[All talking at once]
Delenn: Please!
If I can just--
if I can just finish!
We have before us an opportunity
to strike at our mutual enemy:
The Shadows.
If our information is correct,
this could be the biggest engagement
of the war to date.
We do not know
how many of their ships will be involved,
so our only chance
is to have as many as possible on our side.
We need all of you to cooperate.
If you wish cooperation,
then why do you not tell us what the mission is?
That's right!
If we discuss this openly,
there is every chance
that the enemy will learn of our plans.
You must trust us.
How can we trust you when you will not trust us?
Because so far we have kept every promise we've made.
We told you that telepaths could be used
to slow the advance of the Shadows.
We supplied you with telepaths
if you didn't have your own.
We have saved the lives of many of your people.
If we haven't earned your trust by now...
Then please go.
Nothing more will be required of you.
Ambassador Delenn,
if we give you all the ships you ask for,
it will weaken our defenses around homeworld.
I know it's a risk...
But it's necessary.
The ships will gather
in a holding area in hyperspace
apProximately 2 hours
from their final destination.
They will stand by until the signal is given.
Then, and only then,
will their destination be revealed.
And what will you bring to this engagement?
As many Minbari cruisers as can be spared.
And some additional forces you have not yet seen.
Let us know when you've finished
your deliberations.
But do not take too long.
Our time is short... And growing shorter.
[Discussions begin]
Sheridan: So, we don't have a lot of time.
The Shadows have been driving refugees
and support ships
into sector 83 for 2 months now.
My guess is when enough of these ships
are gathered at one place,
the enemy will hit them and hit them hard.
Which would demoralize all sides.
Sheridan: Exactly.
The number of refugees escaping into sector 83
has dropped off considerably for the past few days.
So, they may strike anytime now.
That "anytime now" could be today, tomorrow,
a few days from now.
If we wait until we hear about an attack,
it'll be too late to strike back.
They'll be long gone by the time we get there.
Delenn is working out that part right now.
We'll have as many ships
as we can standing by in hyperspace.
But for this to work...
We have to know the second the enemy shows up.
That means having an advance scout
on patrol in that area.
One ship. Any more would draw attention,
and they might change their plans.
And that ship?
That would be us?
Sheridan: Correct.
You are to enter sector 83 and maintain radio silence
until the enemy comes out of hyperspace.
Now, they may come out all at once...
Or in small groups.
Either way, as soon as you see them,
notify the fleet and get the hell out of there.
You are not-- repeat--not
to engage their forces
unless fired upon first.
Now, if that should happen,
do what you have to do.
But get out fast.
Understood.
Anything else?
Yes.
We've all seen how fast those ships can move.
If they see you before you can escape...
You'll take the White Star.
It's the fastest ship we've got.
You'll need it.
'Cause even if everything goes right,
our best guess is you've only got
a 50-50 chance of getting back alive.
Ivanova: The Babylon project
was our last best hope for peace.
It failed.
But in the year of the Shadow War,
it became something greater--
our last best hope...
For victory.
The year is 2260.
The place...
The others have gone to speak with their governments.
They have authorized me to speak in their place.
You will have all the ships we can spare, Delenn.
I only hope that you are right
because it will cost us greatly if you are wrong.
I've got Commander Ivanova on channel 4.
Put her through.
Ivanova: We're ready to go, Captain.
Any last-minute instructions?
Aside from an old Egyptian blessing,
I can't think of a thing.
Then we'll see you... When we see you.
Full ahead.
Fayzen shok.
An old Egyptian blessing?
"May god stand between you and harm
in all the empty places where you must walk."
Hey, chief.
I'm gonna get some lunch. Want to come along?
No. I got to get back to the office.
You sure?
I can bring you back something.
No, thanks. I'm fine.
Anything wrong, chief?
I don't know.
You seen or heard anything about Stephen lately?
Dr. Franklin? Not in 5, maybe 6 days.
He's still out on that, uh, what do you call it?
Walkabout.
Oh. Yeah. Right. Ha ha.
He told one of the guys
that he's got to keep walking
until he meets himself.
Kind of weird, but around here, what isn't?
Yeah. You know, I've just be thinking.
He shouldn't be doing this.
He shouldn't have to be doing this.
I feel like I screwed up.
Hey, come on, chief.
It's not your fault. I heard what happened.
You offered to help, he walked away.
Yeah, I know. The thing is,
sometimes people walk away
because they want to be alone.
Sometimes they walk away because they want to see
if you care enough to follow them into hell.
