03x12 - Sic Transit Vir

[bunniefuu]

Good morning.

Let's take a look at the manifests,
see who's coming in today.

Couple of Drazi ships, Minbari
personal transport, even a few Vree.

It's still not quite where
we used to be, but it's a start.

All right, put me online with the first ship,
and let's get this show on the road.

What?

Is there a problem?

God, I hate dreams like that.

Good morning.
The time is 0530 EST, July 3, 2260.

Have a nice day.

- There you are!
- Oh!

I was just looking, really.
I didn't touch a thing.

Maybe the drapes a bit, but there was
this large flying thing that I tried to swat.

The emperor has just finished reviewing
your reports from Minbar.

He asked me to convey his compliments
on your hard work...

...even if some parts of it do read as if
they were written by Ambassador Mollari.

- He advised me on a few things.
- I thought as much.

Londo belongs to the old school.

He thinks we must be protected
from the truth.

But these are perilous times.

We must have accurate information
about what other worlds are doing.

You would do well to follow
your own judgment in future.

- Thank you, minister.
- Oh.

We have arranged for a ship
to take you back to Babylon 5...

...as soon as you are ready to travel.

From there, you will continue to Minbar.

Well, I'll let you go back to your room
now so that you can pack.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, I heard a new joke!

What is more dangerous...

...than a locked room...

...full of angry Narns?

I don't know, what is more dangerous
than a locked room full of angry Narns?

One angry Narn...

...with a key!

You....

With a key!

The Babylon Project was our last,
best hope for peace.

It failed.

But in the year of the Shadow w*r,
it became something greater...

...our last, best hope for victory.

The year is 2260.
The place, Babylon 5.

Same thing, night after night.
One bad dream after another.

I get the one where your teeth are breaking
off or falling out and you wake up going:

Oh, yeah, I know that one.

Or you're lost in a maze somewhere...

...or I'm someplace
where I've never been before.

This morning I dreamt
that I walked into C & C totally...

...unprepared for my work.

You interested in a little
dime- store psychoanalysis?

No, I'm just baring my soul as a preface
to asking you to give me some silverware.

Every one of these dreams
puts you in unfamiliar territory.

A maze or some strange place.

Well, that is kind of like
where we are right now.

When did you join Earthforce?

2247.

All right, so we're talking l3 years.

We're both career m*llitary. That means
we define who we are by what we do.

We left all of that behind
when we broke away from Earth.

- But I've already dealt with all that.
- Consciously.

But from what you were saying...

...subconsciously you're still
trying to work it all through.

You don't know where you fit anymore,
how to define yourself...

...you're feeling vulnerable,
lost and exposed.

It's all perfectly obvious
and completely understandable.

I suppose. I just--

I just hate waking up in the middle
of the night not knowing who I am...

...or where I am...

- ...or even what I am.
- It'll pass.

Your subconscious just needs
to work it all through.

Hey, it could be worse.

You could be having dreams where
you're showing up to work naked.

Then you'd be in real trouble.

I'm gonna get some more of this....
Whatever it is.

- You want anything?
- No. I'm fine.

Thanks.

Where are you now?

- "Maintenance, can I help you?"
- Yes, you can help me.

Two hours ago, two hours ago, I called you.

I told you there is a bug.

- An insect. In my quarters!
- "We've been a little busy"--

You listen to me. I do not like insects.

I do not like little brown things
with eight legs.

I do not like anything with eight legs.

Well, except for the Vinzini...

...but only because they are terrible at cards.
Something to do with compound eyes.

I want this thing dead!

Sorry, ambassador, but due to
the recent changes in our status...

...we've had to cut back on inspectors,
and insects are gonna get in.

We'll get somebody there as soon as we can.

Now don't hang up on me.
Don't hang up on me!

He hung up on me.

Die! Die! Die! Die!

There, you see?

This will teach you to trifle
with a Centauri, you triple- damned....

Do you know that you are
smaller than I thought you were?

You are smaller.

There are more of you.
There are more of you!

Yes!

You are Ambassador Mollari?

My dear lady...

...for you, I would be
anyone you want me to be.

