05x09 - In the Kingdom of the Blind

[bunniefuu]

All right, what's wrong now?

This is my analysis of the latest reports from the Rangers.

We've had a major increase in att*cks against shipping lines of Alliance worlds.

Hit

-and

-run att*cks, very efficient.

No survivors, no warning.

So far, very typical Raid I do not think these are Raiders, John.

The ships were destroyed with the cargo still onboard?

Raiders strike quickly, knock out communications and navigational control plunder the cargo bays, then destroy the ships.

Whoever is behind these att*cks isn't interested in cargo or profit.

They are not Raiders.

These att*cks are being carried out with almost m*llitary

-like precision.

Textbook search

-and

-destroy missions.

Do the Rangers have any idea who's responsible for this?

Nope.

No survivors, no witnesses and no evidence.

The transports were so overwhelmed they didn't have a chance to fight back.

Well, until now the other worlds probably figured this is just a local problem.

When they find out it's this widespread When do the others get this report?

You're required to give the Council briefings on matters affecting their security within 24 hours of reviewing them in

-house.

Every member race has been hit equally and the att*cks have been totally random so that rules out border skirmishes or political disagreements.

There is no one obvious to blame.

Which means they'll blame each other, randomly.

Deploy Rangers along the main shipping lines monitor all frequencies for distress signals.

We have to find out who is responsible for this or we're going to have a real problem.

A highly trained but unknown m*llitary force striking randomly against our allies?

I'd say we already have a real problem.

And so it begins.



- There's a hole in your mind.



- What do you want?

No one here is exactly what he appears.

Commander Sinclair is being reassigned.

Why don't you eliminate the entire Narn Homeworld?

I see a great hand reaching out of the stars.

President Clark signed a decree declaring martial law.

These orders have forced us to declare independence.

Unless your people get off their encounter

-suited butts and do something You're The One who was.

Why are you here?

I think of my beautiful city in flames.

Get out of our galaxy! We are here to place President Clark under arrest.

Prime Minister Mollari, so good to have you back.

I trust your journey was a pleasant one.

Not really, no.

And I see you've brought your own entertainment with you.

An excellent idea.

And quite brave of you to let him so close without keeping him in chains.

Perhaps we should change that.

Just a few chains to make the others more comfortable before we put him in a cell.

He is my bodyguard.

Well, it's good to know that Your Excellency's sense of humor is still intact after such a long voyage.

Well, now, perhaps if we could show you to your room Minister Vitari, I wasn't joking.

His name is G'Kar.

And he He is my bodyguard.

And I can find my room very well on my own, thank you.

What time is dinner here?



- Sundown.



- Good, I'm starved.

Is that the last of them?

Good.

Close it up.

Yesterday something happened that will change the lives of everyone perhaps even alter the course of the future.

Most of you know Lyta Alexander.

During the Shadow w*r she served the Vorlons acted as their go

-between.

They adjusted her abilities, made her stronger and revealed the truth to her.

And last night she revealed it to us.

While some telepaths on other worlds evolved naturally the majority were created by the Vorlons through centuries of genetic manipulation.

They created us so we could be used by other worlds as weapons in their w*r against the Shadows.

That is all we are to them.

Things to be used and thrown away.

All that was bad enough but to find that we would not even be telepaths would not be hunted down and caged and controlled if the Vorlons had not interfered with our genetic makeup made us into what we are Byron, what is done is done.

We can't change what we are.

No, we can't.

But if we are what we are because we were made this way then I have to say to our makers, "You are responsible.

" The Vorlons are gone.

The Vorlons, the Shadows, they're all gone.



- There's no one left.



- Yes but their legacy remains.

We are that legacy.

A legacy created with one purpose.

To serve the other worlds in a w*r that is now over.

Which leaves us where?

Abandoned?

Alone?

No.

There is another way but it is dangerous.

Yes.

Hello, prime minister.

Hello, Jano.

Where have you been?

I've been asking for you.

I was away.

I only just now learned of your return.



- I hope this isn't a bad time.



- No, just having a drink before bed.



- Here, sit, my old friend.



- Thank you.

It's good to see you again.



- How are you?



- Well.

Sheridan's new Alliance is keeping me very busy.