I think I went the wrong way.
Look, he's got to get
his head screwed on straight.
You can't do that for him.
Ahh, you're right.
It's just...
You know, I've--I've had my own problems.
I've been where he is.
I...I've walked away
from a lot of things in my life.
I just hope he can find his way back again.
Woman: Now, according to the station map,
this is "down below." Stay close, Jessie.
Well, I don't understand.
It says here this is a marketplace.
Well, I don't see much I'd want in my house.
You'd think they could take better care
of the place. Don't stray, Jessie.
Uh, it says this is the kind of place
"to mind your purse and your wallet."
Hmm. Well, I heard all this
is because of their so-called revolution.
Breaking away from Earth like that.
What were they thinking?
Well, Barbara, we do have homeless back home.
Shh!
James Cooper, I've told you before
not to contradict me in front of Jessie.
It's not good for her.
President Clark says that people like this
are the result of social problems,
not economic problems.
They've fixed the economy,
and that's good enough for me.
Ever since you came back from your mother's,
it's been the same thing.
James: But she reads a lot, and--
oh, she reads trash,
just like you do sometimes.
Jessie!
I told you to stay away from strange people.
You don't know where he's been.
Come on, now.
Marcus.
Marcus!
What?
I'm awake.
It's your watch.
Right. I knew that.
I was just resting my eyes.
Nascen fek.
Computer: Si dromo.
What was that?
I told the computer to run another check
on the weapons systems,
just to be sure they're ready.
You seem pretty fluent in Minbari.
You can't finish your training
until you can speak and think
in their language.
I am surprised.
When they were training the Rangers,
I figured they'd emphasize infiltration
and combat techniques, not language skills.
For them it's all the same thing.
I could teach you if you like.
No. I don't have the time.
It would take me a year.
And assuming we survive this,
how old will you be in a year
if you don't learn to speak Minbari?
The same.
Exactly.
[Speaking Minbari]
And what does that mean?
It's...
Just a greeting.
It means...
My words are inadequate
to the burden of my heart.
Well, that's an unusual greeting.
Well, they're an unusual people.
Well...
I'll wake you in 4 hours.
Thanks.
That's assuming I can get any sleep in these.
The Captain warned me about these things,
but I had no idea.
They're very restful. Good for the back.
Someday I'd like to be stationed somewhere
with a big four-poster bed...
Canopy...
And maybe a window with a view of a garden.
I like gardens.
And big four-poster beds.
Right.
See you in 4 hours.
Uhhh...
Ohhh...
Ah, that's better.
[Plop]
[Ivanova sighs]
[Doorbell beeps]
Come.
Delenn.
What's our status?
They're still holding back.
It will have to do.
Getting them was hard enough.
Keeping them as this drags on...
That's going to be really hard.
The dogato is standing by, waiting for us.
As soon as we're aboard,
they'll join the rest of the fleet.
I still think you should stay here.
With Ivanova, Marcus, and me gone...
And Garibaldi's up to his ears...
Franklin's still on walkabout...
John, we've been over this.
I should be there...
With you and with the fleet.
We're in this together.
I know.
And...afterward...
When we've finished with this...
We will spend the night together.
Not like that.
You see, when Minbari become close
as we have become close,
it is tradition
that they spend 3 nights together.
The male sleeps,
and the female watches.
Watches what?
During the day, we all put on the face
we think will do us the most good.
But at a certain point in your sleep,
as you relax,
your true face is revealed.
If the female approves of his true face,
she will stay 2 more nights
and continue to observe.
Mmm. Well...
What if she doesn't like what she sees?
Then they go their separate ways.
Oh.
If he insists she stay one more night,
she can leave when he falls asleep,
file a complaint with the elders,
even cut off his, um...
His access to her family.
Oh.
Um...
What if she does... Like what she sees?
Later.
History awaits.
[Blow being struck]
Man: Oh! Leave me be!
[Blow struck]
Ohhh...
Get away.
Get the hell away from me.
Get away from me!
Second man: I want the bag!
[Blow struck]
Stop it! No! Stop! Don't!
Oh, man, he bit me!
Gimme the bag,
or I'll cut your freakin' throat.
[Thumping]
Get away from me! No!
Give me the bag, damn it!
Let it go,
or I'm gonna cut your freakin' throat!
Hey, hey, hey! Leave him alone.
Huh?
Now, look, if there's a problem,
we can handle it some other way!
Aah! Hey! No!
Wait! Let-- let's talk!
No! Wait! Wait! Aah!
