Original subtitles

[Beep beep]

Good morning.

The time is 0430, Earth standard,

Wednesday, August 3, 2258.

Personal log shows no outstanding appointments.

Shall I download station logs

for past 6 hours?

Ahh...sure.

Grab it. Store it. Shove it.

Clarification?

[Sighs]

Never mind.

Why does my mouth

always taste like old carpet in the morning?

Unknown.

Checking medical logs.

Morning, Lieutenant Commander.

Commander.

Sleep well?

Sleeping is not the problem.

Waking up-- that is a problem.

I've always had a hard time getting up

when it's dark outside.

But in space, it's always dark.

I know.

I know.

Picking up a distress signal.

Put it on-screen.

Requesting assistance.

I repeat.

Starfury pilot to all Earth vessels.

Requesting assistance.

Babylon 5 to fighter. What is your situation?

We were escorting transport, hit by raiders.

Surprise attack. They're in pursuit.

Power at 50%.

Launch delta wing.

Tell them to home in on his signal.

They're coming in!

Taking evasive action.

God, they're all over the place.

He's gone.

It was the dawn of the third age of mankind,

10 years after the Earth-Minbari war.

The Babylon project was a dream given form.

Its goal-- to prevent another war

by creating a place where humans and aliens

could work out their differences peacefully.

It's a port of call...

Home away from home

for diplomats,

hustlers, entrepreneurs,

and wanderers.

Humans and aliens

wrapped in 2,500,000 tons of spinning metal,

all alone in the night.

It can be a dangerous place.

But it's our last, best hope for peace.

This is the story

of the last of the Babylon stations.

The year is 2258.

The name of the place is...

Earth transport Spinoza

will be departing in one hour from...

Identicard, please.

This hasn't been updated in a while.

I've been out of circulation.

I spent the last few years

doing some exploration out on the rim.

Find anything interesting?

Yes.

By the time the search and rescue team got there,

there wasn't much left.

Security analysis.

Even after we cut off their supply

of heavy weapons,

the raiders have continued to escalate their attacks.

The last two have been in close proximity to Babylon 5.

We can't let this go on.

If we can't guarantee

safe passage to the station--

I know, just 2 problems.

One, by the time we hear about

an attack in progress,

it's too late to do anything about it.

Two, we can't figure out

how they're getting out so fast.

Ships that small have to use jumpgates

same as anybody else.

Getting from the point of the last attack

to the nearest gate

takes 4 hours of maximum burn,

but they were gone in less than 2.

Put delta wing on standby alert.

They should be ready to leave the second we hear

of any new attacks. Lieutenant Commander,

you'll take first tactical watch.

Will do.

I also recommend we put together a profile

of all incoming ships for the next few weeks.

See who's carrying any valuable cargo

if we can figure out who they're likely

to hit next.

Agreed. See to it.

It'll be tough.

Not everyone files a complete manifest.

A lot of them just flat-out lie.

All we can do is try to help them.

If they won't cooperate, then they'll just have to

accept the consequences.

That's all.

Mr. Garibaldi, a moment of your time?

Not long ago, something happened.

I've been keeping it to myself,

but the truth is...

I need some help.

Mostly, I need a friend.

You got both.

What's the deal?

I told you about the battle of the line,

the 24 hours of my life

that I couldn't remember.

Lately, I've started

to piece together a few things--

not all of it--

just enough to know

that something happened to me back there.

I've gone as far as I can

with my own investigation,

but this is more your area of expertise.

I need your help

to try and find out what happened...

And why.

This is strictly unofficial.

You don't have to take on the job

if you don't want to.

Jeff, this is me, remember?

So let's hear it.

Start at the beginning

and don't leave anything out.

[Chuckles]

Ambassador?

Mr. Reno? I was starting to worry

if you were going to come.

I always keep my end of the bargain.

Just had to make sure your people did the same.

And?

I finally received confirmation

that payment in full has been deposited

into my account back on Earth.

