Babylon 5

Dr. Franklin examines Garibaldi's bullet injury, blowing his cover when he is lying about whether it hurts or not. When the routine exam s over, he tells Garibaldi he's ready to get back to work, but Garibaldi doesn't seem too enthusiastic about it. Franklin wants to know why, and during their talk Garibaldi reveals his concerns about his qualifications for the position of Security Chief, as well as his doubts about whether the new CEO really wants him in the job. Since he got betrayed and shot by one of his own crew, whom he trusted and had personally trained himself, how can he possibly be a good Security Chief? Franklin doesn't respond and Garibaldi leaves the Medlab troubled.


In Londo's quarters, he and Vir have a meeting with one of Centauri Prime's influential politicians, Lord Refa, who has come to visit Molari in Babylon 5, after the successful attack in Quadron 34. Refa wants to know how Londo has managed to gather such a potent military force and perform the attack without anyone knowing about it, and without leaving evidence behind to link the attack to the Centauri Empire. Londo of course refuses to divulge his secret. Refa proceeds to express his disapproval of the decadent state of Centauri Prime, and of its incompetent, cowardly emperor. He belongs to a faction of politicians who wish to dethrone the emperor and establish a new order in Centauri Prime, regaining the Empire's old position of power and dominion over the galaxy. The emperor has no progeny and therefore no line of succession, so his removal is the only thing standing between him and a new government. Londo agrees and they make a toast to the Empire's new future, and to the work that lies ahead. Vir seems bothered by Londo's choice, but says nothing.


In the Zocalo, a group of Drazi wearing purple sashes fights with another Drazi group, wearing green sashes. A team of security breaks them up. Londo and Vir go over to the docking bay to escort Lord Refa to his transport, observing three technomages upon their arrival at the station. Technomages are highly advanced scientists who use the methods of science to produce the effects of magic. They are greatly feared and respected in Centauri Prime. Londo believes the presence of more than one of them is an ominous sign.


In Sheridan's office, he and Susan discuss the Drazi situation. The Drazi divide themselves to two rival clans once every five years, and the two clans fight until one of them is finally dominant. It's the time for the new cycle of fighting, and the Drazi on Babylon 5 are causing a great deal of trouble, fighting, knocking things down and making noise everywhere they meet one another. Sheridan announces Susan's promotion to Commander to her. Her first task will be to diplomatically resolve the Drazi problem. Susan is extremely glad and gets right on it.


Londo and Vir have a drink in the Zocalo, where Londo ponders on the significance of receiving a technomage's blessing. The old emperor of Centauri Prime had received the blessing of three technomages, and if Londo could do the same with these three it would make a very positive impression back home. Vir tries to explain to him how he is faced by certain temptations which he would do best to avoid, but Londo rejects his advice and assigns him to go visit the technomages and grant him an audience with them. Vir protests but Londo leaves.


Sheridan visits Garibaldi in his quarters to discuss his re-assignment to the post of Chief Security. Garibaldi repeats his doubts to him, whereupon Sheridan reassures him that he is a valuable asset to the station, as he knows it inside out and has much experience in this position. He tells him he's going to keep his position open for as long as possible, until he makes the decision to come back.


Susan arranges a meeting with the representatives of the two quarreling Drazi factions. According to their explanation, the dispute has no apparent reason. The Drazi put the green and purple sashes in a large barrel and randomly choose one to wear. When this is done they are separated to two opposing groups, and fight until one of them prevails, thus applying the theory of random natural selection . Ivanova thinks it's absurd and tries to demonstrate that by removing someone's green sash and replacing it with a purple one. Then all hell breaks loose as the Drazi start fighting amongst themselves again. Ivanova gets trampled upon and breaks her leg.


Vir visits the technomages' lair, in his effort to ensure Londo his much desired audience with them. He is faced with the challenge of a digital monster, which however doesn't manage to drive him away. Elric, the leader of the technomages, is intrigued by Vir's bravery and has a little chat with him. He tells him his kind is not interested in money, fame or power, and that nothing Londo could do would provide him with the audience he wants. Vir insists and Elric leaves him with an old saying: "Do not try the patience of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger".


