Conflicts of Interest

Airdate: May 4, 1997

Episode # : 78

Production # : 412

Guest stars: Tim Choate as Zathras, Denise Gentile as Lise Hampton, Mark Scheidner as Wade and Charles Walker as Ben.

Episode Plot

Babylon 5

Garibaldi is interrupted in his meeting by a man named Ben, who hired Garibaldi to locate his daughter, who has been missing since a recent attack of raiders. Ben is upset because Garibaldi has been "unable" to find his daughter.

Ben: "I got your message. OK, fine, so another pointless meeting. 3 weeks Garibaldi, 3 weeks since I asked you to find my daughter. I haven't been able to eat, I haven't been able to sleep since the raiders' attack. And all I get is your silence except when you want more money, more information, the same old questions over and over."

Garibaldi: "Ben. . ."

Ben: "She was the only reason I fought to stay alive during the raids. Don't you understand, without her, I have nothing to live for. "

Garibaldi: "Ben. . ."

Ben: "What?"

Garibaldi: "Turn around."

Allison, Ben's daughter, runs into the room.

Ben: "Why didn't you tell me?"

Garibaldi: "Because then I wouldn't have been able to see this."

Garibaldi presents his bill to Ben, who finds that it is only 30 % of Garibaldi's fee. Garibaldi explains that the 30 % is to cover his expenses. Ben expresses his gratitude to Garibaldi. Ben leaves; Wade shows up, decides that it's time to present Garibaldi with an assignment. However, he doesn't approach Garibaldi immediately. Instead, he confers with an associate:

Wade: "Let's see how he handles himself in a crunch. If he does alright, we'll know he's ok. If he dies, we'll know he's the wrong man. At this point, Mr. Garibaldi is eminently expendable.

Babylon 5

Zack enters Sheridan's office. Sheridan has the lights turned low. Sheridan explains to Zack that there are many things that he has left undone since his return from Z'ha'dum. He says that now, with Delenn gone, he has no excuses to put things off any more. To start, he wants to know why Garibaldi's link, identicard and PPG haven't been confiscated since his resignation. Zack expresses his belief that Garibaldi's resignation is only temporary.

Zack: "When he got back, he couldn't wait to get back on the job, when he walked away, it just didn't make any sense"

Sheridan: "If you're going to wait for the universe to start making sense, you'll have a long wait ahead of you. I want this taken care of today."

Zack: "Why the rush?"

Sheridan: "I don't like the company he's been keeping"

War Room

Franklin walks into the renovated War Room, now serving as the Voice of the Resistance. Ivanova reports that the broadcast center is up and running. The only problem is that ISN is blocking the relay stations, so B5 doesn't have enough power to broadcast all the way for Earth.

Franklin: "What about Epsilon 3? There's enough power down there to broadcast through to the rim."

Zocalo

Zack meets Garibaldi, inquires about him. Garibaldi reports his business is successful, and that he's enjoying his work. Zack delivers the news that Sheridan wants Garibaldi's link, identicard and weapons. Garibaldi freely surrenders his link and identicard, but wants to keep his gun. Zack pushes, demands both his gun and its backup. Garibaldi wants to keep the gun to protect himself. Zack says that Garibaldi can buy another gun, but must surrender the military issue. Garibaldi gives Zack his guns, and says that he could have accepted the confiscation from any other security member better. Both leave, obviously frustrated.

Space

Ivanova leaves in a shuttle to goto Epsilon 3 to secure the materials needed to broadcast the Voice of the Resistance throughout Earth space.

Garibaldi's quarters

Garibaldi watches a Daffy Duck cartoon and fixes his dinner. Wade enters:

Garibaldi: "Your timing sucks"

Wade: "I've got a job for you"

Garibaldi: "My hours are from 9 to 6. Come see me then."

Wade: "This is a special job. I don't think you'd be wanting to talk about this in public. You said you don't like the way things are going around here Mr. Garibaldi. You said you wanted to help me and my friends. Now you can. I want to hire you as a bodyguard and an expediter. You interested?"

Garibaldi: "Depends on who you want me to guard and what you want me to expedite."

Wade explains that a contact from Earth wishes to conduct business on Babylon 5. He wants to come on the station without having to deal with security.

Wade: "Of course, it means going up against you own security team. You have a problem with that? "

Garibaldi: "If you asked me that question yesterday, I'd have said yes. Today, no. No I don't have a problem at all. I'm in."

Epsilon 3

Ivanova lands on Epsilon 3. She impatiently walks around, looking for someone. Finally she sees Zathras!!!!!!!! She's shocked.

Ivanova: "Zathras! What the he!! are you doing here?"

Zathras: "Zathras work here. Zathras was born here. You work up there, Zathras work down here. You dress like that, Zathras dress like this. "

Ivanova: "That's not..."

Zathras: "Just covering all possibilities. Zathras does not want you being confused. Bye."

Ivanova: "Wait a minute. You're not supposed to be here. We left you a thousand years in the past!"