Here's the merchandise.

Great maker.

Nice piece of jewelry, isn't it?

This is not a piece of jewelry.

This is not the merchandise.

This...

Is the eye...

The oldest symbol of Centauri nobility,

the property of the very first Emperor.

It comes from the earliest days

of the Republic,

lost over 100 years ago at the battle of nu'shok.

I know the story, Ambassador,

and I'm glad it means something to you,

but to me it's just another commission.

My job is to find things...

Objects, people, you name it.

Now I've got my payment.

I'll be on my way.

Payment, indeed.

My government paid enough to buy a small planet,

but I would very much like to know

how you got your hands on this.

No, you wouldn't.

Ambassador.

Ambassador.

I have already pushed it.

I pushed it again.

Ah.

I hear there is a famine

on your world's Southern frontier.

My condolences.

You should have thought of that

before you strip-mined

our resources.

Ah. So it is all our fault, hmm?

Precisely.

Though I have noticed that your own people

have continued to exploit your world's resources

to build the mighty Narn war machine.

We have to protect ourselves.

By doing to yourselves

what you say we did to you?

Ah, that's evolution for you.

Now, see here!

Take the famine as a blessing, Ambassador.

A weeding out of the excess population.

One more comment like that, Mollari,

and you will become part

of the excess population.

Fah! Threats!

Yes, threats!

Now, you can go to hell!

And you can kiss my pouch!

You...

Both: Now look what you made me do!

And I can only assume

that once they were finished with me,

the Minbari wiped my memory

of being taken aboard their cruiser,

put me back in my ship, and let me go.

And you're sure that was Delenn you saw?

Positive.

11 years since the war, Jeff.

That's a long time. Trail's pretty cold.

I know and I don't expect you

to come up with anything today.

I've waited 11 years.

I can wait a while longer,

but if you get any ideas...

Understood. I'll keep my eyes open.

And Jeff, thanks for trusting me enough

to bring me in on this.

Don't thank me until we figure out

where this thing goes.

We may both end up

regretting this conversation.

I'm not sure I understand the question, Mr...

Morden.

Morden, yes.

Who did you say

authorized this little chat?

Counselor t'bar.

First circle.

And does he know what this is about?

No.

But in order to, uh...

See someone of your prominence,

I had to get a recommendation.

He provided it.

You still haven't answered my question, Ambassador.

What do you want?

Well, what do you mean, what do I want?

What do you want?

What do I want for supper?

What do I want to do this evening?

What do you want?

This is pointless.

What I want is for you to go away

and leave me in peace.

As you say.

Uh, wait.

What do I want?

The Centauri stripped my world.

I want justice.

But what do you want?

To suck the marrow from their bones

and grind their skulls to powder,

what do you want?

To tear down their cities,

blacken their sky,

sow their ground with salt!

To completely, utterly erase them.

And then what?

I don't know.

As long as my homeworld's safety

is guaranteed,

I don't know that it matters.

I see.

Well, thank you very much for your time, Ambassador.

Good day.

Nonsense.

Ambassador Mollari.

Yes, Lord Kiro.

I am honored.

This is Ladira, my aunt,

also the seer and prophetess of our house.

Ambassador.

My lady.

You are all right?

Yes. The trip was quite long.

It can be quite a strain

if you're not used to such voyages.

A little rest will help.

I've made all the arrangements.

You have the eye?

Yes.

It's quite--

[gasp]

This place...

Great maker, this place...

No.

Lady?

I see death...

Destruction....

Fire.

Babylon will fall.

This place will be destroyed...

Fire...death...pain...

Fire...

Death...

Pain...

No.

No!

You're sure you're all right?

I'm fine, Kiro.

It was a vision...

Very powerful.

You said this place would be destroyed?

Yes.

Yes, I did.

You'll excuse me.

I must go to my quarters and rest.

You'll forgive my aunt.

She sometimes takes the role

of prophetess too seriously.

Then you don't believe her vision?

