Synopsis written by Richard Heider.
*Alternate synopsis written by Rosa L. Smothers can be read here.

---

TEASER
Unexpected cargo.

BABYLON 5 --- NIGHT

      Captain John Sheridan stands at the window of his office, looking out over the garden, when Commander Susan Ivanova walks in. Sheridan is glad to see her; in fact he had been thinking of calling her. He's been trying to figure out how to keep the station running without the supplies formerly shipped in from Earth. He thinks they'll start running out of things in two to three months.

      Ivanova volunteers to take over the whole problem. Sheridan is mildly surprised at his XO's enthusiasm for the job, but she says she's doing it, at least in part, to take some of the weight off his shoulders.

Sheridan: Thanks.
Ivanova: Speaking of which, as of now I'm relieving you of command. [To underscore the point she sits down in the chair behind his desk.]
Sheridan [thinks she's joking]: Ivanova, your sense of humor has always been on the edge of good taste. But...
Ivanova: I'm serious, John.
Sheridan: On what grounds?
Ivanova: You haven't taken any personal time in over nine months. And in that time, we have broken away from Earth, fought a war, you've been declared dead at least once --- and you know how tiring that can be!
Sheridan: Ivanova...
Ivanova: Be sensible! We still have Earth to deal with, and we can't do that until all of our pieces are in place, so just take a day or two for yourself! You may not get another break for a long time!
Sheridan: There isn't much chance of me winning this argument, is there?
Ivanova [already digging into the stack of papers on the desk]: None whatsoever. I never give up when I'm right. Your only option is surrender.
Sheridan: Who taught you to negotiate like that?
Ivanova: You did!
Sheridan: Oh. Then I suppose this enforced "vacation" is to begin immediately?
Ivanova: It started when I walked in that door.
Sheridan: Ah. [Thinks of leaving, but something occurs to him.] Oh, uh, any word from Franklin or Marcus?
Ivanova: No. They were only supposed to break communications after making contact with the Resistance. They should be almost to Mars by now.
Sheridan [nods]: Yeah. [Turns and takes a couple of steps toward the door. Turns back.] I... [But Ivanova cuts him off by clearing her throat.]

      Ivanova gives him a little "bye-bye" wave and gestures to the door. He gives up and finally goes out the door. She plows into the paperwork.

SPACE

      In the cargo hold of an Asimov-class liner, a game of "I Spy" is underway.

Marcus: Seven Sisters? Saturn? [We see he's peering out a porthole in the "floor".] Side of the ship? [Got it now!] Stars! [Franklin's look tells him he's right.] Well, that was easy! My turn! Best of five. I spy with my little eye something beginning with B.

      The cargo hold, though not filled to capacity, contains a goodly amount of cargo, most of it in ordinary cardboard boxes, unlike the cargo crates we saw in their first ship. But like the first ship, the cargo is unsecured, although it is at least not floating around weightless. The fact that almost all Franklin can see in the hold is boxes, his first guess is obvious.

Franklin: Boxes.
Marcus: Right! I spy with my little eye something beginning with M.
Franklin [immediately --- and running out of patience]: More boxes.
Marcus: Two in a row!
Franklin: "And that's when I shot him, Your Honor."
Marcus: I spy with my little eye something beginning with E.
Franklin: I, I, I give up.
Marcus: Oh, come on!
Franklin: This better not be what I ---
Franklin and Marcus [in unison]: Even more boxes.
Franklin: Look, Marcus --- look, don't misunderstand me, all right? You're a nice guy! I like you! I - I - I respect you, but after being cooped up for two weeks with you, I'm about ready to... [And that's when he notices that he's suddenly all alone.] And I really hate when you do that!

      Marcus reappears on the other side of the hold, dragging a scruffy-looking older man by the neck.

Marcus: It would appear we have a spy on our hands, Stephen!

SPACE

      The travelers question the intruder.