I have come back just to see how things are doing here.

How is the regent?



- Not well, they say.



- They say?



- Haven't you seen him?



- He remains in seclusion.

Officially, only his personal physician and a few trusted aides have seen him for, oh, almost two months.

And unofficially?

Some of the staff have found him wandering the palace late at night.

They say he talks to himself.

Cries, wails, curses and then falls silent when somebody approaches.

Sometimes he says he has something important to tell them and then a cloud seems to pass over his face, and he walks away.

Once, before he could be brought to his room he told a guard to k*ll him, that he was not himself.

Of course, he was quite drunk at the time.

Was he?

I find that very strange.

I've known the regent since I came to the Royal Court.

He doesn't drink.

He cultivated sobriety as his only vice.

A break with conventional, accepted behavior.



- Perhaps he's changed.



- Perhaps.

Well Things do seem quieter than when Cartagia was in charge.

Oh, quieter, yes, yes.

But also stranger.

I was updating the status report on our fleet, standard protocol when an aide to the regent told me to stop.

He said that information was for the regent only.

And other reports too.

Grain production, food supplies, ore production have all been reclassified as top secret.



- Why?



- I don't know.

Nobody does.

It's a strange thing, Londo.

It's a feeling more than anything I can point to.

As if a darkness had fallen over the palace.

I've never felt anything quite like it before.

But I'm glad you're back, Londo.

If anybody can find out what is going on, it's you.

And while the regent can refuse to see me it would be very hard to avoid seeing his own prime minister.

All right, Jano.

Keep an eye out for anything else you might consider strange.

Let me know what you find out and I will bring it to the regent myself.

Perhaps it's nothing, just whispers and rumors but just once I would like to find myself wrong about these things for a change.



- Good night, Londo.



- Good night, Jano.

See you in the morning.

Oh, yes.

Lights.

Lights! Who's there?

Regent?



- Is that you?



- Yes.

Yes.

So they tell me.

Now, what are you doing here?

Why, I came to see you, Lord Jano.

Why else?

Certainly not the décor.

Once I would have thought pastels for the curtains.

But I think we're well beyond pastels now.

No.

No bright colors anymore.

Just darkness.

I remember when you were just a child Emperor Turhan once picked you up and carried you all around the palace.



- Do you remember?



- Yes, regent, I remember.

But you shouldn't be here.

It's late.

You should be asleep.

Yes.

I suppose I should.

But I wanted to see you.

I so wanted to see you again.

You do understand, Jano that if it were my decision I would never let anyone harm you.

I would never let anyone hurt you if it were my decision.

But it's not my decision, you see.

Not my decision at all.

Then it's decided.

The Yolu government will not oppose the independence of the colonies in Sector 800 in exchange for an agreement by the Alliance to intercede in all border disputes there for the next 20 years.

Are there any challenges?

Good.

Then the motion is passed.

I think that concludes all our business today.

Thank you for coming.

Oh, and we have an updated report on the security of your shipping lines.

It'll be uplinked to your systems tonight.

And now the screaming begins.

It's started.

There's no turning back now.

I'll need you to stay here and coordinate things while I go find Mr.

Garibaldi.

In the next 24 hours I'll need you more than I've ever needed anyone.

Your strength, your wisdom your warmth.

Byron, aren't you ever afraid?

Constantly, Lyta.

Constantly.

Oh, Prime Minister Mollari, good.

I'm so glad you've come.

I was telling the others about your exquisitely ironic choice of a Narn for a bodyguard, but anyone who wasn't there refused to believe me.

I could hardly believe it myself.

But now that you're here Yes, I am here, and I would like to see the regent.

I'm afraid that's not possible, prime minister.

The regent is not well.

But he did ask me to convey his best wishes to you and your whatever, and to say that he will join us when his strength permits.

I see.

And where is Lord Jano?

He said he would meet me here.

I'm sorry, prime minister it is all I can do to keep my own itinerary straight let alone that of Lord Jano's.

But I will inquire, if that is what you want.

Yes, please.

Mollari! This business has gone far enough.

The palace guard should be protection enough for anyone.

To bring one of those in here is a slap in the face to every Centauri who's given his life guarding the palace.