She's been wrong before.

On my first birthday, she said that someday

I would be killed by Shadows.

Shadows?

It doesn't exactly make sense, does it?

No.

Where is the eye?

Safe.

I would like to see it.

Well, actually, I was told that--

my family has been

waiting for over 100 years

for the eye to be returned.

It is the symbol of our house,

a house of nobility and honor,

and now I must play the messenger.

After searching for so long,

I would like to spend some time with it

before turning it over to the Emperor.

Of course.

6 to 1. Have located target.

Commencing surveillance.

What is the purpose of your question,

Mr., uh, Morden, is it?

The question is its own purpose,

Ambassador Delenn.

What do you want?

I'm informed that you have just seen

Ambassador G'Kar.

Are you asking each of us this question?

Perhaps.

Does that invalidate the question?

No, but it makes me wonder.

Something wrong, Ambassador?

No.

Just a moment of fatigue.

Ambassador?

Leave me.

Get out...

Now!

They're here.

Ah...

Yes.

And no one else knows that it's here?

No one except the man who brought it here.

I think we can rely on his discretion.

Good.

Good.

We'll, uh...

We'll bring it back just as quietly.

It will be better for the government

to declare that they "found" it back home,

rather than to admit they had to buy it

from some outsider.

Ambassador...

You must know that things are, uh...

Changing...back home.

I hear a few things.

Every day our people grow unhappier

with our so-called leaders.

The Emperor has not appeared in public for nearly a year,

leaving his Prime Minister to act for him,

but without his leadership,

the senate continues to lose credibility.

Ah. So that is why they were so desperate

to find the eye, yes?

Yes.

There is no greater symbol of authority.

Mollari...

The eye belongs to my family...

My house.

Why should I give it to the Emperor?

We must all make our sacrifices.

If I were to return with the eye

and claim the throne for myself?

Lord Kiro, please.

I understand your feelings.

You could do what you describe,

but without support, you would be dead

within a day of trying.

These are no longer

the good old days, Lord Kiro.

Yes.

More's the pity. [Sighs]

I'll leave this in your care tonight.

If it were in my possession,

I might do something foolish.

Good night.

Good night.

Where did it all go wrong, Mollari?

Where did we lose it all?

Ah.

I--i don't know.

I don't know.

They're breaking through. Everyone to the shuttles.

Evacuate. Evacuate.

We've lost the journey team.

They're heading for the docking bays.

Repeat, they're heading for the docking bays!

Hit em!

Hit 'em with everything you've got.

We've got to get out. Launch the escape pods.

Destruct! Destruct!

Destruct! Destruct!

Everyone to the shuttle!

[Explosion]

Captain, we're picking up radar transmissions.

Impossible. The screens are clear.

There's nothing out there.

Hey, where're they coming from?

I don't know.

Time to target?

20 minutes.

Battle stations.

Thrusters to maximum.

We'll try to beat them

to the jumpgate.

Earth transport vessel achilles

to all ships in grid Epsilon.

This is Earth transport vessel achilles

to all ships in grid Epsilon.

This is a mayday.

Repeat. This is a mayday.

We are under attack.

We are surrounded by raiders.

This is a mayday.

We are moving at flight speed

to the jumpgate. Come on, guys,

we could use your help out here.

This is a mayday. Repeat. Mayday!

Stand by, achilles. Help's on the way.

Roger that.

Lieutenant Commander, you're clear to launch.

Confirmed.

You heard the man, delta wing. Hit it.

6 to 1. They've taken the bait.

Estimate 2 hours

until they can reload the cobra bays.

Keep them busy once they arrive.

We'll take care of Babylon 5 from this end.

You are clear to dock in bay 13.

Welcome back, Ambassador Kosh.

Time to target's last known position--20 minutes.

Any further transmissions from the achilles?

Confirmed, still reading her, delta leader.

All right. Let's hope we're in time to do some good.

Delta 7 and 8, stay behind and watch the gate.