Please, come in. Come in.

May I have your attention, please?

Please consult your transport agency
for schedule information.

Excuse me, have you seen Ambassador
Mollari? He always meets me here.

- Good morning, Delenn.
- Captain.

- How are things with your government?
- Well, for the moment, blissfully quiet.

At least so far as we're concerned.

President Clark's having a hard time
keeping everything bottled up back home...

...so we're not on the top of his list
of priorities right now.

And the Resistance?

Gathering their forces,
putting their people into place.

With everybody busy planning
their next move, we get a break.

It'll be short, but I'll take it.

Which brings me to you.

- Me?
- Yes.

You know, every time that I have seen you
lately, we've been in the middle of a crisis.

A revolution.

This is the first time in months that it's been
this quiet. It won't last. It never does.

But as long as it's here....

I'd like to see you tonight.

Are you not seeing me now?

I would think that you see me
every time we meet...

...unless I have become translucent
or insubstantial...

...and nobody has thought
to inform me until now.

Then let me say I'd like to see you
in a different light.

- Candlelight, for instance. Over dinner?
- Tonight?

Tomorrow we may be involved
in another crisis, another battle.

This may be the last chance
we'll get for a while.

You know, back home we have an old saying:

"Eat, drink and be merry,
for tomorrow we die."

Humans can be a very depressing people.

Only if we get turned down for dinner.

Well, we cannot have that, now can we?

Come.

Londo.

Greetings, Vir. How was your flight?

Very good. I managed to get
some sleep this time.

And how are things at the Royal Court?

You know, collusion, politicking,
scheming, innuendo, gossip.

- Same old thing.
- Good, good.

And your reports?
I assume they went over well?

Yes, very well.

Did you tell them I helped you with them?

There was no need to,
they noticed it right off.

Well, good. Good.

Anything interesting happen
while you were there?

No.

Not at-- No, nothing. No....

- Vir.
- Yes.

I have a surprise for you.

A surprise?

You can come out now.

Hello, Vir.

Is it not glorious, Vir?

Your wife has come all this way,
just to see you.

- Londo, I'm not married.
- Not yet. But in a few days you will be.

And if you ask me,
she is far too good for you.

All right, come on, Vir. Say hello.

Her name is Lyndisty, and you'll be
spending the rest of your life with her.

How can we be married?
I've never even met you before.

It was all arranged through your uncle
and my mother, the Lady Drusella.

They feel it would be a perfect union
of our two houses.

You know nothing about me.

I know that you are now
the liaison to Minbar.

I know that your reports are in favor
at the Royal Court...

...and that your star
seems to be in ascendance.

I know that in your face I see
a gentleness and a kindness of spirit.

While I was waiting for you, Ambassador
Mollari told me everything about you.

Oh, don't worry, Vir.
I only told her the good parts.

It was a very short conversation.

They're getting faster.

I swear, they are evolving
right before my eyes.

If you see something this big with eight legs
coming your way, let me know.

I have to k*ll it
before it develops language skills.

- When I marry, I want it to be for love.
- A radical.

I'm sorry, that's just the way that I feel.

If you give me a chance...

...I promise you, when we cross
beneath the swords and boughs...

...it will be for love.

- Good afternoon, Sgt. Allan.
- Commander.

Here you go.

- We don't usually see you up here.
- No, I hardly ever get the chance.

- It's quite a view, isn't it?
- I know. I can never get enough of it.

Standing here in front of the stars like this.

Looking out, down, up, all at once.

Kind of makes you feel naked
in front of the universe.

Was there something that I could do for you?

Oh, yeah. Sorry.

I was gonna run this by the chief,
but this is more your area.

We've had a lot more Narns than usual come
through here lately, escaping the Homeworld.

Well, I don't see a problem.
The more they can get away, the better.

Oh, hey, I agree.

It's just that I was going over
their papers of transit...

...and I noticed the name of the Centauri
who approved them.

Abrahamo Lincolni?
You've got to be kidding me.

- Since when is that a Centauri name?
- Well, that was my reaction too.

Let me see that.
Whose office did these come through?