And it recklessly endangers everyone here.

Endangers?

How?

Narns are barbarians.

Primitives.

Turn your back on them, they'll stick a Kn*fe in it.

A Narn would never s*ab a Centauri in the back.

It has always been our tradition to go for the chest.

That way you can see the life go out of their eyes as they fall.

Just doing my best in the interests of accuracy.

So you were in error, it happens.

Be assured that I do not carry a grudge.

No?

Interesting.

I brought someone with me.

Do you recognize him?

Yes.

This is the Centauri that whipped me before Cartagia.

Do you recognize what he's holding?

Yes.

That is the whip he used.

I put his fate in your hands.

In front of these witnesses, I say that you will not be prosecuted or charged for anything you might do.

Go on.

Tell me, minister, if I were to strike you which would you be angry at: The hand that struck you or the heart that commanded the hand to strike?

Well, the heart, of course.

The hand has no choice but to do as it is told.

It is the heart that carries the burden and that heart is dead in both of us, minister.

It d*ed with Cartagia and it d*ed in me soon after.

Besides everyone knows that the true source of pain is neither the hand nor the heart.

It is the mouth.

Is it not, minister?

Mollari, I think that you should follow me at once.

I just came in to look for him and I found Lord Jano like that.

I shall summon the palace guard.

This is a terrible day, Mollari.

I looked in his eyes when I searched him.

This was not a man who would seek death.

Yes.

Jano would never k*ll himself.

Never.

He was m*rder*d! And I appreciate your taking the time to see me, Mr.

Garibaldi.

Not a problem.

What can I do for you?

I'd like permission to address the Council for the Alliance.



- About what?



- I'd rather not say.



- Then the answer is no.



- It's rather important.

Then you're gonna have to tell me what it is.

Look, you've got Sheridan, Delenn, all the ambassadors from all the member worlds.

That's a lot of people, and they're busy.

If they're gonna give you five minutes they're gonna need to know why.

So if you can't tell me there's nothing I can do.

You've had a number of att*cks against Alliance shipping lines.

By now the other races know all about it.



- Yeah, they're pretty upset about it.



- Exactly.

My information could calm them down, but if I give it to any one person first they'll think it's a trick.

It has to be done in front of all of them.

And I want to thank the Brakiri for their help in rescuing survivors from a burning Drazi transport.

It is exactly that kind of cooperation that the Alliance stands for.

All right.

If there is no other business we have someone who wants to address the Council.

Byron?

I'm afraid I'm going to divert from my prepared comments but this matter is no less important than the one I was expected to address.

The reports Lyta is handing out contain detailed information on how the Vorlons created telepaths on a hundred different worlds through centuries of genetic manipulation.

Human telepaths were among those created by the Vorlons to serve their needs, and yours, during the Shadow w*r.

Now the w*r is over and we are abandoned.

We belong to no one.

We have been caged, pursued and forced into a kind of sl*ve labor all for your benefit.

So now I turn back to you and say you must help us.

The Alliance we were created to serve must now help its creations by giving us and all telepaths a Homeworld of our own.

Byron, you are out of order.

Now, what you are asking for Is small compared to the sacrifices we have made.

There are many habitable worlds on the edge of your territories which have no real value to you.



- There is nothing we can do.



- What you are asking for

- Will be given! For a very long time now we've hidden what we can do all for your sake.

That will now change.

We do not believe in v*olence.

That is not our way.

Our way is information.

Over the last two days, each of you has been followed by one of my people.

They have scanned every thought, every secret every hidden thing you would not want known.

We now have all your secrets.

Give us a Homeworld of our own and you will never hear from us again.

Fail to do so and all your secrets will be revealed.

Never, ever, ever trust a telepath! I swear to you that I'm gonna have that tattooed on the inside of my eyelids.



- Damn it, I'm sorry

- It wasn't your fault.

Byron's telepaths have provided us with solid information since you brought them into the covert intelligence division.



- You couldn't know they would pull this.



- I should've known.

Don't they understand what they're doing?

They might as well have rolled in a grenade.

Look, they were very smart in not saying exactly what they knew.

Unless they do a deep scan, a telepath can only pick up what you're thinking at the moment.