Franklin: All right, who are you and where'd you come from?
Intruder [doing the best he can with Marcus' arm around his throat]: There's an access panel behind the hold over there on that side.
Marcus [to Franklin]: I checked it when we came through. It was locked.
Intruder [trying to be friendly]: I've got the key. The pilot's my brother. He lets me travel around with him. You know, do a little business! None of those damned transit forms to fill out!
Franklin: Why didn't he tell us about you?
Intruder: Probably forgot. I get forgotten so many times, I --- Well, I --- forget!

      Franklin signals Marcus to let the man go. The man gulps in some air and rubs his throat before speaking again, and then it's to express a kind of admiration.

Intruder: Your friend's fast! Got right up behind me, never even 'eard 'im! [Did I mention he has a lower-class English accent?] Me, I'm built for endurance. Wit, pleasures of the mind, pleasures of the body! [Laughs amiably, offering his hand.] My name's John Demeter. [Neither Franklin nor Marcus accepts the proffered hand.] But most everybody calls me Captain Jack. [Laughs again.] And you are, uh?
Marcus: Passing through. Look. I'll tell you what. You see these boxes here? [They're more or less in the middle of the hold.]
Jack: Yeah?
Marcus: Pretend there's a very large dragon on the other side of the cargo hold. And if you pass this point, it will eat you! [Jack gets the picture.] You stay on your side, and we'll stay on ours.
Jack: Right. Well, as you say. Far from friendly, but that's no concern of mine. No, ah, ah, Captain Jack is not the sort to push himself on others when he's not wanted. I was just gonna offer to share my dinner with you. You know, brothers of the great space highway have gotta stick together!
Marcus [pulls a packet from his pocket]: We have our own dinner, thank you. [Looks like a granola bar.]
Jack: Oh, yes, so I see. Meal bars, is it? [Teasing.] Kind of dry, nasty, kind of mealy things. Chew 'em all day, still taste like sand. Me, I go for insta-heats! [Pulls his own packet, a silvery pouch, from his pocket, and tears off the top. Steam issues from it at once. Waves it appreciatively under his nose, and then under Franklin's.]
Franklin [astonished]: That's beef and potatoes!
Jack [laughing]: Yeah! The least of my inventory, a tiny taste of home! I deal in wonders and sensualities. [And Franklin follows as Jack turns back toward his own domain.] A thousand delicacies from a hundred worlds! [Franklin wants to get his hands on that packet!] As I said, pleasures of the mind, pleasures of the body! [Waves it under Franklin's nose again, and this time he takes it. But Marcus won't have it.]
Marcus: Come along, Stephen.
Franklin: Well now, we don't want to be rude! [Marcus grabs the packet, stuffs it into Jack's hands, and waves him back.]
Marcus [softly, to Franklin]: No contact, remember?

BABYLON 5 --- SHERIDAN'S QUARTERS

      Sheridan's day off could be a little more pleasant. We find him flipping through vid channels, and they are all "unavailable due to jamming". All but ISN, that is. And as luck would have it, ISN is rebroadcasting their hit piece on B5 (The Illusion of Truth). And the part playing right now is Garibaldi's interview. Sheridan watches with clenched teeth, and then he goes out...

A MARKETPLACE

      ...and finds Garibaldi passing through. A discussion builds up to a shouting match. Sheridan is angry because Garibaldi has betrayed the cause, given aid and comfort to the enemy with his ISN interview. Garibaldi is angry because Sheridan has bought into his own publicity and is acting like a god.

      The argument has played out in front of everyone in the market. Three men in particular seem to have found the contretemps fascinating.

SPACE

      As the liner approaches Mars, Jack is opening another insta-heat meal over on his side of the hold. Franklin, on the other hand, is definitely NOT enjoying his cruddy-bar, and he spares no words describing it to Marcus.

Jack [loud enough to be heard across the hold]: Now, what have we got here? Beef stroganoff! Oh, what a delicious aroma!
Marcus [reminding Franklin]: We stay clear of everyone until we meet our contact. Then when we can verify the pass-phrase, we can...
Jack [louder]: Lyta had a little Vorlon, her skin was pale as snow. And everywhere that Lyta went, her Vorlon was sure to go.

      With a look at each other, the travelers get up and cross over to Jack, who laughs jocularly as they approach.