So what did my uncle tell you about me?

That you were smarter than you appeared
and that you had several virtues...

...but that I should not hold this against you.

He said that you were capable of a quite
enchanting and well- deserved humility.

I'm not entirely sure what he meant by that,
but I'm sure it was good.

Do you think it will take you
very long to love me?

You know, it's really hard to say.

I've always considered time
to be very important.

I've often thought that when we are born...

...we are given time
in a multitude of tiny boxes...

...so small that when we need them most,
they're nowhere to be found.

I don't think we should
rush things, you know.

You may find I'm not suited to you.

Perhaps. But we will grow together.

You shall be the logical conclusion
to all my happy thoughts...

...and the borders of my world
circumscribed by your two arms.

Do you think I'm pretty?

Oh, yes. Deliriously.

But I always associated delirium
with fever, so there you are.

Then let me be a fever
from which you never recover...

...and our nights an anarchy of pleasure.

Lyndist--

Well?

If kisses could k*ll...

...that one would have flattened
several small towns.

Vir, our marriage
has already been arranged.

The ceremony is just for show.

Everything that must be done
has been done...

...except between us.

If you send me away, I will still be
your wife in name, if not in fact.

And I think you will find me
a most pleasant fact.

Mr. Cotto, you're late.

I'm sorry, I was otherwise engaged.

Engaged and married as it is.
Not that I knew about it--

- You're not making sense.
- I imagine I'm not...

...but that's the kind of day I'm having.

- So let me tell you why I'm here--
- Abrahamo Lincolni?

- I hoped to tell you before you found out.
- Too late.

We noticed that the papers of transit
came from your office on Minbar.

Since you're the only one there
who knows Earth history...

...I figured you must be responsible.

Now, would you like to tell
me what this is all about?

I needed a name to put on the papers.

I don't have the authority to approve
transfers from the Narn Homeworld...

...so I invented somebody who did.

It's part of our work program back home.

We bring Narns from their Homeworld...

...to work in construction
and help in the factories.

- Work camps.
- In a sense.

It's much better than being back on Narn.
The conditions there are very bad, I'm told.

- You're saying these Narns go voluntarily?
- Absolutely, yes.

Then why the forgery, the fake names,
the falsified transit papers?

There are many Centauri who would
rather see the Narns suffer back home...

...than be given comfortable quarters
too close to Centauri Prime.

We're trying to help in our own way.

I hope that's the right kind of table.

I don't do a lot of entertaining here.
I usually just grab a bite on my way in.

It's fine.

I didn't come for the decor.

Well, I hope you didn't come
for the cuisine either...

...because, unlike Mr. Garibaldi,
I am not exactly a gourmet cook.

But what I lack in finesse...

...I make up in portions.

Barely edible, but lots of it.

- Flarn.
- Yeah.

You learned to cook flarn?

Well, after I tried it at your place,
I found I kind of liked it.

It might need a little salt.

Stop apologizing. Let's sit and eat.

I'm sorry, I just wanna make sure it's okay.

Oh, it looks fine.

I like that picture over there.

Oh, yeah, it's a favorite of mine too.

So how is the flarn?

Enough salt?

Just right.

Vir, there you are.
I have been looking for you.

Did your meeting with
the commander go well?

As well as could be expected.

Is there a problem?

I'd like to know more about what you do
so that I can be a good wife to you.

I knew if I followed you long enough
I would find the m*rder*r.

- Vir?
- Get behind me.

Look, I don't know what you want--

You really did like it.

Security to all personnel near Green 2.

We've got an as*ault in process.
Repeat, as*ault in process. Green 2.

That's just one level down,
near Londo's quarters.

I'll be right back.

No! Vir! Vir....

- Lyndisty, run!
- No, not without you!

Put it down. Now!

And Vir had no explanation for the att*ck?

None.

He said it was a complete mystery.

Maybe it was a random
t*rror1st att*ck on a Centauri.

- It's not like they need a reason these days.
- "I'm not so sure."

Just before he came at them
"the last time, he yelled "Shon"- "Kar."

Shon- Kar?

