Original subtitles

(Ivanova) Commander's personal log.

We're still searching for First Ones

to use in our war with the Vorlons and the Shadows.

There's less than 24 hours left

before everything hits the fan.

We can't afford to waste any more time.

We have to get back to Babylon 5

then catch up with the fleet.

We've been waiting for two hours. We have to move on.

'There aren't any more First Ones around here.'

We've got five so far. That's as good enough.

There is time for one more. This is the last.

It's important to have them all.

Keep sending the signal.

I'll give you ten more minutes, and then we're leaving.

I just wish I knew how things were going out there.

Captain's idea about hitting Vorlon targets

delaying them long enough to put our fleets in the killing zone

between the Vorlons and the Shadows, it's..

A brilliant strategy.

He's making a crucible

which he hopes will force out the truth.

Quite brave. Possibly futile, but...very human.

[beeping]

[dramatic music]

I will introduce them to you now.

They're almost as old as the Vorlons.

They've not spoken to anyone outside their own race

for centuries.

But they'll remember you?

Oh, yes.

I just hope the captain's okay.

[music continues]

White Star 9, break off and target their forward guns.

[music continues]

Forward screens are down.

Tactical Squadron, follow us in.

[zapping]

Vorlon observation post destroyed.

Good. We can proceed to the rendezvous point

without being watched.

Make the jump to hyperspace, Mr. Lennier.

Look at it.

Thousands of ships.

Over two dozen races working together

for the very first time.

You put together a hell of a team, Delenn.

You should be proud.

Win or lose, we'll go down fighting.

Pour it on, Mr. Lennier.

Take us into the fire.

[intense music]

(Lennier) It was the year of fire.

(Zack) The year of destruction.

(G'Kar) The year we took back what was ours.

(Lyta) It was the year of rebirth.

(Vir) The year of great sadness.

(Marcus) The year of pain..

(Delenn) And a year of joy.

(Londo) It was a new age.

(Franklin) It was the end of history.

(Ivanova) It was the year everything changed.

(Garibaldi) The year is 2261. The place..

(Sheridan) Babylon 5.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[dramatic music]

I've heard that some of the Vorlons

would be within striking distance

of Centauri Prime about the same time

we reach Coriana VI..

...so why are we here instead of there?

Six billion lives on Coriana.

Three billion lives on Centauri Prime.

We have enough ships to make a stand at one of them

so which do you choose?

It's numbers..

Cold, unsympathetic numbers.

Let's just hope we pulled enough of the Vorlons away

to give the Centauri a chance or if they've

got rid of any Shadow influences by now.

Otherwise, I wouldn't give you two cents for their chances.

Ambassador. I mean-I mean..

I-I mean.. Prime Minister Mollari

but we tried to get everything you wanted in place

but you've given us so little time

and with the death of Emperor Cartagia

we have all been in mourning.

(Londo) 'Well, you'll be mourning the entire planet'

unless we take care of this quickly.

The Vorlons are less than 12 hours away.

We have to get rid of the Shadow Vessels

before they get here.

Bring me the ministers of war, intelligence

transportation, and security.

I want them here in ten minutes.

Prime minister, please--

And then you will clear the palace

of everyone who has worked for Cartagia.

Personal guards, food tasters

physicians, everyone.

I have enough to deal with as it is

without worrying about a knife in the back.

Minister, please!

Oh, oh, oh. Sorry.

I wasn't thinking.

Felt very natural though.

Why is he.. Why are you still here?

- Go, go! - Go, go.

We have very little time left, Vir

and much work ahead of us, and then..

...then we must find Mr. Morden

and tell him the bad news.

John, I've just heard from Ivanova.

They have found all of the remaining First Ones

and sent them on to the rendezvous point.

She was about to follow, but, uh..

...I told her to wait for confirmation.

John, we have so many ships.

One more will not turn the tide of battle.

I promised Ivanova she'd be here with the fleet at the end.

I owe it to her to keep that promise.

Tell her to come on in and to haul ass

or she'll miss all the excitement.

Very well.

I'll tell her to haul ass

but that seems to me a very undignified position

from which to command one of the White Star fleet.