Marcus: Why didn't you just say that in the first place?
Jack: I wanted to check you out first. Captain Jack hasn't lived this long by being stupid, now has he? Go on, have a seat, help yourself! [Which Franklin promptly does.]

      Jack fishes out the new (stolen) identicards he's brought for Franklin and Marcus to use on Mars. He apologizes for the fact that the Resistance has to make do with whatever they can steal, which in this instance means that our travelers are now a married couple on honeymoon. The doctor is a bit put off by this turn of events, but Marcus gets right in the spirit of it. The ship's PA announces their arrival in orbit over Mars, and Marcus takes Franklin arm in arm.

Marcus: Well, shall we go, darling?

BABYLON 5

      Brakiri and Vree warships are seen among those defending the station.

RED SECTOR

      Garibaldi, passing through, suddenly finds himself waylaid by four men, the three we saw before and one other. They look like tough customers, but not common thugs. It seems their leader just wants to talk.

Leader: Evening. Thought we might have a word about you and your former friend, Captain Sheridan. Couldn't help but notice earlier you and he aren't exactly getting on.
Garibaldi: What's it to ya?
Leader: I thought you might like to know there are other people who feel the same way you do. Who aren't exactly thrilled about one of our own turning against Earth. It's no good. It's no good for business. For the President. It's no good for anyone. So I thought we could have a word, see what else we might have in common.
Garibaldi: You mean besides the both of us sleeping with your sister?
Leader [completely unruffled]: You can do better than that, Garibaldi. I know you can, because my information on you is very extensive. Which leads me to wonder, are your objections only halfhearted, more form than substance?
Garibaldi: Well, you wonder all you want to. I got places to be. [Starts to walk off, but the man isn't quite finished.]
Leader: There is, uh, one other thing that you might want to consider, Mr. Garibaldi, and that is, a man can become a threat to the very cause he professes to believe in. I don't know what it is, his ambition, his ego, his sense of personal ambition gets in the way. Under other circumstances, he would want somebody to intervene, before the wrong people got hurt. Now, if indeed Sheridan has lost his way, don't you feel obligated to intervene, at least for the sake of others?
Garibaldi: I won't sell him out! [Which is reassuring to hear, since that's very much what he appears to have been doing.]
Leader: You're the only one who could clearly see what the hell's really going on, Garibaldi. Open up your eyes! You tell me something. Can you sleep at night knowing everything could slip away --- because of one man? Huh? You tell me, can you stand by and watch everything you've that worked for die right before your eyes, knowing you could have done something to stop it? [Garibaldi is thinking it over.] Can you?

      The man knows he has scored the points he wanted to make. He signals his men to stand aside, and Garibaldi continues on his way.

MARS

      We rejoin our three travelers as they ride a shuttle from the spaceport to the city. The shuttle car glides along inside a transparent cylinder that sits atop a long row of concrete piers. They are the only passengers in the car, so they talk freely.

Jack: Oh, the others are gonna be glad to see you, yes, sir! [Laughs.] You wouldn't believe half the stories we've heard about Babylon 5 this last year.
Franklin: Such as?
Jack: Crazy things! One story had your lot coming in here with an alien fleet to take over the whole operations yourselves! [Laughs.] Then we had a reliable report that said you decided to write off everybody back here and hang us out to dry!
Marcus: The Captain's never forgotten about Mars! We just haven't had a chance to do anything about it till now, what with the war and all.
Jack: Right. Well --- [and a new thought interrupts his ramble] --- What war?
Franklin: What do you mean, what war?
Jack: Well, nothing personal, but, huh, you've gotta understand, we don't hear a lot about what's going on out there! I mean, aliens fighting aliens? Doesn't really involve us, now, does it?
Marcus: I should bloody well hope it does! I don't believe you haven't heard anything!
Jack: Well, we --- we get reports, of course. A, a few pilots came, uh, through here, pfff, last summer, mentioned something was going on. We figured they was just making up stories, trying to impress people. We've heard some pretty wild things --- real "end of the world" sort of stuff! You'd love it! You gotta remember now, we've been embargoed, same as you --- even longer! Now, just the other day I --- [has another new thought] --- Who won?
Franklin: We did! We all did!
Jack: Ahhh, yes, well! Good for us!
Marcus: Just my luck! First time in my life I'm a war hero, and nobody knows about it! And worst of all, I'm married to you!
Franklin: Well, that's not my idea!
Marcus: Oh, you say that now! Tell that to your mother! She never stopped calling us about it! "So when's the big day? I've got to pick out patterns. Your father isn't going to live forever." And on and on and on and on...
Franklin: I hate this. [As Jack breaks up in a belly laugh.] I really hate this!
Marcus: You're just nervous, that's all. You'll get used to it. [To Jack:] Next thing, he'll be locking himself in the bathroom all night! [They all three laugh.]