- That's a Narn blood oath.
- "Exactly, meaning it's a personal grudge."

I can't imagine why anyone
would want to k*ll someone like Vir...

...but you better run a check on the
Narn anyway. See what you can dig up.

Will do. Take care of that arm.

I just don't understand it.

Every time I show my face around
here lately, somebody hits me.

First G'Kar, then the riots, now this.

So brave of you.

Putting yourself in front of me like that.

Even terrified, I was so proud of you.

I just don't understand why he did it.

With the Narns, who can say?
You know how they are.

Yeah, but he--

You rest now. You've earned it.

You've been the hero long enough today.

I've never been a hero before.

I won't let them hurt you, Lyndisty.
I promise.

Bad news, Vir.

We think there may be another Narn out
to finish what the first one started.

What? How can you be sure?

We checked the lD
on the Narn who att*cked you.

He arrived here with his pouch brother.

A Shon- Kar is a blood oath.

If a family member fails to carry it out,
it devolves into the next in line.

Vir, if a Narn declares a blood oath,
there's usually a damn good reason.

- Is there anything you haven't told me?
- No, no, nothing!

I heard there was a woman with you.
Is she all right?

Yes. Lyndisty, my wife.
Well, soon to be.

You know, it's done,
but it's not really done...

...but, you know, it's a long, long story...

...but at first, you know,
I didn't think, but now--

She's, well-- Could I ask you
a question as long as you're here?

- I suppose.
- Okay.

What do women want
when things get, you know...

...intimate, you know?

I really don't think that we should be
having this conversation, Vir.

lsn't there someone else?

There's only Londo,
but I don't think that's a good idea...

...and since you're a woman,
I thought you might have some ideas.

Well, it depends. I mean,
there's no single answer to that, Vir.

I mean, every woman is different.

But if she's your wife, well, you must
know a few things about her.

Blank slate.

Well, there must've been
other women before this.

There were other women,
but I never got past one.

- You mean first base.
- No, no, I mean one.

You see, we have six....

We have six, you see, and each one is
a different level of intimacy and pleasure.

So, you know, first you
have one and that's....

And then there's two, and then
by the time you get to five, it's--

Vir, I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it!

I really don't know what to tell you, Vir.

I've never really gotten this relationship
thing down myself, okay?

So I'm the last person in the world
that should be giving out advice...

...on this sort of thing.

All I can say is that enthusiasm, sincerity...

...genuine compassion and humor...

...can carry you through any lack...

...of prior experience...

...with high numerical value.

I'm gonna remember that.
Thank you. Thank you.

Six.

Come.

I wanted to see how you are doing.

Ah, I've had worse.

I'm just sorry it interrupted our dinner.

There will be other dinners...

...but if you keep doing this,
you will get k*lled one day...

...and then there will be no more dinners.

It was happening right under my feet.
I had to do something.

Besides, I'm fine.

Let me.

Delenn, Delenn, listen.

I have been dressing myself
for a long time now.

Yes, but your arm is hurt,
and why put more strain on it?

I hear that when it happened,
Vir was with a woman.

Apparently they are to be married soon.

So I understand.

Must be the shortest courtship on record.
She just got here yesterday.

Perhaps you should
check the air recycling system.

There may be, as you say...

...something in the air.

Maybe there is at that.

"Captain, I"--

Oh, I'm sorry, I....

- No, no.
- "I didn't mean to"--

It's all right, it's all right.
What is it?

Meet me in Londo's quarters ASAP.

Turns out we've got
a serious problem with Vir.

On my way.

- I have to....
- I know.

Of course.

I should go.

I hope there is a good reason
for this interruption, commander.

There is.

During our investigation into the att*ck,
we've learned something very disturbing.

Over the past couple of months, Vir has been
forging papers for as many as 2000 Narns...

...authorizing them to leave their Homeworld
for so- called "work camps."

- Commander--
- What?

Londo, please, don't pretend
you don't know anything about this.

I don't. This is a complete surprise to me.

What makes you think
I would know about this?

For starters, it's the kind of thing
that only you could think of.

