Babylon 5

Teaser: Ivanova is making a public broadcast from Babylon 5 to all allied forces, to inform them that the Vorlon forces have eliminated two more deep-range planetary colonies. They are using what appears to be a large ship, capable of firing a large energy beam that can destroy entire planets, as can be seen in the footage of the destruction of Ventari 3. Other nearby colonies are listed as accepting refugees and the Ventari jumpgate has been destroyed, so it is not possible to return. There are scenes of panic inside Babylon 5 and a woman is almost trampled down before being rescued by Sheridan, while everybody looks in awe. Sheridan walks away with Lorien among the whispers.


Lorien: You heard?
Sheridan: I heard.
Lorien: They need to believe.
Sheridan: Not in me.
Lorien: You can't save them all.
Sheridan: I can try.
Lorien: You'll fail.
Sheridan: We'll see.


Title Sequence


Garibaldi is in his quarters reviewing Securecam records despite the doctor's orders to rest after his disappearance ordeal. Sgt. Allan enters as he is focusing in pictures of Sheridan and Lorien. He seems to be particularly distrustful of the latter and quasi-jealous of his relationship with Sheridan. He also seems irritable about everything and almost paranoid when Sgt. Allan mentions his amnesia, pointing out that no-one is questioning Sheridan about his "death" in Z'Ha'Dum but they all seem ready to question him, and that Sheridan has not spoken to him since his return. Sgt. Allan tells him that Ivanova instructed him to tell Garibaldi to go to Medlab for a final check before going back to his post, to Garibaldi's relief. In Centauri Prime, Emperor Cartagia has summoned Mollari to talk to him and Mr. Morden concerning the Vorlon attacks to planets allied to the Shadows. Since during the last war the Shadows scattered and hid part of their fleet in distant worlds in case they were defeated, the Vorlons want to prevent the Shadows from doing that again by destroying all potential bases. Morden, whose physical health has improved, informs Mollari that the ships already here in the island of Celini have to be protected by Centauri forces. The Vorlons would not risk attacking a major civilisation if it resists them, since it would mean too many civilian casualties. After Morden leaves, Mollari tries to convince Emperor Cartagia that sending their ships against the Vorlons to protect Shadow ships is folly, and Cartagia agrees, but not for the same reasons as Mollari. Cartagia invites Mollari to a private room where he keeps the disembodied heads of those in the Centaurum and the Government that have opposed his whims. Ranting madly, Cartagia tells a disgusted and horrified Mollari that he intends to let the Vorlons destroy Centauri Prime so that he can be elevated to Godhood as the Shadows promised. The planet's inhabitants would also die as an act of mercy, since they could not possibly live without their Emperor-God.


In Medlab, Dr. Franklin is performing some final tests on Garibaldi, including one on the back of his neck to ensure that the Shadows did not capture Garibaldi to put implants in his head. Garibaldi still does not remember what happened to him but he briefly remembers being restrained with plastic foil bindings on a table. After he leaves, Sheridan enters Medlab to ask for his own test results. Ivanova keeps broadcasting the news of more Vorlon attacks, this time one of the safe havens mentioned before. As the day goes by, more reports arrive and Ivanova asks for help with refugee evacuation. Sheridan is now back in his quarters when Delenn arrives. He is very concerned because he can hear something that he thought it was not possible: Fear in Ivanova's voice. Delenn is there however to express her regret again to Sheridan for not telling him that Anna might have been alive. She tells him that worse than losing him at Z'Ha'Dum is the though of having him back only to lose him again because he cannot forgive her. Sheridan alleviates her fears by his answer:


Sheridan: I fell at Z'Ha'Dum, Delenn. I saw my own dead and accepted it. I looked up and saw Anna – What was left of Anna. At that moment I said goodbye, the goodbye I could never say before. I let it all go. I only held on to one thing: The image of your sweet face. If I never came back, that was enough. But you gave me a reason to come back. Could I love that much and not forgive?


In the War Room Ivanova, Garibaldi, Dr. Franklin and Sgt. Allan are discussing the refugee situation in the station and how it is going to get even worse since, as Garibaldi points out, many believe now that Sheridan is some kind of messiah that can defeat both the Vorlons and the Shadows and will be coming to Babylon 5 in droves. Dr. Franklin proposes to use Epsilon 3 as an alternative refugee base and Sheridan, who enters the room at that point, accepts the suggestion gladly. He then addresses Garibaldi and gives him an assignment: To ask the Vorlon ambassador to leave the station. As long as he is here spying, they cannot make their move. When Garibaldi asks what move that is, Sheridan refuses to explain because he fears that the Vorlon would pick it up from Garibaldi's brain telepathically when he goes to expel him. And Garibaldi cannot take a full tactical team to the Vorlon quarters either, as Sheridan does not want to risk casualties. Garibaldi sarcastically asks if he should fall on his sword for him as well and then leaves to comply, followed by an apologetic Sgt. Allan. Lorien and Lyta enter the War Room to tell them that they are ready for their plan. Lorien warns them of the danger that a Vorlon, especially an enraged one, represents, but Sheridan replies that with billions of lives in danger, they have to take out the Vorlon anyway they can.


