questioned, including Zathras. They find the figure in the space suit,
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which Zathras identifies as being the One. The figure in the space
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suit apparently is having difficulty standing, and Sinclair begins
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approaching it.
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<p>
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Ivanova finishes what she is doing, and warns Sinclair, who has
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finished readjusting the homing device in the core, to back off, as it
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will soon become operational.
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<p>
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The other Sinclair approaches the blue-suited figure and touches its
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outstretched hand, but is thrown back by a large blast. In the
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resulting commotion, Zathras runs to the figure and gives it the
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repaired time stabilizer, warning the figure to take it and leave
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quickly. The figure vanishes.
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<p>
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Ivanova activates the station, and it begins moving. Zathras warns the
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others to leave quickly, or else be trapped there forever. As Sinclair
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moves away from the power core, Marcus discovers Sheridan, once again
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on Babylon 4, with a new time stabilizer. Sheridan says that someone
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must have put it on him and switched places. This confuses Marcus, who
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doesn't know who has been running around Babylon 4 in the blue suit.
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<p>
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The other Sinclair and Garibaldi, while trying to escape with Zathras,
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lose him as he becomes trapped under a fallen pipe. Though Sinclair
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tries to save Zathras, Zathras insists that he leave, telling him that
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he has a destiny. Sinclair, though clearly confused, does as he is
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told, leaving Zathras behind.
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<p>
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As the ships carrying the Babylon 4 crew and the other Sinclair and
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Garibaldi leave the station, Sinclair, just leaving the station's core,
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stands on the outside of the station and activates his communicator, to
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try to deliver one last message. "Babylon 4 to Garibaldi, Babylon 4 to
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shuttle one. Garibaldi, do you read me? Watch your back, Michael.
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Watch your back." But the target is outside of communication range.
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Sinclair moves toward the airlock, just as Babylon 4 begins to vanish
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one final time.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/delennsuit.jpeg" alt="">
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Zathras, still trapped under the pipe, is approached by the figure in
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the blue space suit. He looks up, and smiles. "Zathras knew... you
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would not leave him. Zathras trusts... the One." The figure removes
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its helmet; it's Delenn. The station vanishes again.
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<p>
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Sinclair, inside the airlock, removes the headpiece from his own space
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suit. "I tried," he says. "I tried to warn them. But it all
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happened... just the way I remember it."
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<p>
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"I know," Delenn tells him. "It's time. We have to go. They're
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waiting for us." Delenn, and a morose Sinclair, leave to join the
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others.
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<p>
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Sinclair and Delenn arrive on C&C, and Ivanova says that the
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time-shifting controls can now be controlled from C&C. Sinclair
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says he will set them off by himself and then return to the White Star,
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but Marcus doesn't believe it. He knows that the system isn't
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fully automatic, and that someone has to ride Babylon 4 back into the
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past. Though he offers to do so, Sinclair won't allow it. "I'll
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take it back because I've always taken it, and I always will. It's
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already happened."
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<p>
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"You don't know that," Ivanova protests.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/truth.jpeg" alt="">
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"Yes I do," Sinclair tells her. "You asked what brought me here.
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Before I left Minbar, I was given a letter... from nine hundred years
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ago." He hands the letter to Sheridan.
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<p>
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"Whose handwriting is this?" he asks.
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<p>
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"Mine," Sinclair explains. "I wrote this from the past... nine hundred
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years ago. I went. It's as simple as that."
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<p>
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"He's telling the truth," Delenn says. "I received one as well."
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<p>
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"No," Ivanova insists, "I can't accept this."
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<p>
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"If I go back to our time, the aging effect will probably kill me.
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Isn't it better to choose life?"
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<p>
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"Damn it, Jeff, I..."
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<p>
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"Susan, it's all right. My whole life has been leading to this,"
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Sinclair tells her. He asks her and Marcus to leave them for a
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moment, so they can discuss something alone. After they have gone,
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Sinclair asks Zathras why he pointed to Delenn when he said he followed
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the One.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/the-one.jpeg" alt="">
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Zathras explains that he is the oldest living caretaker of the Great
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Machine, and knows things about it that even Draal doesn't. He tells
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them that he knows all three of them. "All Minbari belief is around
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three. Three castes -- worker, warrior, religious. Three languages.
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Light, Dark, and Grey. The Nine of the Grey Council -- three times
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three. All is three... As you are three. As you are one... As you are
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the One." He turns to Sinclair. "You are the One Who Was." He turns
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to Delenn. "You are the One Who Is." He indicates Sheridan. "You are
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the One Who Will Be." He again refers to them in turn. "You are the
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beginning of the story, and the middle of the story, and the end of the
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story that creates the next great story. In your heart, you know what
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Zathras says is true. Go now. Zathras' place is with the One Who
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Was. We have... a destiny." Sheridan and Delenn both say their
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silent goodbyes to Sinclair, and return to the White Star.
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<p>
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Sheridan sits down in the captain's chair, and though it is clear that
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everyone will miss Sinclair, Sheridan says they need to leave and
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respect Sinclair's wishes. They break the docking seal, set the engines to
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maximum, and head back home.
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<p>
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The White Star emerges from the temporal rift, which closes behind
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it, Sheridan assumes, to make sure no one else is trapped there.
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"That door is closed forever," Delenn tells him. "And it is not the
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only one. Lennier told you that a thousand years ago, human and
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Minbari souls began to merge -- Minbari souls were being born in human
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bodies. Something happened that opened that door between us. My
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change was, in part, to even the scales and restore balance between our
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races, using a device my people discovered a thousand years ago. You
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see... if my people had found Babylon 4 with a human aboard, they would
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never have accepted it."
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<p>
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Marcus instantly knows what this means. "Dear God... 'A Minbari not
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born of Minbari.'"
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/061/triluminary.jpeg" alt="">
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As Babylon 4 continues its journey through time, Sinclair places
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a Triluminary in the top of a machine -- the same one
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Delenn used to begin her change. The machine glows a bright light, and
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a new chrysalis begins to form, as Sinclair remembers his year
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aboard Babylon 5, and how his whole life had, indeed, led up to where
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he is now. As time passes, he finds himself inside the chrysalis,
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beginning a change of his own.
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