Destroyer C&C:This is Earth alliance destroyer Acheron
to Babylon 5. We've got your package.
Babylon 5 C&C: Confirmed, Acheron.
Lieutenant Corwin is standing by
for delivery in docking bay 4.
Roger that, Babylon control.
P.A.: Maintenance, go to docking bay 7.
Maintenance, go to bay 7...
Captain Lochley.
Lieutenant David Corwin at your service.
Lieutenant. I thought I was going to be met
by the entire command staff.
Yes, ma'am, but, uh,
Mr. Garibaldi just got back from Mars,
and even though he's not technically on staff anymore--
Zack Allen is our new chief of security these days--
he's up to his ears helping Zack get ready
for Sheridan's inauguration
as President of the new alliance.
And Dr. Franklin had an emergency in medlab--
Lieutenant, Lieutenant.
Is it always like this around here?
No. No, it...Well...
Actually, yes. It's...
It's hectic, ma'am.
Well, a hectic station
is the first sign of a poorly run station.
We'll change that.
I've got everyone standing by in C&C
waiting to meet you as soon as you're settled in.
Good, good. I want to jump right in.
Always takes a while when you have a change in C.O.
The sooner we get on with the transition, the better.
If there's anything you need to know about the station--
just personalities,
any internal conflicts I need to be made aware of.
Beyond that, I've thoroughly researched
Babylon 5's operational procedures,
personnel records...
I'm pretty much up to speed on all the reports.
Uh, with all due respect,
there's a lot that doesn't fit into a report.
Then the report is incomplete.
Just trying to save you trouble, Captain.
It's been my experience
that as long as you run an efficient operation
and don't go looking for trouble,
you'll do just fine.
Well, that's one of the things I was trying to tell you.
Around here we don't have to look for trouble.
On b-5, trouble comes looking for us.
[Shouting]
[Music box playing]
Time to go.
I just want you to know it's nothing personal,
but I need to send a message to Babylon 5.
That's what you Rangers are for, right?
Getting messages from one place to another.
So you're the right person
in the right place at the right time.
For me, anyway.
Oh...
Almost forgot.
Any final words?
We live for the one.
We die for the one.
Well, 1 out of 2 ain't bad.
[Zap]
And so it begins...
There is a hole in your mind. What do you want?
No one here is exactly what he appears.
Nothing's the same anymore.
Commander Sinclair is being reassigned.
Why don't you eliminate the entire Narn homeworld?
I see a great hand reaching out of the stars...
Who are you?
President Clark signed a decree today declaring...
These orders have forced us to declare independence.
Weapons, supplies...
Get off their encounter-suited butts and do something.
You are the one who was.
Why are you here?
Do you have anything worth living for?
I think of the beautiful cities...
Now get the hell out of our galaxy!
We are here to place President Clark under arrest.
Hey.
I thought you were gonna sleep in a little.
I was about to make breakfast.
I can't.
I have to get back to my quarters and change.
The new gaim Ambassador has asked for a meeting
as soon as possible.
He wants to introduce himself
before the inauguration. Less awkward that way.
May I ask you a question?
Delenn, you're living here now,
at least part of the time.
Ask whatever you want.
Why are there wet socks hanging in the shower?
I just washed them.
Don't you use the thermal unit?
For everything else, yes.
I, uh...
I guess it's kind of a tradition.
See, when I first joined Earthforce,
I was assigned to the 54th north American unit,
and the sergeant of our squadron--
we used to call him sergeant slaughter--
was the toughest, meanest d.I. We ever saw,
and he used to wash his own socks
every morning.
He told us,
"I'm gonna live forever. You know why?
"Because I never leave the barracks unless I know
"I've got something to do when I get back.
"The only kind of man that gets killed
"is the man who is done doing
"whatever it is he's doing,
"and I know I'm gonna come back alive
"'cause I got socks to wash.
Any of you maggots got a problem with that?"
I assume you said no.
Ooh, loud and clear.
The next morning at reveille,
we came up with this big ceremony,
and we all took a vow
that for as long as we were in uniform,
we would wash our own socks every morning.
You know, I think it's the first time
I ever saw old sergeant slaughter
actually smile.
The newly elected President
of the interstellar alliance,
about to be officially sworn in...
Washing his own socks?