What the hell did you do that for?
You want him getting into our business?
You're nuts, man, you know that?
Come on, let's get out of here.
Come on!
[Man coughs]
Help me.
I can't.
Ohh. Help me.
I can't! I was selling!
They'd arrest me, too.
Please help me.
Uhh!
I'm sorry. I can't.
Help me.
Ahh...ahh...
Ahh! Uhh!
Help!
Help me!
Help! Somebody!
Is anybody--
can you hear me?
I--i need help!
[Breathes fitfully]
Oh, man.
Oh, god.
Oh, m--
this is not good.
Ah, finally.
[Beep]
Marcus on P.A.: Ivanova to the bridge!
Are they here?
Not exactly, but you'd better take a look at this.
We picked it up a few minutes ago.
Scanners indicate it's composed of materials
similar to the Shadow vessels,
but it's much smaller.
A scout ship?
Our opposite number,
sent in to make sure the area's clear
before the main armada comes in.
It's close. Has it seen us yet?
I don't think so.
We're not picking up any transmissions.
Good. Anything else?
Well, yes. You see, I spotted this
just as we were about to correct course
to stay in the shadow of that moon.
Good, don't.
It could read the energy if we use the engines.
It would be like sending up a flare.
Yes, but unfortunately,
we're about to move out of eclipse.
And as soon as we're out in the light...
Ivanova: Oh, hell.
It's seen us.
Picking up a transmission!
Looks like a warning signal!
Jam it. Engines at maximum.
We have to stop it before it can warn the others.
The other White Star class ships have been alerted.
They'll meet us at the other end.
Good. And the telepaths?
Safe below decks. All the other cruisers
have at least one telepath on board
to help them slow down the enemy.
I'll go check to make sure.
Anything yet from Ivanova?
No. It probably means
the enemy hasn't appeared yet, but...
They can take care of themselves.
They'll be fine.
What is this place?
It's our tactical center.
From here,
we can keep track of the battle.
How? I--i don't see any displays.
You will see when the time comes.
Franklin: Hey!
Anybody?
Hey!
Somebody!
[Coughs]
Stupid.
Grade-a stupid.
Yeah. It was that, wasn't it?
Always trying to be the hero.
Never stopping to think first.
Now--now look where it's got you.
Hmm?
Must be going into shock.
You said you had to keep walking
until you met yourself.
Well? Here I am.
So. If we're gonna talk,
let's talk...
Because I don't think you have
a lot of time.
Ohh...
No damage.
Keep on his tail. If he gets out
of jamming range, we've had it.
Weapons system, prepare to fire.
What happens if he doesn't report in?
I don't know, but I do know
what'll happen if he gets away.
Let's just hope they they're only supposed
to break radio silence if there was a problem.
Stand by.
Fire!
It's gonna ram us!
Hard to port! Fire!
Damage report!
Engines hit!
Automatic repair systems engaged!
It'll take a while, won't it? Wait a minute!
I'm picking up an energy surge,
distance-- 5,000 kilometers!
Show me!
That's a lot of ships.
That's a bloody awful lot of ships.
Jump engines back on-line yet?
No. If I signal the fleet, this lot might pick it up.
If they do and we can't get away...
Well...who wants to live forever?
I do, actually.
But what the hell?
Signal away.
The signal!
I heard. Tell the others to follow us in.
I just hope Ivanova got out in time.
Engines?
Not yet.
They're getting closer.
I know. Estimate they're 3 hours
from this system's primary target,
less than 20 minutes from us.
Uh-huh.
Franklin number 2: You know what your problem is?
All your life
you've run away from everything.
Home didn't work out.
Wouldn't talk to your father.
So you just... Walked away.
You didn't have the Patience
for a long internship back home,
so you just ran off
and started hitchhiking on starships.
You didn't want to turn over
your precious notes on Minbari biology
during the war,
so you just burned them instead
and walked away again.
You use work to run away from your personal life
and stims to run away from your work.
And right now...
You...are running away...
From everything.
[Coughs]
Don't you die on me yet.
I'm not through with you.
You finally had it all, didn't you?
You had a good job...
People who cared about you...
And you messed it up.
"I have to leave before they fire me.
I have to go find myself."
What a bunch of mealy-mouthed,
self-indulgent, foundationist crap!
Uhh...
Take responsibility
for your actions, for crying out loud.
You go in there,
and you fight for what matters to you.
Don't just walk away because it's easier.
I didn't...
What'd you say?
Oh. I'm sorry.
I forgot.