[doorbell beeps]

Yes?

I was told you were ready to leave.

Almost. You're awfully impatient

for someone who's supposed to be immortal.

Not immortal as you mean it.

My race can die..

...through illness or injury.

So where are the rest of them?

They, uh, fell ill and died, were injured and died.

The rest went away. I am the last, and I was the first.

I have to admit I'm a little bit skeptical about that.

Skepticism is the language of the mind.

What does your heart tell you?

My heart and I don't speak anymore.

Yes.

I have noticed that.

Okay.

Let's assume that in all of the universe

you were the first living being to achieve sentience

billions of years ago.

At that point, you'd be doing pretty good

to invent fire or the wheel.

You couldn't come up with science, technology

find a serum for immortality, all in one lifetime.

It wasn't necessary.

We were born naturally immortal.

It's impossible. Everything dies.

Yes...now.

At first, we were kept in balance by birth rate.

Few of us were ever born, less than a handful each year.

Then, I think the universe decided

that to appreciate life

for there to be change and growth

life had to be short

so the generations that followed us

grew old, infirm, died.

But those of us who were first went on.

We discovered the Vorlons and the Shadows

when they were infant races, and nourished them

helped them and all the other races you call the First Ones.

In time, most of them died

or passed beyond the rim to whatever lies

in the darkness between galaxies.

We've lived too long, seen too much.

To live on as we have

is to leave behind joy and love and companionship

because we know it to be transitory of the moment.

We know it will turn to ash.

Only those whose lives are brief

can imagine that love..

...is eternal.

You should embrace that remarkable illusion.

It may be the greatest gift your race has ever received.

Prime minister, I'd like to speak with you, if I could.

Well, I'm in rather a hurry.

If there is something you need to discuss

you should've done so during the meeting, yes?

I think you will agree that this is a personal

and, uh, private matter.

Alright, Durano.

What does the Ministry of Intelligence want with me, hmm?

Several months ago, someone close to you was murdered

'poisoned, I believe.'

Yes. Yes, the Lady Adira.

I don't know if lady is the correct designation.

She was apparently a dancer, a former slave.

I know what she was, and I know what she meant to me

if you are even thinking of using that relationship

against me with the Royal Court--

You misunderstand me, prime minister.

I was merely being specific.

In my experience, if you cannot say what you mean

you can never mean what you say.

The details are everything.

Go on.

Her death by poisoning was proceeded by rumors

that you had attempted to poison Lord Refa.

Emperor Cartagia asked me to look into the matter.

It was easy to see that these two matters

were somehow connected.

I continued the investigation, even after the unfortunate death

of Lord Refa on Narn.

The emperor did not look kindly on unfinished work.

'When I gave him my final report'

he said that you would know nothing of it

as long as he was alive.

Since that is no longer an issue..

There is nothing to know.

Refa was responsible for her death.

He wanted to punish me.

True. He was quite annoyed with you.

The liner came to Babylon 5 straight from here.

- Poison was of Centauri origin. - Also correct.

We found the dealer who supplied the poison

and confirmed that it was slipped on to a starliner

en route to Babylon 5..

...but it was not Lord Refa who commissioned her murder.

What?

As I said, the details are everything

and we were quite..

Who gave the order?

Your associate, Mr. Morden.

'The dealer didn't know his motives.'

'In his profession, one doesn't ask such things.'

But I suspect Morden was hoping to guarantee his position

by making you turn to him for support in evening the score.

Go. Leave me.

I can provide a full report, if you..

I said get out.

[sobbing]

He played me.

He played me like a puppet.

Ohh!

Aah!

[sobbing]

He played..

Aah!

My God!

Oh, God!

[crying]

[intense music]

Can't this thing go any faster?

The captain's gonna need all the weapons we've got.

[speaking in foreign language]

Ahel.

What's going on?

means continuous fire in Minbari.

Oh, great.

[speaking in foreign language]

Cease fire.

You know, patience is also a weapon when used properly.

We will arrive when we arrive

and we will have the weapons we have.

You cannot win this war through force.

You must...understand your way out of this.

Sheridan knows.