BABYLON 5

      The pilot of an approaching shuttle asks C&C to tell Ivanova "we have the cargo she wanted."

CONFERENCE ROOM

      Soon after, Ivanova takes a meeting with the "cargo", a half-dozen smugglers she's crossed paths with in the past. She makes a pitch for them to give up what they've been doing and instead become supply runners for the station. She offers them fighter protection, ship maintenance, a fair profit --- and a clean record after the war. Still it's a hard sell, and the smugglers don't seem all that interested. She winds up her pitch:

Ivanova: Look, you'll have more money, your ships will be in perfect running order, and you'll have an investment in the future! What more could you ask for? [The smuggler sitting closest to her gets up, and eyes her up and down.]
Smuggler: You seeing anybody, Ivanova?

      With a leering glance back to his companions, the smuggler walks out. Ivanova looks worried. Is she having a flashback to Correlilmurzon (Acts of Sacrifice)?

MARS

      Jack is leading the travelers to their meeting with the Underground --- appropriately, in an underground mining tunnel. He leads them right into a reception party of three armed toughs.

Tough guy: That's far enough! Move, you die instantly!

MARS UNDERGROUND

      It's about one second later...

Tough guy: Just take it slow and easy, nobody gets hurt. [As his two henchmen close in on Franklin and Marcus] Up against the wall, over there!
Franklin [not moving]: Look, I don't understand. Now, you were told to expect us. [Really more of a question than a statement.]
Tough guy: Oh, we're expecting all kinds of people! But whether you're one of them or not, we'll have to see! Now up against it! [And they're jammed up into the position.] Good job, Jack!
Jack: All part of the service. Where's Number...
Tough guy: Not now!

      Searching the captives for weapons, one of the henchmen finds something he didn't expect --- Marcus' denn'bok.

Henchman: Check this out!
Tough guy: I've seen these before! Took one off a dead Minbari during the war! Not the sort of thing I'd expect to see one of us carrying around!
Marcus: I'm a Ranger.
Tough guy: That so? Well, you a long way from Texas, son! And that ain't the right accent. Let's go.

      The captives are taken further down the tunnels to a nondescript place that will serve as a holding area.

Franklin: Look, can we talk to somebody in charge?
Tough guy: That'd be me. I'm Number Two around here.
Marcus: Then can we talk to Number One?
Number Two: That's what I'm trying to decide. See, we got word a hit squad was being sent to take out the head of Mars Resistance. Said they might be coming in from one of the outer sectors and here you two come in, right on cue!
Franklin: Well, you can't believe...
Number Two: You'd be surprised all the things I can believe. See, around here, we only got two types --- the suspicious and the dead. I trust the people I know and nobody else!
Franklin: Look, I --- I don't understand. Now, this should have been cleared before we got here!
Number Two: They've been jamming our transmissions for six months. Now, we only got a partial message saying someone's coming in from Babylon 5. Never got a clear ID. Tell you what. Since I don't want to appear inhospitable, give me your identicards. The real ones. Now, we'll check the DNA code on here against your blood type. That'll tell me if they really belong to you. Then we'll pull a partial ID code, see if we can get a clear signal to Babylon 5, try for a match on the rest. Anyone on the outside, it'll look like a frequency check. If it matches, we'll talk. If it doesn't, you two are gonna leave here feet first. Now, let's have them!

      The captives pull their identicards out. Jack collects them and hands them to Number Two. It's worth noting that in doing so, he turns so that his back is to everyone for a split second.