You're a very strange man, even for a human.
Why, thank you.
[Beep beep]
Sheridan. Go.
Corwin: Captain Lochley's aboard, sir.
We just got her settled in.
Good. Have her meet me in my office
in 20 minutes.
Lochley?
Ivanova's replacement.
So much for breakfast.
My place tonight?
Yeah, I guess.
Uh, I am gonna be working late here, though, tonight.
You know, I hope this is going to work,
alternating between your place and mine.
Oh, I know, I know.
But, uh, there is no room here for my belongings,
I don't have room for yours,
and I should conduct Minbari business
in Minbari surroundings.
Yeah.
It's good to keep things separate for now
until we can move
to the new facilities on Minbar.
Assuming... You're still comfortable
with that prospect.
I won't lie.
I'm gonna miss this place when that time comes.
It's going to take me a while
to get used to living on your world,
but we do need a permanent headquarters
for the alliance,
and that's the logical choice.
The bottom line is...
Wherever you are
is home enough for me.
Captain.
Mr. President.
It's good to see you again.
Thank you, sir.
I assume you've received my orders from Earthdome.
I have.
The orders have been authenticated.
Effective this date,
you have full and complete authority
in running Babylon 5.
The station is under your direct command.
Welcome aboard.
Thank you.
Uh, please, be seated.
Do you have any questions about the arrangement?
Uh, yes, sir. It's my understanding
that Babylon 5 is to remain an independent state
pending decision by the alliance
to formally buy it from Earth.
That's correct.
Then why bring in someone from Earthforce
to run things?
Why not someone else?
Tradition, for one thing.
For another...
We're still trying to heal the wounds
from the civil war back home.
Putting someone from Earthforce in charge of b-5
will help cement us with the folks back there,
military and civilian.
That's why I wanted to make sure you got here
before we started this... Silly inauguration business.
In a way, it's saying...
We're independent...
But we'll always remember where we came from.
I hear you asked for me in particular.
Why?
You have handled
a number of potentially dangerous missions
without resorting to force.
You're good with diplomacy when possible,
but you know how to fight when you have to.
And you...Speak your mind.
Now, whoever's running b-5 for the next year
is going to be on the hot seat.
I chose you strictly on your background.
You are the perfect choice.
Anything else?
Just one thing.
Obviously, as head of the alliance,
you call the shots around here.
But I can't be
just a mouthpiece for your decisions.
I'll run this station my way, or not at all.
If I'm to carry the responsibility,
I want the authority to go with it.
I won't be interfered with or second-guessed
or micro-managed.
Sir.
Like I said,
you speak your mind.
Fair enough, Captain.
If it's a political decision
or a decision on behalf of the alliance,
that's my turf.
The rest is yours.
Thank you.
[Beep beep]
Lochley. Go ahead.
Corwin: Captain, you'd better get down to bay 3.
There's something here you should see.
On my way.
I've got--
I know. Believe me,
I handled a few of those myself
when I was Captain here. We'll talk again later.
Sir...
I noticed you didn't ask me which side I was on
during the big fight back home.
You're right. I didn't.
Good day, Captain.
Garibaldi: So I don't want anything to go wrong.
Now, you got to seal off this whole area through to blue 5.
It's the only way to make sure that the rotunda is secure.
Yeah, I know. I know.
Last year we had one guy slip through
because the place wasn't sealed up right.
You don't want that to happen here.
Now, you got diplomats and Ambassadors
from half the old league of nonaligned worlds here.
You can't... Afford to let that happen.
Michael, will you please let us handle this?
Not a chance, Zack.
I know this place better than anybody,
and I'm determined that nothing's gonna go wrong
with Sheridan's inauguration.
I owe him that much.
All right. Now, the new gaim Ambassador,
make sure he has the right I.D.
And whatever you do, don't let him go on and on
about those damn gaim hive...
We found him floating outside the station.
He's definitely a Ranger,
he was in a commercial stasis bubble
when we picked him up,
but he didn't die from exposure to space.
Let me see.
You might not want to.
I said let me see.
He had this around him when he was found.
[Conversations, clatter of flatware, glasses]
[Background conversations abruptly cease]
Hello.
I'm sorry, but I'm...
Working.
Yes, I can see.
Books, manuals,
directives,
regulations...