But who the hell remembers every passing thought they had for two days?

Leaving everyone to assume they know the most damaging information possible.

Which begs the question: What are we going to do about it?

Perhaps they are right.

It is true that Vorlons guided their evolution creating telepaths for their own purposes, to serve our needs in the w*r.

Perhaps we do have an obligation to them.

Fine.

I'll set them up a trust fund.

But a Homeworld of their own?

Come on! If you were hated by your own race, forced to join the Psi Corps or forced to take dr*gs to inhibit your talents for the rest of your life if you had been hunted and enslaved by the others would you not want a place of your own?

A place where others like you could gather safely without fear of persecution?

Okay, I grant you, on a strictly idealistic level it's understandable.

But they did it the wrong way, the inconvenient way.

I seem to recall the Earth president saying the same thing to you after your civil w*r.

I hate it that she has a memory, don't you?

Damned inconvenient.

Well, at least it's still a political problem.

So far it hasn't turned violent.

Yet.

Is there ever a time when you are not eating, G'Kar?

As bodyguard, I must keep up my strength.

I could be called upon to give my life to save yours at a moment's notice.

It's bad luck to die on an empty stomach.

We believe that Yes?

Prime minister, the regent will see you now.

I believe you know the way to his private bedchamber.

Yes.



- G'Kar?



- Yes?



- I'm glad you had something to eat.



- So am I.

When I move, run.

Run! G'Kar! G'Kar! Mollari you should never have come back to Centauri Prime.

You are an obstacle to my ambitions.

With one move I remove you.

Are you all right?



- Yes, I think so.



- Good.

I suggest we leave the area before others come.

I gave very explicit orders that no one was to leave the area until we heard back from the Council.



- We needed supplies.



- He said he'd come right back.



- Don't you understand?

They're afraid of us right now.

We have to stay here quietly, peacefully.

They have to see we're not acting against them.

If they come after us, we'll need supplies.

They won't.

If we stay together, do nothing to break the laws, security will have to protect us.

If we split up, anything can happen.



- Then we'll go after them.



- No.

That would only further complicate the situation.

We can only hope that One of your kind violated our ambassador.

Which was it?



- We have to help them.



- No.

Stay here.

We cannot return v*olence with v*olence.

We have to wait.

I can't! You said we had to look out for each other, protect each other.

We have to stop them!

- Mr.

President.



- Zack.

I assume you heard.

We just finished debating the problem.

I always wondered what it would take to make all these ambassadors act together.

And now I know.

That's the worst thing you can do to someone, Zack thr*aten to reveal his secrets.

On top of that, now the Drazi are claiming their people were att*cked by telepaths that threats were made.

With everyone already wired up over the att*cks on their shipping lines it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.



- I assume Captain Lochley sent you.



- Yes, sir.

And I assume she reminded you to remind me that she thought this idea of a colony of telepaths was a bad idea from the start.

Yes, sir.

Yeah.

Well, maybe she was right.

She wants me to pull them in, but they came here under your protection.

She won't contravene that.

She needs your authorization before she can take them out.



- How many people are we talking about?



- Well, it's hard to say.

They don't have to register as telepaths, they keep to themselves reports are about 50 to 150 people living down there.

Maybe Delenn was right.

Maybe we do owe them a lot more than we've given them.

But there's nothing we can do until we have them in custody.

Then maybe we can calm things down.

As of now, I am withdrawing my protection.

You are authorized to move as soon as you are ready.

Do what you have to do, Zack.

They'll be coming for us soon.

We need to prepare.

Move all our food stores in here, get everyone together.

Byron, I can try talking to Sheridan.



- He'd listen to me.



- I'm sure he would.

But the situation is almost certainly beyond his control.

The other ambassadors will insist on our arrest.

Then what do we do?

Go along like sheep when they come for us?

No.

We will refuse to be arrested, but we will do so peacefully.

We'll weld shut all the air doors, block all the transport tubes.

They'll have to dig us out inch by inch.

What do we do when the food runs out?

Then we will have nothing to eat.

When the other worlds hear of our starving here for the dream of our own Homeworld, it may soften their hearts towards us.

The longer it takes them to get to us, the more we may have a chance to negotiate.

In time, cooler heads may prevail.