Zathras: "No. We have never met before. But Zathras very pleased to be meeting you."

Ivanova: "We HAVE met before!!!! "

Zathras: "No. " A light in Zathras' head turns on. "Oh!! No, no no!!! You did not meet Zathras! You met Zathras!"

Ivanova: "Let's try this again"

Zathras: "As you wish"

Ivanova: "Zathras came with us to Babylon 4."

Zathras: "Yes."

Ivanova: "Zathras stayed in the past with Valen>"

Zathras: "Yes."

Ivanova: "You are Zathras"

Zathras: "Yes."

Ivanova: "Therefore you went into the past"

Zathras: "No. That was not Zathras. That was Zathras. There are ten of us, all of family Zathras. Each one named Zathras. Slight differences in how you pronounce. Zathras, Zathras, Zathras. You are seeing now?"

Ivanova: "There are ten of you?"

Zathras: "Yes. Well, nine now. Zathras warn Zathras but Zathras never listen. Zathras was quiet one in family. So! What can Zathras be doing for you?"

Ivanova explains that Babylon 5 is going to broadcast throughout Earth space, but doesn't have the power. Zathras explains that she needs power to reach "far places." Zathras does the same little complaining stint that **he** always does, and then takes Ivanova to help her.

Babylon 5

Garibaldi and Wade take a back route to get to customs. Wade explains that the contact couldn't make it, so he sent his wife to "learn the ropes." Garibaldi recognizes his contact: an old lover by the name of Lise Hampton-Edgars. Garibaldi has a flashback of his time with Lise on Mars. In the flashback, Lise is angry because of his decision to enlist on Babylon 5 under Sinclair. Garibaldi explains to Wade that he and Lise were once going to get married.

Garibaldi's quarters

Garibaldi wants to know why Lise remarried. Lise explains that her ex-husband, Franz, was having an affair. She says that he filed a divorce before she could, and he won everything because EA judges always were biased toward Earth-naturals over "Martian born." Six months ago, she met Bill Edgars. They hit it off and got married.

Garibaldi: "Oh, yeah, Bill, whatever. Wait, you mean William Edgars? The William Edgars who owns half of Marsdome? You certainly did trade off, Lise. He probably spends more money on chips and dip than I made in a year as Chief of Security."

Lise: "Money's got nothing to do with it"

Garibaldi: "Oh, of course. Now, this is the third time you've broken my heart, and that's one more time than you're entitled. Your husband hired me to do a job, and I'm gonna do it. And as far as I'm concerned, you're just another client. End of conversation."

With nearly perfect timing, Garibaldi's conversation with Lise ends just as Wade rings the doorbell. Garibaldi says that he's ready to go, and they leave.

Sheridan's office

Sheridan meets with Londo and G'kar. He says that he wants to allow the Rangers and the White Star fleet to patrol the areas of space surrounding the empires of the Narn and the Centauri, as well as the borders of non-aligned space. Londo claims to have heard of the Drakh, says they were legends in the stories of Centauri Prime. Londo and G'kar both have reservations against Sheridan's idea; believe it may be seen as an act of aggression toward other worlds. Sheridan heats up and says that they need to come together to rebuild what was destroyed. Sheridan also says that while they bicker and argue, more innocent civilians will be killed.

Security HQ

Zack goes over the day's security reports. He finds that Garibaldi illegally accessed the docking bay in order to get an "unidentified" passenger on the station without going through customs. Zack is furious; orders the computer to cancel Garibaldi's security access.

DownBelow

Garibaldi, Wade and Lise meet with their contact. The contact hands over a device with an impressive locking mechanism. They explain to Garibaldi that the device holds information regarding to a mutating virus which infects only telepaths. Lise explains that her husband wants to help cure the virus. Garibaldi doesn't like what's going on. Several men confront Wade. They open fire; a fierce fight ensues. Garibaldi forces his way out and pushes his associates out of the room. Everyone runs through Grey sector. Garibaldi and his friends take refuge behind an open door and barricade it shut. However, due to Zack's cancelling of Garibaldi's clearance, they can't escape through the other door.

DownBelow

Garibaldi pulls a PPG and fired at the ceiling. An air grate falls down, and Garibaldi, Lise and Wade jump up into a ventilation duct. Garibaldi tells Lise and Wade to keep going through the ducts; he'll hold his ground to give them time. One of the gunmen jumps up into the duct and takes aim at Garibaldi. However, he doesn't fire. After staring at Garibaldi for a few seconds, he makes his way out of the duct. Garibaldi realizes what's happening and swears to himself. He knows that he'd just been scanned by a telepath. Garibaldi knows that he confronted telepathic assassins. He catches up with Lise and Wade and tells them to keep thinking "Docking Bay 3." He takes them somewhere else, but sends a security team to Docking Bay 3. He informs Wade and Lise that Lise was so scared, she was broadcasting her thought all over the place, and her thinking "Docking Bay 3" sent the telepaths off in the wrong direction. Garibaldi then tells Wade to get Lise off the station on the next transport.