Susan is in Medlab, getting her broken leg cast by Dr. Franklin, when Sheridan visits her to ask if she would prefer to abandon the Drazi affair altogether, given her circumstance. She insists on pulling it off, and arranges a new meeting of the two groups. Vir informs Londo of Elric's refusal, and he comes up with a new plan to acquire the semblance of the technomage's blessing. Meanwhile, Garibaldi has a chance encounter with one of his colleagues in Security, Lou, who asks him when he's going to come back.


Londo goes to Sheridan's office, trying to convince him that the technomages are dangerous and volatile, and that they need to be checked out by him just in case their intention is to cause trouble in the station. Sheridan's attention has already been caught by them, and he feels it is his obligation to investigate their presence, so he agrees to arrange a meeting and have Londo present. Susan hears about the escalation of the quarrels in the Drazi homeworld, ending up in the death of members of the losing faction. She runs off to the council chambers with a security team, but by the time she gets there all the purple Drazi are dead. Elric arrives at Sheridan's office for the interrogation, and a while later the two are interrupted by Londo, who places a secret camera in the office. Elric is enraged and informs the captain that Londo has been striving to get an audience with him ever since he arrived in the station. He produces a recording of Vir's demand as proof, and destroys the hidden camera as well. Sheridan furiously throws Londo out of his office, telling him he's lucky he isn't being arrested. He continues his conversation with Elric in a very friendly climate, while walking casually in Zocalo. Elric is not able to reveal the location to which his people are migrating, nor the exact reason for the migration. He does warn Sheridan of a great threat in the immediate future, and that the technomages, being unable to prevent it from arriving, are forced to leave so as for their powers to be protected from being abused by anyone.


Susan goes to the green Drazi's stronghold within the station, to negotiate a peace agreement with the purple Drazi. The leader of the green Drazi wants nothing to do with peace, and suggests they use her name to entrap the purple Drazi and throw them out in space. Susan is angered by the suggestion, but the Drazi leader tells her it's already been done. She tries to reach Security via personal comlink but is interrupted and kept prisoner. Garibaldi meets the security team that received her signal in the elevator, on their way to see what happened. When he asks Lou a couple of questions he finds out Susan sent the message from her personal comlink, which is something she doesn't normally do. He goes down to the Drazi stronghold and pretends to be a salesman to be let in. He and Susan overpower the Drazi guards and escape the room. They put the purple Drazi in lockup, intending to leave them there for one Drazi cycle, until the whole dispute is settled. Their only miscalculation is that one Drazi cycle is not a week, as they thought, but 1.2 human years. Susan is frustrated when trying to reason with the green leader, and grabs the green sash from his neck in a spontaneous move. The other Drazi immediately start to consider her as their leader. So the dispute is settled. Susan leads the green Drazi to lockup, where she's going to change their green sashes to purple ones. All Drazi in the station will be purple, and no reason for fighting will exist anymore.


Londo sees his computer files and his personal accounts destroyed by a spell of the technomages. He is forced to go down to their lair and apologize. While he thinks the apology has worked, three little creatures have attached themselves on his back. Garibaldi, Ivanova, Franklin and Sheridan are sharing dinner, celebrating Garibaldi's decision to go back to his position as Security Chief. His knowledge of Babylon 5 and especially the little detail he knew which allowed him to save Ivanova's life, have had a major contribution to this decision. Londo has one last conversation with Elric, before his ship departs. Elric finally gives him a prophecy, however not the one that Londo had apparently hoped for. "As I look at you, Ambassador Molari, I see a great hand, reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand, and I hear sounds, the sounds of billions of people calling your name". "My followers?" "Your victims…"


Bak in C&C, Captain Sheridan gives permission for the technomage ship to head off to its unknown destination.