You're too busy dying, aren't you?
I guess that's a little bit
more important to you right now.
[Gasping]
Oh, fine.
Well, you do what you want...
Because you and I,
we parted ways a long time ago.
So you go ahead and you die...
Because I really don't care anymore.
[Gasping]
Uhh!
A little longer,
and we'll have power to engines. We--
[beeping]
Uh-oh.
One of them has picked us up.
Moving to intercept.
Ok, this is it. Stand by to--
picking up an energy spike!
They can hear me from here?
Yes.
This is Captain John Sheridan
to attack fleet.
Have your telepaths
start jamming their capital ships.
Fighters...
Take point.
They've put escort ships in front
as buffers between our telepaths and their big ships.
Take them out any way you can
and clear the way.
Sunhawks and other medium-class ships,
provide escort for our big guns.
Everyone else...
Break and attack.
Franklin number 2: Blood pressure's
dropping fast.
You should be getting real cold
right about now.
Yeah, that's shock and trauma.
And the rest will follow soon...
You know, so we can get this over with.
I mean, you weren't that happy
with your life
in the first place, were you?
This one's hardly been used.
[Choking] I w...I want...
You want what?
I mean, what-- what do you want?
What could you possibly want?
[Labored breathing] I w...I wa...
I want to do it all again.
Why? You'd just mess it up again.
You--
[grunting]
Now, where do you think you're going?
I want to... I want to do it again.
I want to...
I want to do it again.
Is that right?
Well, then get up off the damn floor.
I don't care how much it hurts.
Don't you go passing out on me
'cause that's just another kind
of running away.
Now, you take responsibility.
Show me that you want it.
Get up off the damn floor!
That's it! Come on!
Come on. Get up on your own 2 feet.
Stand up. You stand up.
I want to... Do it all over again!
Engines on-line!
Damage report!
Targeting system hit!
Go manual!
They're trying to outflank us.
Carrier groups, come about and engage.
The Drazi ships are surrounded.
Minbari cruiser,
pull back. Protect the Drazi.
Ohh!
Oh! Help me!
Oh!
Help me. Help me.
I...want to do it again.
Help me.
Woman: Aah!
[No audio]
Guess I really screwed up, huh?
Guess we're all entitled to one.
Sheridan: They'll need immediate treatment.
Mostly burns, but there may be
some radiation scarring.
Take over whatever space you need.
We've got 4 more shuttles
with wounded coming through.
I'll accompany them.
I heard about Franklin. How is he?
Serious but stable. He lost a lot of blood.
Dr. Hobbs said it's practically a miracle
he could walk that far.
The knife cut pretty deep into the muscle tissue
on the way in.
So how'd it go out there?
We did ok. Not great, but ok.
We turned back their attack,
but we lost a lot of ships.
For every one of their ships we killed,
2 of ours were destroyed.
This time we had the advantage.
We knew where they were gonna attack.
Next time, we won't be so lucky.
Still, it's the first time we've managed
to bring all the league worlds together
and organize them into a fighting force,
and that counts for a lot.
So here's the big question:
Now that we've shown them we can hurt them,
how long until they come knocking at our front door?
That's what worries me.
It's about time you woke up.
We were taking bets
on when you were going to come around.
I want you to know I've lost 30 credits already.
I guess I'm just too much of an optimist.
So how do you feel?
Like I was stabbed in the back
and left to die.
How the hell should I feel?
Well, he's back to normal. As grouchy as ever.
You know, with all this, I just hope you found
what you were looking for out there.
I don't know.
Guess I found what I needed,
not what I wanted.
Which was?
A short, sharp kick to the head.
Hell, I could've done that. All you had to do was ask.
Yeah, well, you would've enjoyed it too much.
So, you didn't, uh, meet yourself?
Yeah, I did.
Found out I didn't like myself, either.
Well, as revelations go, I guess I've heard worse.
I'd better let you get some rest. You need it.
Oh, one last thing.
I know you had to do this,
and I know you learned a lot by doing it,
but just don't ever do this to me again.
You were concerned. I'm touched.
Hell, no.
I just can't afford to lose another 30 credits.
I've been giving a lot of thought
to Garibaldi's question.
We have done all we can to keep a low profile,
but the enemy has just taken a big loss.
They've got to know we're responsible.
Now, it's only a matter of time
before they come after us.
So, the only questions are how and when.
Perhaps they're reluctant to try.
Draal has made the great machine
on the planet below available
to our defense.
I suspect his weapons
could stop even a Shadow vessel.
