"A pleasure. Welcome to Babylon 5. It's about time Earth Central sent us a telepath. Can I see your -- your identicard... Everything seems to be in order. Thanks. The rules are simple: no unauthorized mind scans and you'll keep a log of all business dealings you're hired to monitor. You're cleared for access to the casino, but gambling is strictly off-limits. Come on, I'll show you to your quarters, or <laughing> do you already know where it is?"
"Your quarters are in Red 5. We can cut through the alien sector here... Are you set? Since Babylon 5 functions mainly as a free port, our living quarters are set up to handle every possible form of life... This way... We can customize the atmosphere, even adjust the rotation of some sectors to vary the gravity. Over here we have methane breathers, silicon life-forms, insectoids... You name it, sooner or later, everyone comes to Babylon 5."
"Almost, the fourth arrives in two days. They work as an advisory council, like the UN on Earth before it was dissolved. Your quarters are that way. Turn to the right. Good Luck."
"Babylons one, two and three were sabotaged and destroyed. Number four vanished without a trace 24 hours after becoming operational. To this day no one knows what happened to it."
"You spoke to him? Video or audio?"
"Mysterious as ever. Security analysis?"
"What about medical?"
"When Ambassador Kosh arrives we'll finally have representatives from all four of the major alien races on board. This is what we have been working toward since day one. Let's not mess it up now."
"Yes... on my way."
"Ambassador Delenn, I've seen you here before. Almost every other day. If you don't mind my asking, what --"
"It's a Japanese stone garden. Since we need so much land for hydroponic crops and oxygen reclamation, setting this aside was tough. One of the designers called it a pool for Zen skinny-dipping: all you can do is think about doing it."
"Such as...?"
"Absolutely, very large files. There's nothing in them of course. How much do you have?"
"Naturally."
"Why? I mean the war between us has been over for almost ten years, but there are still a lot of people on either sides who'd hang both of us for this kind --"
"All right, Laurel, how much time before the ambassador docks?"
"And the others?"
"Good. I want him in the welcome party when Ambassador Kosh comes aboard. We don't want a repeat of what happened when G'Kar arrived."
"Who ever it is, tell 'em to put --"
"I'll take it. In my quarters."
"Patch incoming signal. Full video and audio decode."
"Hi. I though you weren't due back in this sector for another week?"
"Not exactly fair market bargaining."
"We'll discuss that later. I'm glad you're back. When do you dock?"
"Just in time for the reception. I'll tell you all about it when you arrive."
"On my way."
"Status report."
"Sorry, there was a problem with the tube. Did you get Londo?"
"Notify Security. Get the doors open... Oh, my God!"
"Be careful, Michael. That's an environment suit. He can't take our atmosphere. Open it here and the air will kill him!"
"Get Ben. Tell him we have a med-alert. Get the isolab ready... fast!"
"Damn!"
"How much longer?"
"They just don't want us seeing what's inside."
"No. We haven't come this far to let it all fall apart."
"Then we'll give them security. Ben, as a doctor you're bound by a vow of confidentiality. And that's good enough for me. As for the rest, kill all the monitors. Stop all data recording. I don't want any record of what goes on in there."
"I take full responsibility. Just do what you have to, Ben."
"Wrong about what?"
"Well, that's just a legend."
"Probably."
"Not yet, Senator. Dr. Kyle's been able to stabilize the ambassador's condition, but until we know the cause of his problem there's still a very good chance he could die."
"My Security Chief, Michael Garibaldi, Senator."
"Sorry you had to hear that."
"I need you to find out where everyone was during the five-minute period between the time the ambassador docked and we found him. I've cleared you for full diplomatic access."
"Good. And check the transport tube. It malfunctioned and kept me from getting to Bay 9 until it was too late. May be just a coincidence, but..."
"Carolyn. God, I'm sorry. I forgot. I was going to meet your ship, but --"
"Depends. How bad is what you heard?"
"This isn't a good time."
"Ben, what's up?"
"Can you counteract it?"
"What's your prognosis?"
"All right. Keep me informed."
"Security... this is Commander Jeffrey Sinclair. We have confirmation of an attempted assassination. As authorized under Earth Alliance regulations, I'm hereby sealing off the station. As of now, no one enters or leaves Babylon 5. All ships will be in a holding pattern until further notice."
[Assassin appearing as Sinclair] "Ambassador Kosh... welcome to Babylon 5."
"We're getting a signal from Earth Central. Ultraviolet Priority."
"How's Ambassador Kosh doing?"
"I understand."
"I understand, Senator. Thank you for telling me yourself. Babylon 5 out."
"I have my reasons."
"I expect you to do this by the numbers. The safety of Babylon 5 is more important than any one member of her crew. Am I clear?"
"Just a minute!"
"Damn it! Leave Carolyn out of this."
"Okay. You're saying you don't believe what Lyta Alexander saw in the ambassador's mind. Based on what?"
"So?'
"All these indictments are from the Earth Alliance court. Smuggling forbidden technology from the Vega system... same again from the Proxima system."
"There would have to be something major at stake."
"For that matter, why promise to back Londo at all? Tech runners aren't noted for generosity."
"Hmm."
"Then I think it's about time you had a little talk with Mr. Varner."
"Yes."
"On my way."
"Any idea when it happened?"
"What about his personal effects?"
"Do we have some?"
"How long?"
"I thought you said Kosh one had another 10 hours left?"
"Don't make any mistakes, Ben."
"You're talking to the wrong person. I'm scheduled to be shipped off to the Vorlon homeworld, remember?"