Jack [starts to walk off with Number Two]: Now that I've finished my work, I'd like to give my regards to Number...
Number Two: No, you'd better wait here.
Jack: Why?
Number Two: You're their contact. A friendly voice might help calm them down a bit. This'll take a few hours, so you may as well get comfortable. [To the others:] You get the blood sample. And if they do anything you don't like --- shoot to kill!

      The captives stand very still, biting their lips.

B5 --- THE GARDEN

      Delenn has been conversing casually with a Brakiri couple, but excuses herself when she sees John approaching. The couple move off and sit on a bench in the background, where we will at times see them holding hands and exchanging sweet nothings. Delenn crosses to John, who is biting his lip as well.

Delenn: If you could look any more unhappy, please do not tell me. There are some things I would rather not know.
John: Ah, I'm just mad at myself. I went to Michael today, I figured we could talk this through? Well, we ended up going around and around, and I got hot, and then he got hot, and then I stormed out. He's like a complete stranger! A few months ago, I - I would've trusted him with my life! But now --- I don't know. Sometimes feel like I --- well, I'm better at fighting wars than relationships! [They've strolled to another bench. They sit.] You know, I keep thinking that I can turn him around if I can just find the right words.
Delenn: He has to find his own way. And so do you. In the past, those two paths have crossed. Now perhaps they don't. It is the way of things.
John: I know. Doesn't make it any easier. [Shakes off the mood, brightening.] Anyway, I didn't mean to get so morose! You came looking for me for a reason.
Delenn [smiles]: Ivanova tells me that you have taken the day off.
John: At gunpoint.
Delenn: Then, uh, this may be a good time. [Hems and haws a bit - it's a delicate subject.] As you know, when Minbari become close, as we have become close...
John: Not another ritual!
Delenn: It is our tradition!
John: I'm just about ritualed out!
Delenn: John...
John: Well, how many more of these rituals are there?
Delenn [trying to count]: Uh, depending on the length of time we take before fully committing to one another, which clan is in dominance at the time, the types and amounts of offerings made at temple [John is grinding his teeth by now], uh, as many as, uh, um, uh, forty-seven? No, no - no - no! Fifty!
John: Fifty?
Delenn: Fifty.
John: Fifty! Anyone ever elope on your world?
Delenn: It has happened, but it is always a great disgrace...
John: A disgrace to the family, the caste, the clan. Got it!
Delenn: That's why Minbari do not have problems with relationships. We have a ritual for everything! For being together, for being apart, for meeting, for saying goodbye, for solving disputes...
John [softly]: All right, all right, all right. [Smiles.] Which is this one?
Delenn: It is called shan-fall --- the third movement of preparation and mutual understanding.
John [teasing]: Oh! That old one, yeah!
Delenn: In a little while, you come to my quarters, where we spend the night together --- discovering one another's centers of pleasure. It is done with great deliberation --- prayerfully, with respect and meditation. It is good for us to know all we can about one another, should we continue the joining of our hearts and our blood. [Big smile, as she caresses his chin.] So --- you can meet me there. [Rises and starts off.] Unless, of course, you can find something of equal value sitting here and staring at plants while feeling guilty about things you cannot change. [And she leaves.]
John [sits soaking that in for three whole seconds]: Nope! [Rises and follows.]

MARS UNDERGROUND

      Franklin is getting uncomfortable. His jacket is off, and now he's pulling at the collar of his shirt.