The geometries
that circumscribe your waking life,
drawn narrower and narrower
until nothing fits inside them anymore.
My name is Byron.
It's important
that you meet me in brown 3 in 2 hours.
Come alone.
Why should I do that?
My people are coming.
[Background conversations abruptly resume]
[Beep beep]
Lochley. Go ahead.
Captain Lochley, this is Dr. Franklin.
I've finished the autopsy,
and I have the results you were waiting for.
On my way.
[Doorbell chimes]
[Chiming]
Just a moment.
Ah.
[Chiming]
Yes?
Ah, cap--uh, that is, Mr. President.
You're up late.
You know, I'm not sure I'll ever get used
to being called Mr. President.
I understand completely. Did I ever tell you
that I was not born with the name G'Kar?
No, you didn't.
It is tradition on my world
to give newborn Narns temporary names
for the first 10 years of their lives.
The practice came out of the reality
that life on Narn is very hard,
and in the past, many of us died quite young.
When we reach 10,
we choose which of our many beliefs
we want to follow--
g'quon, g'LAN, na'kili, others--
and from that we pick our true name.
Well, perhaps the name we call you now
is your true name.
So, Mr. President,
what can I do for you?
Well, I was thinking
about that book you're writing.
I've already heard several of your people
quoting it, and, uh...
Well, Mr. Garibaldi says it's very well written.
Well, i--I'm sorry.
There's just the one copy for now,
and, well...
When I loaned it to Mr. Garibaldi,
it came back with coffee stains. I can't--
no, no, no. That's all right. It's all right.
Don't worry. It's not why I'm here.
I was going over the swearing-in ceremony
that we've got coming up,
and there are 2 things we still don't have:
An oath of office,
and for lack of a better term,
a declaration of principles for the new alliance.
Now, this kind of job is going to require
a very special kind of writing.
Many times you have spoken
with tremendous eloquence in the council chambers.
When your world fell to the Centauri,
the words you spoke
made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
So...
I would like you to write the oath
and the declaration of principles.
Well, I'm flattered.
Also terrified. Th-this is a great responsibility.
I know, but I can't think of anyone
more suited to the job.
Well, then you shall have it!
I shall dedicate myself to nothing else
from now until the inauguration.
Well, thank you.
I will not sleep, eat, drink, nothing!
The words and I will be locked in mortal combat
until one of us surrenders.
Well--
now go. Go on.
I have to give myself over to my muse. Good-bye.
I'll be in touch. Bye.
So, what killed him?
Well, a single shot from a PPG at close range
directly to the heart.
Superheated helium tore through his ribcage,
incinerated most of his heart,
and fused the 15th and 16th vertebrae.
How long?
Pending more tests,
I'd have to say less than a week,
but maintbot records indicate
that the body wasn't out in space
more than 6 or 7 hours before it was found.
Meaning he was killed elsewhere
and then dumped outside.
That's correct.
So somebody wanted him to be found here.
The question is why.
Unknown. But what I do know
is that everything I've seen here
points to a disciplined, careful
well-trained killer.
Now, that PPG hit to the chest
was in the exact spot
to cause instantaneous death.
Whoever did this is very good at what he does.
Do you think this has anything to do
with Sheridan's inauguration?
I don't know. Maybe.
[Beep beep]
Go ahead.
Corwin: Captain, you said
you wanted me to remind you about an appointment.
On my way. Uh, if you get any more information,
be sure and let me know.
I will. Uh, hey, Captain,
it's nice to meet you.
Hello.
Thank you for coming.
I came because your little performance earlier
was pretty clear indication that you're a telepath.
A strong one,
therefore potentially dangerous,
which is why I didn't come alone.
We are unarmed,
and I assure you we mean you no harm.
We refuse to have anything to do with violence
or technology.
Ours is a simple way, as you will discover.
Guard: They're clean.
All right.
So what do you want?
A place to call home.
My friends and I are all telepaths.
More will come soon.
Rogues?
We refused to join the psi corps, yes.
We tried working through the resistance,
but their ways are not ours,
so we slipped away, quietly,
creating our own lives on other worlds.
Because we can never go home,
our lives have been spent in constant transit,
wandering from world to world.
We have come here,
because an independent Babylon 5
may be the closest thing
we will ever find to our home.