Zack and a security team intercept two telepathic assassins in Docking Bay 3. Before being arrested, one says "To the Future," before biting down on something, later found to be cyanide, and dying quickly. Right after the two hitmen die, Garibaldi rushes into the bay and finds Zack and his team.

Docking Bay

Ivanova returns to Babylon 5 and is greeted by Franklin. Ivanova wants to tell Sheridan that she has secured the necessary equipment to broadcast the Voice of the Resistance. Franklin tells her to wait a while; Sheridan's not in a good mood.

Sheridan's office

Sheridan grills Garibaldi. Garibaldi doesn't offer much information and doesn't help Sheridan. Sheridan is enraged and threatens to shut down Garibaldi's business and make life very difficult if it ever happens again.

Sheridan: "I've got three dead people on the decks!!!"

Garibaldi's quarters

The computer informs Garibaldi that a message is waiting for him. He decides not to see it and tels the computer to delete the message without displaying it.

Garibaldi's quarters

Garibaldi receivs an audio message from William Edgars. Edgars wants to inform him that Lise returned home safely, and he thanks Garibaldi for keeping her safe. He offers Garibaldi a job on Mars with a substantial pay. Garibaldi says he's interested.

Voice of the Resistance Room

Ivanova begins the first official broadcast of the Voice of the Resistance. She informs Earthspace that ISN and Clark have been lying since B5's secession. Ivanova reports to Earth that "The truth is back in business."

Questions

• Who is William Edgars? What is his real importance? Is he loyal to Earth or the Resistance?
• What does "To the future" mean? Obviously, the hitmen were attempting to steal the drug/device that the dealer gave to Garibaldi. Therefore, they are telepaths. So, how did they get on board without being notice? Are they psi-corps or rogue telepaths?
• Sheridan tells Zack that he doesn't like Garibaldi's company. Has he been following Garibaldi?
• Aside from Wade & Co., what other "company" is Garibaldi keeping?
• Does Wade trust Garibaldi? Does Garibaldi trust Wade?
• Who is Wade working for? Is he just against Sheridan or is he also loyal to Earth?
• Is Wade involved with the people who programmed Garibaldi? For that matter, is Edgars?
• Why did Garibaldi just delete the message that Lise sent him?
• Who was the person who Garibaldi was talking with when Ben approached him?
• Who are Wade's "friends?"
• Why is Earth prejudiced against "Martian born" Earth citizens?
• Did Londo and G'kar allow Sheridan to order the Rangers to their borders?
• What does Edgars really wish to do with telepaths? Does he want to help or hurt them?
• What exactly was the stuff that Lise was picking up?
• Why is Garibaldi so angry at Lise?
• Does Wade know about Garibaldi's past associations with Lise?
• If Wade knew about Garibaldi and Lise, could his meeting with her have been a test? Remember, Wade told his friend that Garibaldi needed a test to prove his usefulness. Perhaps his encounter with Lise was a test of his ability to handle a stressful situation.
• Why didn't Bill Edgars show Garibaldi his face?
• What was the messdage Lise left for Garibaldi?
• Has G'kar heard of the Drakh before? Since the Shadows used Narn as a base during the last war a 1000 years ago, perhaps the Narn had some sort of contact with the Drakh as well.
• Is Wade a telepath? If so, he would certainly be interested in the alleged cure for the telepathic disease.
• Why do Londo and G'kar now seem to distrust Sheridan? Do they think he has bought into his own "cult of personality?"
• Assuming the entire story about the Telepath-virus is true, did the package that Lise picked up even have anything to do with the virus, or was it a front to find if Garibaldi was trustworthy.

Notes / Interesting Facts

• Wade and his group, whoever they are, consider Garibaldi expendable.
• If Wade is involved with the people who programmed Garibaldi, and Garibaldi was programmed with orders that "You work for no one but us" and he is going to work for William Edgars, that means that Mr. Edgars was a participant in Garibaldi's abduction and programming.
• There were 10 Zathras'. All of the names had a slightly different pronunciation.
• Zathras (the original) in WWEII said "Zathras warn, but no, no one listen to poor Zathras." This is especially true, since Zathras warned Zathras, but Zathras didn't listen.
• The original Zathras was quiet!!
• The Centauri have had some form of contact with the Drakh in the past, but it has been such a long time that the Drakh are now considered nothing more than a child's legend.

Predictions

• If Garibaldi accepts Edgars' offer of a job on Mars, he will obviously have to leave Babylon 5. If he did so, his programmers, should Edgars be a member, will have him in a position in which Sheridan will not be able to bring him back. Considering Garibaldi's vast knowledge regarding B5, if his programmers are allied with Earth, Garibaldi's transfer could have the potential to seriously hurt the Cause. And, if Garibaldi leaves, he will probably never return to Babylon 5.