Ivanova continues with the broadcasts: Dura 7 has now fallen to the Vorlon fleet. Garibaldi and a team of five people go to the Vorlon ambassador's quarters to tell him that he has been expelled from the station due to the Vorlon Government's attacks to other planets, and that he will be escorted to his ship. The Vorlon's answer is just "No". One of the guards moves forward and the Vorlon knocks him off with an energy blast from inside his encounter suit. Garibaldi and the other shoot at the Vorlon but to no effect, except that lightning appears on top of the Vorlon's helmet and around him. The Vorlon then emits a high frequency noise that brings the guards to their knees and even breaks one of the oxygen masks, forcing them to flee the methane atmosphere of the Vorlon quarters. Mollari contacts Sheridan and asks for an update on the Vorlon attacks, and how long would it take them to get to Centauri Prime. Sheridan gives him an estimate of 7-8 days. He also tells him that they have plans to try to stop them, but there are no guarantees. Mollari thanks him.


Lyta goes to the Vorlon ambassador's quarters to alert him of the impending assault on his person, but the Vorlon tells her that it has already happened. Her loyalty reaffirmed, she tells him that she suspects someone on the station, a human, having some of Kosh's essence inside, but that she is being prevented from drawing it out by that person. The Vorlon is mightily offended by the thought of a mere human imprisoning a Vorlon and agrees to follow Lyta. As they arrive to an abandoned area full of electrical equipment, the Vorlon begins to suspect something and demands that Lyta open her mind to him. She manages to fend him off for a while and lure him to a prearranged spot. Sheridan appears and tells Lyta to get away and energy flashes from the equipment surrounding the Vorlon, while guards shoot at him. Sheridan and Lyta hide behind some boxes during the attack, which initially does not make any impact on the Vorlon until the helmet of the encounter suit explodes and the real shape of the Vorlon appears. It is not the image of the angelic being that they usually project, but a gigantic and translucent blue-grey squid-like being. It thrashes around the area and disables the guards one by one. Sheridan asks Ivanova to direct more power to the equipment, but she has other problems as well: The Vorlon ship in Bay 13 is leaving the station on its own, probably to warn the Vorlon homeworld, attacking everything in its path. Delenn, who was hiding behind a door looking for Sheridan tries to drag one of the guards out of danger and the Vorlon focuses his rage on her. Sheridan manages to jump between the Vorlon and Delenn and the Vorlon's tentacles capture him. Lorien appears behind Delenn and, concentrating, signals to Sheridan that the moment has arrived. Sheridan turns to face the Vorlon and another giant squid, this one gold-green, jumps out of him. It is part Sheridan and part Lorien, but also the last of Kosh. The two giant figures twist against each other in a whirlwind and expand to the outside of the station, reaching the fleeing Vorlon ship and making it explode. Back in the battle zone, Delenn runs to a prostrated Sheridan but Lorien stops her. He must replenish Sheridan's life force by giving of himself, as he did in Z'Ha'Dum. Delenn asks him how long would that last, to which Lorien only replies: "Long enough."


In Centauri Prime, Mollari is trying to convince Emperor Cartagia of the necessity of leaving someone as a witness of Cartagia's grandeur. If all Centauri are dead, happily killed by the Vorlons, who will sing his praises in the future and build temples for him? A God must have worshippers. Cartagia thinks that this is a plan for Mollari to escape Centauri Prime, but Mollari surprises him by suggesting that the best ones to spread his name and his glory are no other than his enemies, the Narns. If before the Vorlons arrive he goes to Narn and conducts a public trial and execution of the rebel G'Kar, they will all see his power and spread the word throughout the galaxy. It would also dispel any rumours that he is afraid to visit Narn. Cartagia is convinced: three days to go there, one day for trial, execution and to exhibit himself to the Narns, three days to return and become a God when the Vorlons kill everybody. Mollari will kill G'Kar personally.


A fleet is assembling at Babylon 5 from all allied races. Now that the Vorlon is gone, they are ready to follow Sheridan and Delenn. Garibaldi tells Ivanova that he does not know what would be best, to lose and die or to win and then try to solve all the other problems: They are renegades, they have had problems with dozens of races for one reason or another in their corner of the galaxy and they cannot go home. Ivanova is happy to see someone more pessimistic than herself. In Sheridan's quarters, he and Lorien try to explain to Delenn what is really in store for Sheridan. Lorien cannot create life, only expand and enhance what is already there. Dr. Franklin's medscan confirms that there is a biochemical energy in his neurosystem repairing and sustaining him, but only the Universe can create life and Sheridan had only a spark of it left for Lorien to work with. He could give Sheridan back about twenty years of his life, but no more. He will reach his early sixties, not too bad for a human although they usually can live up to a hundred, but Minbari live longer than that. Delenn has to face that, even if they survive, their time together will be limited. Sheridan tries to comfort her and then gives her an engagement ring, explaining to her that this, for a human, is a prelude for marriage, whenever they can make it happen in the future.


In Centauri Prime, Mollari is making the final arrangements for the trip to Narn and Cartagia is inspecting G'Kar. He does not like the way G'Kar is looking at him and asks Mollari what he should do about it. Busy, Mollari tells Cartagia to do whatever he thinks would be appropriate and leaves. Cartagia thinks about it for a little while and decides that plucking out one of his eyes would do nicely. He picks the left eye at random and leaves nonchalantly, as the guards prepare to execute his order.