We want to put out the word to others of our kind,
have them gather here in safety.
In time,
we will create a small colony,
until one day, when we go out
to create a world of our own,
a homeland...
For those who have no other home.
That's a tall order.
Perhaps.
But where is it written
that all our dreams must be small ones?
Do you speak for all of them?
These.
And more yet to come.
This is Sarah...
Bright and beautiful.
The somber David,
the last of his family,
the rest hunted down and murdered
by psi corps.
William,
shy but really quite interesting
once you get to know him.
Cynthia and Rosa,
closer than sisters.
And Simon...
Special Simon, we call him.
Say hello, Simon.
Flowers...
I saw flowers.
Then he likes you.
He only gives flowers as a gift
to the people he likes.
He can remember everything
he's ever seen, heard, smelled, or touched
from the moment he was born,
and he can project those memories
into someone else's mind...
Share a part of himself
in the most intimate way imaginable.
I saw the flowers he gave you.
I'd say he's quite fond of you.
Thank you.
Byron: He doesn't talk,
not even to us.
Not even in here.
He doesn't look well.
It's been a long trip.
Well, bring him to medlab.
He's a minor. He should be checked out.
Of course.
We can do a lot for you, Captain.
We can earn our keep,
work for you,
help you.
All we need is a place to stay,
a place to call home
until we one day can find a place
to make our home.
[Through translator] The queens thank you
for your help in this, Delenn.
It's not a problem, lesharr.
The gaim were a great help to us
in our fight against the Shadows
and will continue to be strong allies
under the alliance.
If we can offer any further help
to your colonies, please let us know.
Thank you. The queens be with you.
[Beeping]
Computer, play waiting messages.
Computer: Stand by. Text message number one.
Voice message number 2.
Man: Hello, Sheridan.
I know that you're supposed to be a big history buff.
I know that you're a fan of President Lincoln.
Did you know that he was sure
that he would die in office?
That as President, he had to pay the price
for the lives of all the soldiers who died
fighting his war?
Some say that Roosevelt felt
that he would not make it out of office alive
with so many dead under his leadership.
President kyoshi
of the eastern bloc, 50 years ago,
dying in office
3 days after the war of the shining star ended.
Ha ha!
It is the job of a President
to pay the price for his people...
And his decisions.
Computer, what's the source of these transmissions?
Unknown.
System records altered.
Unable to trace.
You started the civil war back home, Sheridan.
The people who died are your responsibility,
and I'm here to make sure
you pay the price for your actions
and to make sure you know why.
You won't know where it's coming
or when...
But it's coming,
and as strong as you think you are...
[Beep]
The one thing you can't stop is the lone gunman
determined to kill you,
even if he gets killed in the process.
I'm that man, Sheridan.
Maybe I'll go to hell for that,
but if I do,
I'm taking you to hell with me.
[Beep]
Dr. Franklin: He's slightly dehydrated...
Been malnourished for some time now.
We are refugees, doctor.
Eating out is not a luxury we can afford.
As you know. You treated many of my kind.
Vocal cords are intact but atrophied.
No apparent nerve damage, so he can speak.
He just chooses not to. Why is that?
Simon came to us last year on Mars.
He was a tunnel rat,
living in the ducts and pipelines beneath Mars one.
We know he endured some terrible trauma
during those years.
We've never asked.
When he chooses to speak of it, he will.
And if he doesn't?
Then he alone will bear the pain of it.
But we are here for him
if he should ever change his mind.
I saw--
yes.
And that is all he will let any of us see.
We have no idea who she was...
Only that he feels guilt for her death
and hopes to make up for it someday.
All right.
I'm going to set up a series of treatments
to get him back up to snuff.
Vitamins, hormone therapy.
We can afford little.
That's all right. We'll take care of it.
Then we can go?
Yes, you can go.
Franklin.
Lochley: Doctor, we're having an emergency meeting
in 20 minutes. Can you attend?
Yeah, I'll be right there.
And...
Garibaldi: We can't go stumbling around in the dark here.
We know there is a danger.
I can't go along with postponing the ceremony.
Just for a few days
until we can bring in more security.
Now, whoever this guy is,
we know he's killed one person already.
The message he sent you was untraceable.
That tells me he knows our system inside and out.