What remains to be seen

is whether he knows that he knows.

Not bad. We still can't win, but it's not bad.

We can't win?

Against the Vorlons and the Shadows?

No.

Then what are we doing here?

Hoping that the truth will set us free..

...before it kills us. Are the nukes ready?

We've seeded them on several nearby asteroids.

With luck, neither side will detect the bombs

until it's too late.

- Are you ready? - It think so.

'Stay open to anything you might pick up out there.'

When you came after me at Z'ha'dum

you made contact with the Shadows.

We'll need that advantage.

It's the only one we've got.

Ahh...Mr. Morden.

I see they found you.

Good. Good.

You're looking well.

All healed now, I take it.

I'm fine.

What the hell is going on, Mollari?

A number of Vorlon ships are on their way here

accompanied by one of their planet killers.

'They will arrive in a matter of hours.'

They have been...wiping out any colony, world, or outpost

where your...associates have influence.

Cartagia gave your associates the island of Selini

as a base for their ships.

Now that Cartagia is dead

I am ordering you to remove those ships at once.

There are three billion people here.

The Vorlons would never attack a civilian population that big.

The ships stay.

You're afraid, aren't you?

They're afraid.

And speaking of your associates

'we must make sure that we can talk privately.'

Do not move.

[zapping]

I will have to have that painted over, I suppose.

You're insane.

On any other day, Mr. Morden, you would be wrong.

Today? Today is a very different day.

One last time, remove your ships.

No.

You don't frighten me, Mollari.

If you try to attack our forces, you'll lose.

Yes, your ships are very impressive

in the air or in space

but at this moment, they are on the ground.

Fine, they're on the ground

but they can sense an approaching ship miles away.

So what are you going to do, Mollari, huh?

Blow up the island?

Actually..

...now that you mention it..

No!

[explosion]

I had most of our people evacuated from Selini

during the night.

A few stayed..

...to maintain the illusion of our presence.

They knew what was being asked of them.

'I would have preferred another way'

hoped that you would be reasonable, but..

Take him to a cell. Keep him there.

You just made a mistake, Londo.

Even if my associates lose this war, they have allies!

They'll make sure Centauri Prime pays the price

'for what you've done here today!'

What I have done?

Oh, Mr. Morden, I have not even started with you yet.

(Ivanova) 'Ivanova to White Star 2. Do you receive?'

Susan, you made it.

(Ivanova) 'You think I'd miss a party like this?'

(Ivanova) 'Listen, Lorien wants to come over ASAP. You okay with that?'

Fine. Fine.

- I'll send over a shuttle. - Captain..

(Ivanova) 'What's our status?'

Everything's in place.

We're as ready as we're ever going to..

Captain..

...I think they're coming.

[dramatic music]

They're heading straight for each other.

It's as if they don't even know we're here

or they don't care.

Then let's get their attention.

Which of our nukes are in that area?

Five, seven, and twelve.

Transfer firing control to my station, Mr. Lennier.

Done.

Good morning, gentlemen.

This is your wake-up call.

[explosion]

Captain..

Hmm?

They're pissed.

Marcus, what are you doing here?

There was only room in the shuttle for two people.

I traded places with Lorien, so he could get to Sheridan.

Figured you could use another hand.

I'll take it. Man the weapons system.

Here they come.

[dramatic music]

We have to stop them.

Open up a com channel.

This is Captain John Sheridan to Vorlon fleet.

Coriana VI is a low-tech planet.

The Shadows forced them to allow a base on their planet.

It's not their fault.

You can't destroy an entire planet

of six billion people just for that.

No response.

But, captain..

...they may not even be listening.

[sighs]

Lyta, you were close to the Vorlons.

They responded before to a telepathic signal from you.

Can you send it again?

Tell them we need to talk to them.

I'll try.

[dramatic music]

Ah, Vir, good. I was about to send for you.

The Vorlons will arrive shortly, and as we both know

they will strike if there is any Shadow influence

still here, yes?

Yes.

Well, I have removed the last of their influence.

Go out into the garden, you'll see.

Consider it a gift.

Go.

I'll join you in a moment.

[dramatic music]

What do you want?