If the raiders manage to double back and get past us,

link in. I want to know how the hell

they're getting in and out so fast.

Will do.

Maximum burn.

Weapons system on standby.

Heat them up. We're gonna need 'em.

Confirmed, delta leader.

We're ready to proceed. Bring the eye, please,

and we'll meet you along the way.

Good. I've notified Centauri Prime

of your expected arrival. There'll be a ship

waiting to escort you home.

You'll have protection every step of the way

once you're through the gate.

Well, I should hope so.

See you in a few moments, Ambassador.

Ah, Ambassador,

I was just on my way to see you. My name is--

I'm sorry, but I don't have time

to chat right now.

I suggest you make an appointment.

I did.

Then make another one.

Never a transport tube when you need one.

Ambassador,

I was authorized to speak to you--

yes, yes. Look, what do you want?

That's what I was gonna ask you.

What do you want?

You are a lunatic.

Go away. Pester someone else.

Destination?

Bay 12.

You are a very persistent young man.

I have to be.

I'm not allowed to leave here

until you've answered my question.

What do you want?

This is a silly conversation.

Yes, it is.

What do you want?

To be left alone.

Is that it?

Is that really all, Ambassador?

[Sighs]

All right.

Fine.

You really want to know what I want?

You really want to know the truth?

I want my people

to reclaim their rightful place

in the galaxy.

I want to see the Centauri

stretch forth their hand again

and command the stars.

I want a rebirth of glory,

a renaissance of power.

I want to stop running through my life

like a man late for an appointment,

afraid to look back

or to look forward.

I want us to be what we used to be.

I want...

I want it all back the way that it was.

Does that answer your question?

Yes...

Yes, it does.

Commander, we've just received confirmation

from delta wing. They're closing in

on the achilles' last known position.

Good.

Something wrong, Commander?

Up until now,

the raiders have been hitting closer

to Babylon 5, but this new attack

is almost a full sector further away.

Call up a cargo manifest on the achilles.

Let's see what she's carrying.

On it.

That's far enough.

I want the eye.

I don't know what you're talking about.

No more lies, Ambassador.

And to make sure

there are no further problems,

you three have just become hostages.

Get this aboard the ship...

And hide these bodies.

We don't want them found until we're clear.

Now, move.

Commander, I have the cargo information

you asked for.

Are you sure this manifest covers everything?

Yes, sir.

Hydroponic supplies,

tools, atmospheric testing materials.

There's nothing here that would bring a high price

on the black market.

Nothing worth the effort of stealing it.

Then why the attack?

Babylon control to delta wing.

Do you copy, delta leader?

Confirmed, Babylon control.

What's your status?

We just got word the raiders have

broken off the attack.

We're flying in pursuit.

Negative, delta leader. Do not pursue.

Repeat: Do not pursue. Return to base.

But, Commander--

it's a diversion, Lieutenant Commander.

They want your force as far from the station as possible.

Return to base at once.

Confirmed, Babylon control.

What ships are due to arrive or depart

in the next 2 hours?

Traffic's light.

Just a couple of survey ships

and a Centauri personal liner.

Registration?

A Lord Kiro and Lady Ladira

scheduled to depart bay 12 in 10 minutes.

That might be it. Tell Garibaldi

to stand by with Alpha flight.

I'm heading for bay 12.

Ambassador, the ship of yours

that's about to depart--

Commander, this is not a good time.

I have to warn you. We received information that--

Commander, look out!

All right. If anyone moves,

Lord Kiro gets his brains splattered

all over the bulkhead.

Now I'm taking this ship and we're leaving here,

and if anybody tries to block the docking bay,

I'll use the ship's thrusters

and burn my way through. Understood?

Understood.

We won't try to stop you.

I'd always heard you were a smart man, Sinclair.

Now, move.

Kiro...

Kiro, no!

Commander, what are you doing?

You can't just let him go.