He's smart, he's deadly, and he's after you.
That's good enough for me.
I refuse to go through life
trapped inside of a bubble.
With all due respect, Mr. President,
you chose that life
the moment you accepted this position.
On my world, we have learned
an inauguration is simply a signal to assassins
that a new target has been set up
on the firing range.
I am not gonna argue the point.
But I am as much a target today as I am tomorrow
and the day after that and the day after that.
Now, I am supposed to lead this alliance,
and for my money, that means...Hands on.
It means that I should be out there
where I can be seen, where I can do some good.
It's not the way things are done!
Well, then maybe
it's time some of those things
were done differently.
If more of our so-called leaders
would walk the same streets
as the people who voted them in,
live in the same buildings, eat the same food,
instead of hiding behind glass and steel
and bodyguards,
maybe we'd get better leadership
and a little more concern for the future.
John, that's a commendable idea,
but it's very dangerous.
Is it?
Our new friend just said
all the security in the world
can't stop a lone gunman
dedicated to exchange his life for the target,
and he is right.
So you may as well live instead of being a prisoner.
I agree with Sheridan.
How can you say that?
Because he's making perfect sense.
He's talking a political agenda.
You're talking about protecting your friend.
Which is more important?
They're the same thing.
Are they?
It's your vote and mine, Mr. President.
On behalf of Babylon 5 command & control,
I vote the ceremony goes ahead on schedule.
We can handle it.
I concur.
Lochley: Good. It's done.
I'll go tell Zack.
Just a second.
I'm in rather a hurry.
Tough. What the hell was that all about?
Excuse me, but by all rights,
you shouldn't even have been in that meeting.
You're not technically head of security.
You're a civilian--
a consultant at best, an annoyance at worst.
Sheridan's the kind of guy
who looks for something to challenge him.
Sometimes, I think he's a martyr in training--
great motives, lousy ending,
just in case you missed the whole Joan of arc story.
Now, in a situation like this,
we have to protect him against himself.
Really? Then perhaps you should reenlist
to ensure his protection, Mr. Garibaldi,
'cause otherwise,
your opinion doesn't really count for much.
Look, damn it, I was here a hell of a long time
before you ever showed up.
Yes, you were, and then you left.
I really don't think there's much more
that needs saying, do you?
[Music box playing]
Do you, John j. Sheridan...
Uhh!
[Faint clunk]
[Switches music off]
I just finished writing
the oath of office this morning.
I spent all night on it. I hope you'll approve.
I have every confidence in your words, G'Kar.
I thought we agreed
on a discreet presence by security.
This is discreet.
At least far more discreet
than Mr. Garibaldi would have preferred--
having each guest strip-searched
on his way in.
I'm glad you talked him out of it.
I have no desire to be struck blind
by the sight of Londo naked. Heh heh.
Anything new from Mr. Garibaldi?
He's still analyzing the voice mail
from my computer system.
With luck, he's got something by now.
Computer: Negative on voice match
to human criminal subjects on file.
Then try the alien files. Maybe he just sounded human.
Computer: Negative on voice match
to alien criminal subjects on file.
Damn it.
Recording: I know that you're a fan
of President Lincoln--
some say that Roosevelt felt
he would not make it out of office alive--
President kyoshi of the eastern bloc,
50 years ago, dying--
Roosevelt died of natural causes.
Lincoln and kyoshi were killed by soldiers
who fought for the other side in a civil war.
Computer, check voice pattern
against current Earthforce personnel on file.
Computer: Negative on voice match.
Only partial list of records available.
Cross-check with files in Earthdome central office.
Computer: Initiating tachyon download.
Stand by.
[Beeping]
Security. Go.
Zack, I got it. Go private.
Garibaldi: His name's John clemens,
formerly Major clemens.
He ran the beta 7 prison system under President Clark.
When Clark was kicked out of office,
he went underground.
This guy's wanted for the murder and torture
of dissidents on beta 7 and elsewhere.
If he shows his face anywhere in the alliance,
he's a dead man.
Which means he's got nothing to lose
and blames Sheridan.
Exactly. Zack, this guy's a trained infiltrator.
He could be anywhere or anybody.
Just get me a description, will ya?
I'm working on it.
Hold it. You can't come in here.
Let him go. Let him go.