I'd like to live just long enough to be there

when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike

as a warning to the next ten generations

that some favors come with too high a price.

I want to look up into your lifeless eyes

and wave like this..

- Anything yet? - No, nothing.

We don't have a chance if we can't speak to them.

It can't end like this.

I won't allow it.

Captain, the Vorlon planet killer

is almost within range of Coriana VI.

Shall I call in the First Ones?

John, we were going to keep them in reserve.

If everything else failed, they would at least give us a chance.

I know, I know, once we call the First Ones in

we won't have anything left to fall back on, but..

...I can't just sit here and let six billion people be murdered

because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Send the signal, Mr. Lennier.

[dramatic music]

Vir. Vir.

I have just sent the message to the Vorlons

told them what we had done

that there is no longer anything here

that has been touched by these Shadows.

Sent them all the proof they will need.

[chuckles]

I imagine they will turn back now.

[chuckling]

Oh, Vir, we have done it.

We have saved Centauri Prime, as I knew we could.

And now we only have to..

What?

What is it?

You're wrong.

There's still one thing left.

Something that's been touched by the Shadows

influenced by them.

What?

[rumbling]

No.

'Not for me.'

They would not.

They would not do it just to get me.

- They won't know. - You sent them a message.

You told them that you were here.

No..

Come on, you bastards, talk to us.

I'm picking up a message.

The Vorlons are sending for reinforcements.

They're calling in all their other ships.

[sighs]

You must kill me, Vir. Quickly.

And then tell them, show them that you have done it!

Londo, I can't.

You must! It is the only way to..

They're leaving.

Yes. Yes, Vir.

They're leaving.

Lorien, you've seen?

Yes.

Can you try to get through? Tell them to--

(Lyta) 'There is nothing to tell.'

You thought we could not touch you.

You were wrong.

John!

(Lorien) No! Do not touch him!

If you try to interrupt, it will kill him.

And you, they have left..

...for us.

Delenn!

Do not interfere..

...or you will lose your one chance to end this.

He was hoping they could be provoked into doing this.

What's happened to them?

They are...elsewhere.

The others, out there, still work in secret.

But he wanted you to know what is at stake.

He wants all of you to know

what you may be asked to die for..

...and why.

[gasps]

I can see.

I can see them.

Where are you?

Show yourselves!

We are here.

We do not understand you.

We have wished only the best for you.

We only want to help you.

You're destroying whole worlds.

The others are a disease.

You have given us the opportunity to eliminate it.

We are grateful. Why do you oppose us?

Because I don't like being used or lied to!

We have not lied.

Our goal is the same as yours, to destroy the darkness.

Then why haven't you struck at them directly?

[scoffs]

You don't want to answer that one, do you?

See...I finally understood the rules of this war

when I saw your planet killers in action.

You've had the technology to destroy Z'ha'dum all along!

So why haven't you used it?

You do not understand.

Oh, but I do understand.

And that's what's got you worried, isn't it?

A Vorlon said

"Understanding is a three-edged sword."

Your side, their side and the truth.

The truth is we don't need you anymore.

The Vorlons stand for order above anything else.

No passion, no dreams..

...just discipline, obedience.

They're frozen in place, an evolutionary dead end.

Why side with the old?

Embrace the new.

Growth through pain and struggle, conflict and war.

You, of all people, should understand this.

Your race came out of the last war stronger..

...better.

How much better?

How much stronger will they be after this war?

You will rise from the ashes with a strength and power

beyond your imagination.

Until you do it to us again.

It is the cycle.

It is the force of history itself.

You cannot win against that.

We have embraced it.

We've helped it along by creating conflict.

Weak races die

strong races are made even stronger.

Evolution must be served. There is no other way.

No. That's what you want us to believe.

That's why you're really doing this.

That's why you've been targeting planets that support the Shadows

instead of destroying Z'ha'dum itself.

You don't want to kill the messenger.

You just want to kill the message

make it harder for them to get to us

guarantee that we do things your way.

After all, if you destroy the Vorlons

they'll never know you won.

They'll never see that you were right and they were wrong.

It's about ideology.

Of course.