Second, there's only
one logical reason why another Narn...

...would declare a Shon- Kar
and try and k*ll him:

Revenge.

We ran a check on all the Narns
who left Narn using Vir's travel papers.

According to the transit and relocation files,
every one of them...

...all 2000 Narns, all of them...

...are dead.

That's 2000 murders, Vir.

No wonder the Narns are after you
and anyone close to you.

Two thousand dead Narns?

Well, it's a start.

Good to see you showing some initiative, Vir.

- lnitiative? It's m*rder.
- You say that as if it were a bad thing.

Remember, it's Narns we're talking
about here. A few dead, more or less--

They're not dead!

- They're not?
- They're not?

Well, then you do have
some explaining to do.

- Can't count on anything anymore.
- But the records, Vir.

I altered the records
so nobody would look for them.

- Why?
- Because I had to do something!

They were females and children...

...some of the local leaders, the ones who
kept their language and their beliefs.

Most of them were injured
from us bombing their world...

...and sending them to forced labor camps.

They weren't getting proper treatment.

If I hadn't gotten them out,
they would've d*ed.

lnstead, I had them sent to other worlds,
got them medical care...

...and when they were healthier,
I had them filtered back here to Babylon 5...

...or sent elsewhere.

Then why do the records say they d*ed?

Because back home, nobody cares
about dead Narns, only living ones.

While I was here,
there was nothing that I could do.

But while I was running the
diplomatic mission on Minbar...

...I had the chance to do something
and I took it.

My only regret is that I couldn't
have saved more of them.

Do you realize
what you have done to me, Vir?

I was the one who pushed
to get you this position.

A position you have abused.

If this comes out,
the scandal would hurt both of us.

Now I will have to deal with this,
Vir, and with you.

Just one thing.

If Vir is telling the truth and none
of these Narns have been k*lled...

...why did one of them att*ck him?

They are Narns, captain.
They don't need a reason for m*rder.

Vir, there you are.
I've been looking everywhere for you.

You're troubled.
I can tell from your expression.

Can you tell me what is troubling you?

I thought I was doing something good.

And I was.

Only now it's something quite bad...

...for me, at least.

Well, that covers effect...

...but I'm reasonably sure that I'm no
nearer cause than I was when I sat down.

It's a long story.
It has to do with the Narns.

I should have expected that.

Well, whatever it is, Vir,
I'm sure that it's not your fault.

How can you say that?
You don't even know what the situation is.

Unnecessary.

Everyone knows
that wherever there's trouble...

...there's always a Narn at the center of it.

That's all they are, you know, trouble.

It's not their fault.

They're simply inferior.

It's genetics.

They're lazy...

...they foul their own nests...

...everything they touch falls apart.

Hence, my original conclusion.

The sooner they're dealt with,
the better for everyone.

Especially if they've caused you
any kind of trouble.

- You don't really mean that, do you?
- Yes, of course I do.

My dearest Vir, don't be silly.

You're having fun with me, aren't you?
Playing with me.

Well, I can play too.
That's why I came to find you.

I have something for you.

- Please, come.
- I can't, really. I'm not in the mood.

This will cheer you up.

Please, we don't have a lot of time.
Please, come.

All right.

Two steps in.

And stop.

You can open your eyes now.

It's dark.

Lights. Gently, please.

- Lyndisty!
- I knew you'd be surprised.

He's still alive.

Yes, of course. I saved him for you.

I almost didn't.
After all, he did intend to k*ll me.

But I set a little trap for him.

I have been trained quite well.

- I almost finished him all myself, but--
- Why did he want to k*ll you?

At first I wasn't sure...

...but then when he was unconscious...

...I studied him for a very long time
until I remembered:

I saw him on Narn.

My father and I went there after the w*r.
He was in charge of culling the herds.

- Culling the herds?
- Oh, yes. Quite necessary for pacification.

He would test their villages
and find out which populations...

...had the greatest tendency
toward aggression.

You cure future aggression
by cutting out that part of the gene pool.

Our soldiers would bring them in,
10, 20 at a time.

And we'd put them to sleep.

It was more humane
then they deserved really...