Franklin: Damn, it's hot down here! [To Jack, who is downing yet another insta-heat:] How can you stand it in that coat? [The coat in question is a heavy trench coat, designed like a western duster. Jack has to be roasting in it!]
Jack: It's fine, fine! Guess you get used to it after a while.
Henchman [strolling past and noticing the insta-heat]: You eating another one of those things, Jack? Huh, thought you were on a diet! [Keeps on strolling past.]
Jack: Yes, well important people have larger appetites! [Turns to Franklin.] Look, I'm sorry about what happened. [By way of answer, Franklin slides over a bit on the box he's sitting on and offers the other half to Jack, who accepts the gesture.] You wanna see something? [Pulls a photo from his coat.]
Franklin: All right.
Jack [handing over the photo]: That's my daughter Elysha. Just turned 18 two days ago. Can't send her a birthday greeting though, not with this embargo and all. But I think she understands.
Franklin: She's gorgeous.
Jack: Yeah. She's the Alpha and Omega of my soul! First thing I think about in the morning, last thing I think about at night. I've been doing most of my business for her. You know, a little security from her old man! [Chuckles.] Give her something to be proud of!
Franklin: Is this her address on the back?
Jack [laughs]: Yeah. Yeah, I kept forgetting it, so I finally had to write it down. Block this, subsection that, city district something! Whatever happened to good old addresses? That's what I'd like to know!
Marcus [joining the conversation]: Have you ever met Number One before?
Jack: Many times! Uh, we're very close! I, uh, wanted to bring her back something, but I couldn't find anything on my last run. But that's the way it always is at Deneb 4 --- nothing there!
Franklin [puzzled]: But I thought that...

      The friendly conversation is cut short as Number Two charges in with several henchmen, angry.

Number Two: All right, up! Hands behind your heads! Move!
Marcus: What? What's wrong?
Number Two: Well, the ID numbers you gave us didn't check out, and the DNA --- didn't match! That's what's wrong!
Franklin: That's impossible!
Number Two: What did you do with our contacts? You've got thirty seconds!
Marcus: We didn't do anything!
Number Two: Wrong answer! Twenty seconds! First we kill him [Franklin], then you!

      A new player enters the scene, striding in and instantly taking command of the situation. She's a youngish woman, flowing blonde hair, wearing a form-fitting black bodysuit. The second thing you notice about her is that she's stunningly gorgeous. The first is, here's someone you don't want to be on the wrong side of.

Number One: Make it two minutes!
Number Two: You shouldn't be here!
Number One: I want to see them for myself.
Number Two: You're exposing yourself to risk!

      Jack, out of the spotlight for the moment, starts fidgeting with his collar and sidestepping away from the captives.

Number One: That's the nature of the job. I want to know what they're up to.
Franklin [noticing Jack, he whispers to Marcus]: Marcus!
Marcus: I see it!

      What he sees is that Jack has drawn a PPG and is powering it up, and is shaking like a leaf as he points it in the direction of Number One. Instantly, Marcus and Franklin clobber the two men guarding them and move like lightning, Marcus on Jack and Franklin on Number One.

Franklin [wrapping himself around Number One and bowling her over]: Get down!

      Jack gets off a wild shot, hitting nothing but the wall. Marcus has "borrowed" a PPG from the guard he just put down, and his shot takes Jack in the shoulder --- with unexpected results. A small, nasty-looking creature, suddenly becoming visible, falls off his shoulder and scuttles off behind a box. Wounded, Jack fades into the jumble of boxes as everyone else focuses on the creature, which now lies dead on the deck. Somebody has to ask the obvious question:

Number One: What the hell was that?
Franklin: I don't know, I've never seen anything like it!
Marcus: Whatever it was, it was on Captain Jack! [Looks around for Jack, doesn't find him.] Where is he?

      Where he is, is farther down the tunnel, lurching along as fast as he can, and gripping his wounded shoulder. Two Resistance men have taken off after him.

MARS UNDERGROUND

      Franklin is dissecting the creature. From our point of view, the bright light that it's under makes it difficult for us to recognize it, but we've seen this thing before (War Without End, Part 2). Number Two walks in, no longer quite so threatening.

Number Two: We found your real identicards. Jack must have switched them for the fakes when you were handing them over.
Number One [watching the dissection]: I don't understand. Why'd he do it? He's been with us for years!
Franklin [over a microscope]: Well, he may not have had a choice.
Marcus: How so?
Franklin: The skin of this thing is covered with microfibers that dig into the skin and hook into the neural system. The whole thing is built like a series of synaptic relays with a symbiotic...
Number Two: English, Doc?
Franklin: This entity --- can cut into the neural pathways and override them. Now, some of the microfibers are fresh [he has cut some tissue from the corpse and uses a pliers to place it in a jar], so my guess is that its control over a given host grows as it does.
Marcus: A parasite. I hate parasites! Nasty little buggers!
Number One: So this was controlling him the whole time?
Franklin: Yeah, mostly. Wouldn't let him warn us! Didn't notice the small things he kept doing, though. He kept trying to tell me that something was wrong without actually saying it! The way he kept his coat on even though he was sweaty. Saying there was nothing on Deneb worth buying, when it's the biggest colony market in the area. And --- [pulls out the photo] --- giving me his daughter's address, to contact her in case he didn't survive this.