"Michael, I picked you
because you're right for the job: you're not politic, you're not subtle,
and sometimes
"I didn't want to talk about it."
"I was Squad Team Leader when the call came in. We all knew it was a suicide mission. The Minbari had broken through and were closing in. Every ship we had left was ordered to circle Earth. We had to stop them. No matter what it cost. They came at us out of nowhere. We never had a chance. The sky was full of stars. And every star an exploding ship. One of ours. My team was blown out of the sky in less than a minute. Twelve ships. I managed to take out a fighter before they hit my stabilizers. I was losing power. I'd lost my team. And I figured if I was going to die, I'd take some of them with me. So I targeted one of their heavy cruisers, hit my afterburners. I was gonna ram them head on. The last thing I remember is hurdling toward that cruiser, filling my screen. Big. My God, so big.... Then something passed in front of my eyes. I guess I blacked out from the acceleration. When I came to 24 hours later, the cruiser was gone. I checked in. They told me the war was over. The Minbari had surrendered."
"No. We were beaten. We didn't stop them, they stopped themselves. And I wish to hell I knew why."
"Lyta, are you okay?"
"Ben, the ambassador?"
"Looks like a transport of some kind."
"How many could have come through?"
"Definitely short range. Someone had to bring this here and dropped off outside the station. Otherwise there'd be a ship floating outside with no one in it."
"Yeah."
"Where?"
"Sinclair."
"On our way."
"An expensive and very dangerous trick. Changeling nets are outlawed in every civilized sector. Prolonged exposure to an energy field that intense and unstable can be fatal."
"A system like this would have to put out a lot of energy. Laurel, can you re-calibrate the station's eternal sensors to scan for energy sources inside the station?"
"Good. Do so. Garibaldi and I will be along shortly. We have to stop in Security. There's a few things I want to pick up."
"What's the situation?"
"All right. Filter out all known energy sources: life support, utilities, defense grid. Any energy that we're putting out."
"Compensate for ambient heat energy from the solar collectors."
"Where is it?"
"Come on, come on!"
"All right. Seal off the area. I'm taking care of this personally. If we need help, we'll link in."
"Thanks. Let's go!"
"Set PPG to force 5. I want this thing alive. It can't answer questions if it's dead."
"Status on tracking."
"Mike."
"There it is."
"Damn."
"Mike... Mike!"
"Are you all right?"
"Minbari?"
"Why? Why did you do it?"
"Drop pressure doors. Seal off the section."
"Damn it, do it! I gave you and order! Do it! Do it!"
"Coffee, two sugars, cream... and aspirin."
"I wish you could stay. We just get things calmed down and you have to go."
"I'll think about it."
"How's Michael?"
"You can't be responsible for the actions of every one of your race, Delenn."
"Just thought you might like to join me in a toast before the reception. Ambassador G'Kar... to a fully operational Babylon 5."
"Yes. That would be assassin had an interesting background. Seems he belonged to a branch of the Minbari Warrior caste who split from their government after the war."
"I'm surprised you didn't ask about Del Varner."
"Not quite. His last entry spoke of a big payoff for bringing a changeling net across the border. He was supposed to meet with his buyer in the Tigris sector, but was running behind. Didn't your supply ship also pass through the Tigris sector on its way here?"
"I believe the assassin was brought here on your supply ship."
"That's why they needed the changeling net before they arrived. A Minbari Warrior walking off a Narn ship would draw a lot of attention. With a net he could appear to be one of your crew and infiltrate the station. When Varner missed connecting with your ship, he came here, so you had to find another way to get the assassin on board. They used the transport we found on the station hull to get him inside. He then killed Del Varner, and grabbed the changeling net."
"That's right."
"One more thing. As I mentioned, the assassin belonged to the Windsword warrior clan. During the war I was in my world's warrior class. We saved each others' lives a dozen times over."
"With nanotechnology? Glad you asked. You've heard of it, haven't you? Machines too small for the human eye to see. You can even shield them, make them invisible to electronic detection. Like the one you just swallowed in that drink. I imagine it's firmly latched onto your intestinal tract by now."
"Oh, it's nothing harmful,
Ambassador. It's a location transmitter."
"See? It should dissolve in about five years. But until then, Ambassador, my friends in my warrior caste have this frequency. And if anything should happen to Babylon 5, they have instructions to track down that transmitter and... well, why spoil the surprise?"
"This is insurance. What you do here is your own business. You can scheme and plan and play all the games you want. But get this straight: if you ever endanger this station again, my people will find you and the results will be most unpleasant."
"Hmm."
"No, because there isn't one."
"I lied."
"I figured if there were a transmitter, sooner or later they'd find it and remove it. But if I just told them there was, they'd keep looking for it... indefinitely."
"Yes. Come on."
"Could I have your attention. Will you all join me in welcoming to Babylon 5 our final representative: Ambassador Kosh of the Vorlon Empire."
"I needed a little quiet... to think. Delenn, just before he died, the Minbari assassin looked at me and said, "There is a hole in your mind."
"Maybe. It's just there's a 24-hour period in my life that I can't account for. It happened during the war with your people. You wouldn't be holding any thing out on me, would you, Old Friend?"
"Well, we'll talk about this again one of these days. Come on, we should get back to the reception."
"Plain old human stubbornness, I guess. When something we value is destroyed, we rebuild it. If it's destroyed again, we rebuild it again. And again and again and again. Until it stays. That, as our poet Tennyson once said, is the goal: 'to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.'"
"Someone who writes poems. A poem: a story in meter or rhyme."
"You've been talking to Garibaldi again, haven't you?"
"Oh, just a wild guess."