Original Airdate: February 12, 1996 Written by J. Michael Straczynski Directed by Kevin Cremin Episode #: 51 Production #: 307
Guest stars: Joshua Cox as Corwin. Aubrey Morris as Duncan. James Warwick as Matthew Duffin.
Commander Ivanova determines whether or not Lt. Corwin should be brought into the Conspiracy against Earth.
Sheridan (BRUCE BOXLEITNER) instructs Ivanova (CLAUDIA CHRISTIAN) to set up a private meeting with newly-promoted Lieutenant Corwin (JOSHUA COX) to discover whether he can help their cause. Corwin misinterprets her intentions, believing Ivanova is asking him out on a date. When the two finally meet, Ivanova discovers Corwin would not be an ally of the Rangers because of his claim that we would not act against any orders sent by Earthdome.
Marcus (JASON CARTER) gets word from one of his informants that the Rangers should go on a heightened state of alert and pull back from Earth space due to a gathering of Shadow vessels on the edge of Centauri space. Marcus gives instructions to drop a long-range scanner in the area of build-up.
Meanwhile, Dr. Franklin (RICHARD BIGGS) is baffled upon the discovery of several people who have died as the result of a small, unknown, alien parasite which lodges itself onto the spinal cord of its victims.
When Samuel (ERIC STEINBERG) and Duncan (AUBREY MORRIS), several of Marcus's liaisons, disappear, Franklin and Marcus go to their Downbelow quarters to investigate. They are surprised to find several Lurkers, including Samuel and Duncan, armed and an unconscious man on the floor. Being held captive for their accidental discovery, Franklin and Marcus learn that the parasite is a way of serving a race known as the Vindrizi, and by voluntarily accepting the parasite, the person is actually merging with their race. For some, like Duncan, it improves their health, however, for those whose body's reject it, it's lethal.
The Vindrizi seek out those who have nothing to look forward to, namely Lurkers, and give them the gift of life. By accepting the parasite, their host bodies are instilled with vast memories of all that has been seen and touched. Their mission is to preserve all of these memories until the inevitable day when all life and knowledge falls into a new dark age, Then, all will turn to them, and they will be keepers of the past.
After Marcus confesses his fondness for Ivanova to Franklin, Samuel and Duncan take Franklin to a room where a Lurker is ill with the parasite in his spine. Franklin is ordered to heal him, but he claims he cannot without the proper medical equipment.
Left alone and fearing danger, Marcus convinces one of his captures that his pike is actually a medical scanner which might be useful to Franklin. When he talks his capture into looking through the pike, the man unknowingly arms it and knocks himself out. Then, Marcus signals Garibaldi (JERRY DOYLE) on Franklin's link, and Garibaldi sends several guards to their aid. Marcus then finds his way into the room where Franklin is being held, and together they subdue their captures.
Seeing no other choice and knowing it can never be reattached, Duncan pulls out the parasite as a show of loyalty, and to convince Franklin of his belief in the Vindrizi cause. A convinced Franklin ultimately accepts the methods and principles employed by the Vindrizi cause. A convinced Franklin ultimately accepts the methods and principles employed by the Vindrizi, and promises to keep them secret, but only under his direct supervision. Relegated back to what he believes to be his life without purpose, Duncan leaves Babylon 5.