Garibaldi, a Centauri liner

will be coming out of the docking bay

in about 5 minutes. Target engines only.

I want her disabled, not destroyed.

Confirmed. launching Alpha wing.

We'll program the jumpgate

to reject the ship's I.D. Code.

We'll let him get outside

to keep him from damaging the station,

but once they're outside, believe me,

they're not going anywhere.

Ladira, we should get away from here.

Shadows. The Shadows are coming for him.

Status?

Centauri liner's out

and trying to activate jumpgate sequence.

All right, Mr. Garibaldi.

Move in. Hit them and reel them in.

Will do. Ok, people, let's move.

The ship's too small to make its own jump point,

and with our jumpgate closed, the nearest one

is 6 light months away, and Garibaldi at his back,

we've got him boxed in on all sides.

We can wait him out if we have to, but--

Commander, jump point forming in sector 3.

What?

So that's how the raiders get in and out so fast.

A vessel that size would have to be capable

of solo jumps.

They're moving in attack formation.

Weapons systems locking on.

Close glass doors. Prepare for attack.

Level one alert.

Activate defense grids.

Defense grids on-line.

Alpha leader, whatever's on that ship, they want it bad.

Make sure it doesn't get away.

What about the station?

We can take care of ourselves. Now go.

Roger.

All right, Alpha wing, take them down hard.

Ladira...

Ladira, we have to find shelter.

Fire, death, and destruction.

You can't stay here.

Come with me now, please.

It doesn't matter.

The Shadows have come for Lord Kiro.

The Shadows have come...

For us all.

Leave this place.

They are not for you.

Go.

Leave...

Now.

Commander, Centauri transport

heading for the mother ship.

Unable to pursue.

Alpha leader to Alpha wing,

these things are made for atmosphere as well as space.

Go for the airfoils.

That's where they're vulnerable.

Recalibrate the defense grid

along the cargo bay

for long range firing pattern.

Range--between 2 and 5 kilometers spread.

I'll have to take it off-line for a minute.

Do it.

Babylon control to Alpha leader.

Drive them toward the back of the station.

Confirmed.

Let me know when they're in position.

One minute.

Defense grid reactivated.

Target range-- 3.9 kilometers.

Now we close the box.

Babylon control to delta wing.

Proceed.

Confirmed, Babylon control.

Surprise.

Tactical display.

They're retreating.

Good.

Right down the middle of the gauntlet.

Delta wing, fire!

Alpha wing, fire!

Fire defense grid! All sectors!

That's got them.

Delta wing,

proceed to command and control vessel

while Alpha wing works cleanup.

Confirmed.

Damn. Delta leader to Babylon control.

They're opening a jump point!

Repeat: They're opening a jump point!

Going to maximum thrust.

Negative, delta leader. Abandon pursuit.

You might get caught in the backwash.

We've got their fighters. Don't risk it.

Commander--

that's an order, delta leader.

Nuts...

Delta leader to delta wing. Show's over.

Let's collect the stragglers and return to base.

We figure 11 raider ships destroyed,

4 damaged and captured.

We're interrogating the prisoners now.

Station took some minor damage.

We've got maintenance 'bots working on it.

A few injuries here and there. Nothing major.

But it seems Ambassador Kosh's encounter suit

was damaged, but he's not telling how.

Just asked for some equipment to have it fixed.

What about our ships?

3 Starfuries were disabled

and had to be towed back for repair.

We lost 2 ships, Jeff.

Alpha 6 managed to eject in time.

He's down in medlab.

Doc thinks he'll be ok.

Delta 9 didn't make it.

Do you want me to notify the family?

No, I'll do it.

His father's back on Earth.

His sister's in the Mars colony.

The information's all there.

If it helps, it looks like we hurt the raiders bad,

maybe bad enough so that we won't be seeing them again.

They've still got their main vessel.

I know, but without fighters,

it's just one big target. It'll take a long time

before they can gather enough fighters

to be a problem, if ever.

Commander, you wanted to see us?