...but Father's always been overly charitable.

Sometimes we'd find whole villages...

...where the aggression
was just too deeply rooted...

...and we had to take it all out.

You could see the flames
rising up into the night...

...like brilliant flowers embracing the spring.

Bright buds opening and spreading wider.

This one...

...I remember, he escaped with his brother
from one of the villages we purified.

That must be why they tried to k*ll me.

He was going to use this.

But I saved it, and him, for you.

As head of our new household...

...it is your right.

Vir....

Oh, Vir, it's not like he's really aware.

And after the first few,
it's really quite easy.

I've done it hundreds of times myself.

Please.

Accept this one as
a token of my love for you...

...and a testimony of our marriage.

I have spent the last hour...

...on the line with certain friends
in the Centaurum who owe me favors.

I have not told them everything.
Just what is required for their cooperation.

It is not as if this is
the first time this happened.

Oh, no. Our last envoy to Minbar
also went native.

Too much exposure to those damn
Minbari can have strange effects.

So we are going to pretend...

...that this entire unfortunate incident
never took place.

All records will be destroyed...

...and you are forbidden
to speak about it to anyone!

Do you understand?

Good.

I must say that I am personally
very disappointed in you, Vir.

I had expected better of you.

But I suppose it is my own fault
as much as yours.

I was foolish in sending you to Minbar
before I had finished your training.

You fell in with bad company.

Freethinkers, anarchists, Minbari.

They took advantage of your naivet?.

Well, it happens.

Sometimes the bird leaves the nest
and flies away.

And sometimes it falls onto its beak...

...and needs to be helped
back into the nest for a while.

That is you.

Your tenure as our liaison to Minbar is over.

You'll stay here now, away from temptation
and the authority that you misused.

And I will continue your instruction
in what it means to be Centauri.

You may start by telling your wife goodbye.

Lyndisty? What happened?

- Do her parents know?
- No, no.

They only know that there's been
some kind of unfortunate misunderstanding...

...and that your place is not as high
as it was a few days ago.

They have not cancelled the marriage,
but they are reconsidering it for a while.

I suggest you go and make up to her
as best as you can.

She's a good woman. A true Centauri.

That she is.

- Good morning, commander.
- Captain.

Something I can do for you?

This is my office, after all.

I know. I was just using your security
clearances to finish up a few things.

Such as?

Getting rid of some bad dreams.

All right. What do you think?

That's me. As a Centauri.

Nope. That's Abrahamo Lincolni
of the Centauri Relocation Bureau.

Vir did a very good job
creating a fake bureaucrat.

Londo doesn't know about him
and he's still authorized to issue papers.

So I figured, why not take advantage of it,
keep him around for a while?

So I added a few details,
a photo from your file.

Yeah, I've noticed.

I'm not sure I like the coat.

How many Narns do you think Lincolni can
get out of danger before they figure it out?

Beats me. But it seems
like even one would be a victory.

What does this have to do
with your dreams?

I just realized that I was looking for
a direction of some kind.

Something to do for the station or for us.

Ever since we broke away, I've been mostly
parking ships and running inventories.

But operating behind the scenes...

...running numbers,
using our resources to help other races...

...I feel like I've got some new options now.

And to tell you the truth, I hate to say this...

...but I think I'd really enjoy being a sneak.

Then I hereby appoint you...

- ...the official Babylon 5 sneak- in- residence.
- Well, thank you.

- Now get the hell out of my chair.
- Yes, sir.

And may I say, sir,
from the bottom of my heart...

...that you make an absolutely
charming Centauri.

I know we had some problems
towards the end there.

And I definitely think
we need to talk about it.

But I think you can change.

It's just some of your ideas,
they need rehabilitation.

They say the same about you.

They say that you are confused,
but that you will get better in time.

I hope not.

Well, either way, I will wait for you.

- You don't have to do that.
- No, but I will.

So I take your gentle face with me...

...transmuted into memory
by the alchemy of my affection...

...as deposit on our wedding night.

I will see you again, Vir.

Soon.

Well, what relationships
don't have their ups and downs?