      The two Resistance men arrive to report that they lost Jack when he reached the surface and jumped onto a tube transport.

Number One: Does he still have his comm set?
Henchman: I didn't find it anywhere. But we did find something else. He broke into a weapons case, took a thermal grenade.

TOPSIDE

      A tube shuttle car is moving away from the dome. On board, Jack is the only rider. His comm starts to beep, and he answers it.

Number One (voice): Jack? Jack, it's me!
Jack [ashamed]: Yes? [For the rest of this scene we cut back and forth between the car and the Underground.]
Number One: What happened wasn't your fault. Come on back. It's okay. Nobody got hurt.
Jack: I can't do that! They knew who I was! They found me in the middle of the night, and they put that thing --- on me! In me! I --- I wanted to warn you, but I couldn't say anything! It wouldn't let me! Now it's --- it's too late!
Number One: No. It's not. We killed the thing!
Jack: You killed a part of it. But see, you --- you can't remove the whole thing! The thing of it is --- the damn thing of it is --- they grow back! They always grow back!
Number One: Jack, listen to me. Don't do anything stupid!
Jack [holding the grenade]: They say these tunnels can withstand just about anything. I've always wondered if that was true or not. [A tentacle creeps over Jack's shoulder. He's painfully aware of it.] I guess I'll finally find out what my tax money's been doing all these years!
Number One: Jack, don't be a...

      She's too late. Jack has pulled the pin. Jack might be gratified to learn that the tunnels are as good as they say. Finely shredded debris, the remains of the car, blows both ways along the tunnel's interior, but the tunnel itself is unharmed.

      Back with the Underground, no one has anything to say. They've lost a friend to an unknown enemy, and there's nothing they can do about it.

BABYLON 5 --- MARKETPLACE

      Garibaldi is wrapping up a meeting with a satisfied customer when Sheridan comes on the scene, wanting to apologize for the argument earlier. But no sooner does he get that much out than he's interrupted by a passer-by, a Brakiri woman* who clutches his arm.

Woman: You're him! You're Sheridan! [Garibaldi grunts in disgust.]
Sheridan: Uh, yes. I am. I'm sorry, I don't have the...
Woman [getting excited]: You went to Z'ha'dum, and you died and you returned with the knowledge of good and evil! You understand! [Starts running her hands all over his front. Garibaldi has turned away.]
Sheridan [kindly]: Now, look, it's not what you think.
Garibaldi [to himself]: You got that right!
Woman [gets on her knees and wraps her arms around his legs --- rapidly escalating from excited to ecstatic]: Just a blessing, that's all I ask, please!
Sheridan [trying to extricate himself gently]: No, I'm sorry...

      Garibaldi has heard enough. He turns back and grabs the woman roughly by the arm and tries to yank her to her feet.

Garibaldi: Come on! He's not the Pope! He doesn't look anything like her! [He's got her up, has her by both arms and is shaking her like a rag doll --- just a bit out of control.]
Woman: Let me go! [And to Sheridan:] You know the truth! You've seen the truth!
Sheridan: Hey, leave her alone!
Woman: Let me go!
Garibaldi [to Sheridan]: What, you like this? Is that it?
Sheridan: No, you're hurting her!
Garibaldi [shakes her some more]: He is not what he appears to be! Give it up, will ya?
Woman: Let me go!
Sheridan [grabs Garibaldi's shoulder]: I said, let her go!

      Garibaldi sucker-punches Sheridan on the jaw and puts him on the deck. We hear PPGs powering up as security guards are instantly on the scene, weapons drawn. But Sheridan waves them off. He gets up slowly, burning with anger. Garibaldi seems to realize he's pushed too far, but he doesn't seem to be able to back down.