Yes. The ship the raiders captured

was registered in your name, Lady Ladira.

They were after something

in your possession.

I'd like to know what it was,

what it was doing here,

and why it wasn't declared

on the cargo manifest.

It's a very long story, Commander.

Well, my time is your time.

Very convincing performance back there.

Now if you don't mind, please tell your Captain--

sorry, he's busy.

Stick him in holding until we need him.

What are you doing? We had an agreement.

Had. Past tense. Look, we're big, we're organized,

but in no way are we big enough to help you knock over

the Centauri government and put you in charge.

I don't care how much leverage you think the eye gives you.

You think they're gonna follow you just like that?

Not a chance.

But I helped you.

I gave you the transport times--

and we're grateful.

This ship, big enough to make its own jump point,

cost us nearly every credit we've stolen

over the last 5 years.

With the ransom we can get for this,

we can buy one, maybe even two more.

That made it worth taking the risk,

not your plan.

And what about me?

You're gonna send a message to Centauri Prime.

They've met our demands for the eye,

but they won't consider paying your ransom

until they have proof that you're still alive.

So, look on the bright side, Lord Kiro.

You're not going home as the new Emperor,

but you are going home alive.

And once back, you're gonna keep on paying us

because you wouldn't want anybody

to find out about your little--

[alarm]

What the hell?!

Are you sure you're well enough to travel, my lady?

I have responsibilities I must attend to.

And what of you, Ambassador?

What of me? Ah!

It would seem my career is finished, good lady.

The eye is gone.

Even if they want to buy it back,

the price will be astronomical.

I'm sorry.

I'll do anything I can to help.

Thank you, but I'm afraid I'm beyond anything,

short of a miracle.

Good night, Lady Ladira.

I will see you to your ship in the morning.

I expect I'll be leaving myself, a few days later.

[Doorbell beeps]

Whoever it is, go away!

[Beep beep]

All right.

All right.

What's one more annoyance?

Enter.

Good evening, Ambassador.

You. Go away. It's late.

I'm in no mood for your games.

I'm leaving shortly. I got what I came for.

But before I go,

a gift from friends you don't know you have.

The eye!

H--

how?

Where did you go, eh?

Let me buy you a drink!

Let me buy you an entire fleet of drinks!

How can I ever find you to thank you?

We will find you, Ambassador.

We will find you.

So, I've assigned a couple security guards

to escort Ladira back to her ship.

Needless to say, lando and I had a little chat

about withholding cargo information.

If we'd known about the eye,

we could've anticipated the attack.

No kidding. I was planning to stop by,

make sure they got off all right.

You coming? Ah, I can't.

We've got an Earthforce transport

due in about an hour to take the prisoners

back home for trial.

They plan to make a big deal out of this

to try and discourage others.

If it works, I'll take it. Something else?

On that other matter you asked me to look into...

I dug around a little and...

Look, Jeff... You probably know

you weren't first in line to run this place.

I suspected as much.

I was surprised when they called me.

How far down the list was I?

Pretty far. Despite the problems,

this is still a high-profile job, a real plum.

Admirals, Generals, the whole brass was lined up,

hoping to get it, but every name was rejected

until they got to you.

Rejected by whom?

The Minbari government.

They were the first to sign on to support Babylon 5,

on the condition that they had approval

over who was assigned to run this place.

They wanted you.

Why?

Unknown.

Commander, I'm glad you were able to come.

I wanted to see you before I left.

I don't know if Ambassador Mollari

mentioned it to you or not,

but when I arrived here,

I had a vision about this place.

He told me, but we came through the attack

in one piece. The station's safe.

For now. But the vision, Commander,

the vision is still there.

It's not an easy thing,

but I can let you see...

If you will trust me.

This...

Is it a vision of what will be

or what might be?

The future is always changing.

We create the future

with our words,

our deeds, and with our beliefs.

This is a possible future, Commander,

and it is my hope

that you may yet avoid it.