No!
There!
Get down!
Back off. Back off! Or I'll kill her.
Are you all right? I'm fine.
Zack, put out an all-points bulletin.
Already done. He won't get very far.
We sealed off all the docking bays.
His picture's gonna be all over the station
in a few minutes.
I assume this will postpone
the rest of the ceremony.
No. He had his chance, and he blew it.
He won't get this close again.
We need to make sure they all understand
we will not be intimidated. We continue.
P.A.: ...Initiating station-wide security check.
All security personnel, report to your unit Commanders.
A level-one a.P.B. Is in progress...
Come on.
We'll get him. Don't worry.
I mean, where the hell's he gonna go?
Unh!
[Rapid beeping]
Oh, hell.
Whoever speaks for the alliance
speaks with one voice for many.
Consequently,
this contains the first page
of every holy book of every race
that has joined the new alliance.
G'Kar over radio: Whoever speaksfor the alliance
does so with the understanding
that it is the inalienable right
of every sentient being
to live free, to pursue their dreams,
to address wrongs within their own society
without fear of retribution,
to believe as their conscience requires
in matters of faith,
but also to respect the rights of others
to believe differently, or not at all.
Do you, John j. Sheridan...
Clemens over radio: Everybody else can go.
You have 10 seconds.
Fire at that range, you're just as dead as I am.
Clemens: That's ok by me.
You ruined my life...
My career, my family, and my world, Sheridan.
Time to pay the Piper.
And what will this accomplish?
Even if you kill me, the alliance will go on.
Clemens: Maybe it will, maybe it won't.
It doesn't matter much to me either way...
Just as long as you're dead.
Good-bye, Sheridan.
Garibaldi: C&C, I can't hold him.
If this cockpit breeches, I'm screwed.
Corwin: Assailant's ship is targeted.
Are we clear?
Corwin: All clear.
Here he comes.
Corwin: Fire at will.
Clemens: Aaaah!
You want to be President?
Yes.
Put your hand on the book and say, "I do."
I do.
Fine. Done. Let's eat.
You're Mr. Byron?
Just Byron.
I saw what your friend did on my behalf.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Captain Lochley informed me
that you requested to start a small colony here.
I assume she's told you her decision.
She told us no.
It's a word we've become accustomed to.
We'd hoped for something better here.
We were wrong.
Not entirely.
See, our arrangement
is that I handle any political decisions
that affect the alliance and Babylon 5.
I'm putting this decision in that category.
You have my authority to start a colony here.
We'll set aside part of brown sector.
It's not much, and it's not pretty...
But it's a start.
Thank you. I will tell the others.
I hope you made the right decision.
We both know a telepath war
is coming one of these days.
It won't hurt to have some of our own on hand
when things get ugly.
Besides, one of his people saved my life.
I owe them.
I suppose so.
So, how'd the meeting with Garibaldi go?
Fine. He said he'd notify the Captain asap.
Huh. It's a little crooked.
Yes?
Well, I just, uh, wanted to stop by,
see how you're settling in.
Just fine, thank you.
So, what do you want?
Uh...nothing. Nothing really.
I just wanna let you know
I thought about what you said earlier
about reenlisting.
The bottom line is
I've never been big on uniforms from the get-go,
and I've got someone on Mars that needs me,
so I can't re-sign with Babylon 5.
I understand--
however, I talked to the President earlier, and--
you know, I like the sound of that.
"I talked to the President."
Anyway, he agreed we
should set up a covert intelligence division,
mostly to be used to keep track
of what everybody else is doing,
and, hell, we might even need
a little of our own from time to time.
You know? But granted,
military intelligence is kind of an oxymoron,
but anyway, the new head of covert intelligence
for the alliance...
Is pleased to meet you.
Now, we haven't decided on a title yet.
There's time for that. So, uh, anyway, Captain,
I guess...I'll be seeing you at the next meeting.
I guess so.
By the way, I finished running the stats
on our late, lamented assassin.
I noticed you served with him a few years back.
Yes, I did.
He was a good soldier, a fine officer,
but I guess time can change people.
Yeah. I guess it can at that.
By the way...
Just curious...
Which side were you on
during the big fight back home?
I was on the side of Earth, Mr. Garibaldi.
Weren't we all?
Hmm.