Maybe, but that's the odd thing about this.
They could've hit us at any time
during the last year. We're a sitting duck.
So, what are you saying,
they're deliberately leaving us alone?
It's possible. I mean,
they haven't been shy about hitting anybody else.
And if that's true, the obvious question is why?
Captain?
Do you know who I am?
Are you ok?
I'm not sure.
Ever since Kosh died,
I've been remembering a dream.
Last year, when I was hurt,
he got inside my head. He spoke to me,
sent me these images.
One of them was you saying, "do you know who I am?"
A week later, you tell me you're a latent telepath.
Said you sometimes don't know who you are.
Is it possible he knew?
I don't see how, but the image fits.
Do you remember anything else?
No, just fragments.
Oh, at one point,
I was wearing the uniform of a psi cop.
Well, we're working with Bester now,
and that was unexpected.
So that tracks. Anything else?
He sent me an image of Garibaldi saying--
the man in between is searching for you.
The man in between-- he could've meant Sinclair.
Maybe, but I don't think so.
Somehow it doesn't feel right.
The last thing was you, dressed all in black,
as if for a funeral. You said--
you are the hand.
"You are the hand"?
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Why would I say anything as dopey-sounding as that?
I don't know.
But if Kosh sent it, it must've meant something.
Odd that he would use that image, though.
Why?
Well, you have 2 hands, do you not?
Each equal and opposite.
So, you're saying that the man in between
is your equal and opposite?
Maybe.
Well, if that's what it is,
then the man in between knows who you are,
now that we've kicked him hard and where it hurts.
Assuming it means anything.
Signs, portents, dreams--
next we'll be reading tea leaves
and chicken entrails.
All we do know is that we are vulnerable now.
I want squadrons on flyby at all times.
We should expect something to be coming our way
sooner or later.
And the way our luck works, it'll probably be sooner.
Franklin: We're still short on Minbari blood,
type r-negative.
Nadia, I want you to check with Ambassador Delenn,
see if you can organize some more blood donors.
The synthetics aren't cutting it.
Now, the rest of you,
we've got trauma cases overloading medlabs 2 and 5.
I want you to get down there,
see if you can move some of the noncritical patients
into other quarters on a temporary basis.
Take over the rotunda and the sanctuary
if you have to. Now go on.
They told me you wouldn't be up and about for a while.
Well, I'm not.
I won't be for a few days.
Legs are still a little wobbly.
I can only stand for a few minutes,
but I don't need to stand to talk,
to advise,
and generally make
a pain in the ass of myself.
They know it's unofficial,
but they can use all the help
they can get.
That's why I came down to see you, Stephen.
Your job is waiting for you, if you want it.
Sure you want to do this?
If you're sure you want to take it.
I want it.
I think now I can do better.
I mean, that was the problem.
The stims, they-- they let me do more,
but what I needed was to do better.
I wish you'd come talk to me
before you made your decision to resign.
I was running away.
Same as I've always done.
I didn't want to face how I'd feel
if you fired me, so I just quit.
You had to find your own way.
I ran away.
I realized that I always defined myself
in terms of what I wasn't.
I wasn't a good soldier like my father.
I wasn't the job.
I wasn't a good prospect for marriage or kids.
Always what I wasn't, never what I was.
But when you do that, you miss the moments.
And the moments are all we've got.
When I thought I was going to die,
even after everything that's happened,
I realized I didn't want to let go.
I was willing to do it all over again.
And this time, I could appreciate the moments.
I can't go back,
but I can appreciate what I have right now.
And I can define myself by what I am
instead of what I'm not.
And what are you?
Alive.
Everything else is negotiable.
[Beep beep]
Sheridan, go.
Woman: Captain, I have a message
from Ambassador Delenn.
She says she awaits your pleasure.
Tell her I'll be right there.
Well, it's getting late,
and you better get some rest.
Don't worry. I intend to.
It's good to have you back, Stephen.
Thank you.
It's good to be back.
Good night.
Now where on Earth did you learn
to hold a cauterizer like that?
Let me show you how to do this.
Watch carefully.
Zack: Commander?
Commander Ivanova?
Give me a break.
Receive transmission, audio only.
Yes?
Commander, just thought you ought to know,
we just had somebody come on board.
Zack, this is a space station.
We get 50 ships a day.
There's always someone coming on board.
Yeah, but this is major.
It concerns the Captain.
Who is it?
[Door opens]
Hello. You must be Delenn.
I'm Anna Sheridan,
John's wife.