No! When I was first identified as a telepath, my family said to wait.

"Perhaps they won't come for us.

Perhaps we can work this out in peace.

" But they came for me and my sister.

And now they will come for all of us.

We've spent years on the run, and in those years, we've been free from the Psi Corps, free from the hatred and the oppression and the fear.

How many of you want to go back to that?

Because that is exactly what will happen if we sit here and wait.

Then what do you propose?

You had the right idea, Byron.

You just didn't go far enough.

We have their secrets.

We can fight back.

I say we leave here while we can, split up and strike back.

Make them understand that if they give us what we want we'll go in peace.

But if they don't, we fight.



- You'll fight?



- Yes.

And k*ll?

If necessary.

We took these from the Drazi.

We can get more.

Have you learned so little?

Is there not one of you who understands?

! I am staying here.

Whoever wishes to go can go.

I have no hold over you.



- Byron

- Go.

While you still can.

And I can't tell you how glad we are that you escaped harm, prime minister.

How did you manage to escape?

Well, I live a charmed life.

Clean living.

Well, Vole was always trouble, you know.

Yes, even the regent has had difficulty containing his ambitions.

Well, it won't be a problem anymore.

He has overreached himself.



- The regent

- And where is the regent?

Pardon?

Well, you said the regent was ready to see me.

Was he or wasn't he?

Or were you merely setting me up for Vole's attempt on my life?

You almost had me going there.

Where is the regent?

Well, I don't actually know, you see.

He was there when I sent for you, but then when I came back he was gone.

But I assure you that every possible attempt will be made to locate him just as soon as possible.

Yes, yes, please, please.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes.

Are you sure?

Regent.

Regent Virini.

Hello, Mollari.

Beautiful night, isn't it?

As nights go.

And they go so quickly now.



- Are you all right?



- Yes, yes.

No.

I'm glad we got there in time to save you, Mollari.

You know, you were the only one who treated me fairly when Cartagia was here.

But he's still here isn't he?

His legacy.

Then it was you who saved me?

No.

Not exactly.

It was them.

They like you, you know.

That's why they saved you.

They say you are just like them.

They say

- They say you have much in common.



- They?

Who are they?

Quietly, Londo.

Quietly.

You will follow me.

You will be emperor soon.

Yes.

I'm sorry.

I'm so so sorry.

They have a message for you.

They say, "We know you have been asking about our supplies and ships.

" They say: "Let it go.

" You will understand it all soon enough.



- No, I want to understand it now.



- No! No, you don't.

If you have ever believed me before, Londo, believe me now.

You still have time.

Enjoy it.

Run in the sunlight.

Eat, laugh.

Like a fool.

You have so little time.

You should go now.



- Quickly!

- Regent We will speak one more time before the end.

Go now! Go on! Well, what did you learn?

I don't know.

Come along.

I didn't say anything.

L I didn't say I didn't I didn't

- G'Kar.



- Yes?

Tomorrow morning we will arrange for the first transport back to Babylon 5.



- I thought you were staying for a month.



- Yes, so did I.

G'Kar I have been in the Royal Palace on and off for most of my life.

Even when Cartagia was here I never lost my affection for it.

But tonight, for the first time I think it frightens me.

Frightens you?

Well, I won't be getting any sleep tonight.

What could they be doing with our ships, I wonder.

We beg you, do not fire! We're unarmed! We've done nothing to you! We've done nothing! Is this thing on?

It is?

This is Babylon 5 station security to telepaths in Brown Sector.

We are aware that you have sabotaged the transport tubes and welded the access hatches shut.

You are ordered to remove these obstructions and surrender at once.

Failure to do so will result in direct confrontation with our forces and I imagine you don't want that any more than we do.

Lyta, if you're in there come on out now and we may be able to intercede for you.

Anyone else who wants to come out, do so now.

If you stay if any of you stay there and resist the order of the president that you surrender yourselves and this area we cannot be held responsible for the consequences.

You could go, Lyta.

I don't want to.

We can hold them off for a day.

Two days, maybe three.

No more.

There will come a moment when I will ask you to leave me behind.

When that moment comes, you must do exactly as I say.

Promise me that, Lyta.

Promise me.