Sheridan: Now, because of everything we've been through before, you get that one free. Next one, I'll take your head off!

GREEN SECTOR

      Still rubbing his jaw, Sheridan arrives at Delenn's door. She lets him in, and he comes in ready to unload.

John: Delenn, you wouldn't believe the kind of day I've ---

      He stops. Delenn has guests --- Lennier and five other Minbari.

Delenn: Yes?
John: I thought we were going to be alone. I mean, what are they ---?
Delenn [smiles]: They're here for the ritual. While we discover one another's pleasure centers, they stay outside to pray and meditate --- and ensure that things do not go too far. It is our tradition.

      Lennier takes a few steps forward, smiles, and bows.

John: They're going to be out here?
Delenn [big smile]: Yes.
John: While we're in there?
Delenn [bigger smile]: Yes!
John [draws her close and whispers]: I can't! Delenn, I can't in front of other...
Delenn [whispering]: John...
John: No-no-no-no-no!
Delenn [earnestly]: John, it matters to me that we do this properly, in keeping with the values and traditions of our people! As the engagement ring meant so much to you, our ceremonies mean just as much to us! Please stay.

      John swallows hard and allows Delenn to lead him by the hand into the bedroom. She reappears at the door to bow to the witnesses and close the door.

GREEN SECTOR

      Sheridan, leaving Delenn's quarters, steps into a tube car. As it happens, Lennier is already in it. Delenn's aide seems a bit uncomfortable. He speaks to Sheridan:

Lennier: "Woo-hoo"?

      Now it's Sheridan's turn to be uncomfortable. The ride continues in silence.

MARS

      Number One comes to Franklin and Marcus with news (and sporting a more fashionable outfit topped with a brown tunic).

Number One: I've heard back from the other leaders in the Resistance. [By which she means on Earth and the other colonies.] They're on their way, but it'll take a couple of days. So it looks like you're stuck here for a while.
Marcus: Typical. Nothing on this trip has been easy. I don't suppose there's anyplace around here we could stay.
Number One: I hot-linked your fake identicards to a hotel I know. They don't ask questions and they don't see what we don't want them to see. Meanwhile, I was going to go out and get some dinner. [Explains the change of clothes.] If you'd like to join me.

      The invitation seems to be open to both travelers, but her eyes are on Franklin. Marcus, ever observant, decides to be gallant.

Marcus: Why don't you two go on ahead, and I'll meet you at the hotel later? [Number One takes this at face value and starts off. But Franklin needs reassurance.]
Franklin: Are you sure?
Marcus: Positive! Oh! Where will I find you?
Number One: The Red Planet Hotel. For some reason they gave you two the honeymoon suite.
Marcus [now alone, he grins]: Right! Fine! I'll remind you of this when we decide on custody of the children!

BABYLON 5 --- A BAR

      The bar is nearly empty. Garibaldi is sitting at the only table that doesn't have chairs stacked on it. His three new acquaintances walk in.

Leader: Hear you were looking for me.
Garibaldi [nods]: Yeah.
Leader: Also hear that you had a little dustup with Sheridan. [Takes a seat.]
Garibaldi: Yeah. Look, I uh --- I think he's lost it. He's starting to believe the things everybody's been saying about him and buying into this hero-worship stuff. It's become about him, not what we've been saying, not what we've been fighting for. And if he could see straight, he'd agree with me, but, uh, in the end, we're gonna lose everything we've been working for because of one man!
Leader: That's what happens. That's exactly what happens when one man begins to matter more than the cause! [Pauses.] Are you with us?
Garibaldi: I won't hurt him.
Leader: No one's asking you to. You give him to us when we tell you to. We'll see to it that he gets the help that he needs. Are you with us?
Garibaldi [chews on his lip as he considers it, then]: I'm with you.

      But there's no relief, no release of tension, on his face. "Haunted" is the word that comes to mind.

"RACING MARS" synopsis © 2008 Richard Heider. Do not reproduce without author's express permission.