What isn't?

Order..

...versus..

...chaos.

Choose one.

Yes, choose..

...but only from the choices you give us.

Don't you see that this is wrong?

When the other First Ones passed beyond the rim

you stayed behind as guardians, shepherds for the younger races

but you have lost your way.

This isn't about teaching us or helping us.

This is about you being right.

You're trying to force us to decide which of you is right.

You're like a couple of parents arguing in front of their kids

manipulating them, trying to get them to take sides

not for their benefit, but for yours!

But what if the right choice..

...is not to choose at all?

What if we reject the idea

that we must decide which of you is right?

What if we simply walk away?

You cannot do that.

The war will never end.

That is correct.

Then there is no hope.

There is only chaos and evolution.

(female #1) 'There is only order and obedience.'

You will do as you are told.

You will fight..

...because we tell you to fight.

(female #1) 'You will die for us when we tell you to die for us'

because the others know no other way.

That's where you're wrong.

You've let them see. You've let them know!

(Lorien) 'Hurry, take my hand.'

'Quickly.'

I'm fine. I'm fine, I'm fine.

(Lennier) 'Captain...look!'

'The Shadow cloud doesn't show up on our instruments.'

(Ivanova) 'Captain, can you receive?'

Ivanova? Did you see it?

Did the rest of the fleet hear what they said?

We did, but then the cloud came up all around us

getting through no matter what we do.

Picking up thousands of missiles all around us.

Extreme cold's shut down the jump engines

not just ours, the entire fleet.

Estimate we have ten minutes

before the temperature drops below that which we can survive.

Is that it?

We come all this way, we figure it out..

...and now they don't want us to leave?

[scoffs] They'd rather let us die here

than get in the way of their little war?

No.

They're not quite finished yet.

Look.

They're giving you a chance to change your mind..

...ask forgiveness...choose.

Your next words will decide which way this goes.

I cannot help you.

The Vorlons ask only one question over and over..

"Who are you?"

You, for you the question is, what do you want?

I have never heard you answer that question.

Who are you? want?

(Delenn) You don't know, do you?

You've been fighting each other so long, you've forgotten.

You've lost your way, so how can you guide us?

learn who we are and what we want

don't even know it anymore?

It doesn't matter which side wins this today.

A thousand years from now, it'll start all over again.

You're as trapped in this cycle as much as we are.

But we can't afford it anymore.

We don't need it. We don't need you.

We've learned how to stand on our own.

We'll make mistakes, but they'll mistakes, not yours.

Your secret is out.

All these other races know you for who you are.

So what now?

You do not speak for the rest.

They will not follow you if you are dead.

Missile on approach.

Impact in ten seconds!

What ship was that?

Drazi warship.

The Strakath.

They took the hit for us.

The other ships are moving in, surrounding us.

The others have rejected you.

How will you have a war

when no one will fight for either of you?

We refuse to take sides in this anymore.

And we refuse to let you turn us against one another!

We know who we are now.

We can find our own way between order and chaos.

You can kill us, one by one, and those who follow us

and those who follow them, on and on

every race, every planet

until there's no one left to kill.

You will have failed as guardians.

And you will be alone.

It's over because we've decided it's over!

Now get the hell out of our galaxy!

of you!

As I taught you, then stepped aside

now you must do the same.

Our age is past.

This belongs to the younger races now.

They have learned to stand on their own.

They have learned..

...to understand.

Time to let them go.

Will you come with us?

I have been here since the beginning.

I will not leave you now.

I will go with you beyond the rim

and we will see again all those who went ahead of us

all those who we have missed for so long.

Then we will not be alone?

No.

Never alone.

Did we just win?

Don't jinx it.

I waited a long time for someone to find me.

Now, like the others, I find I hate to leave..

...but none of us can stay behind this time.

That was why it was necessary to find

all the remaining First Ones.

This..

...is yours now.

'And you have an obligation to do as we have done'

to teach the races that will follow you

and when your time comes, as ours has, to step aside

and allow them to grow into their own destiny.

If your races survive, if you do not kill yourselves

I look forward to the day when your people join us

beyond the rim.

(Lorien) 'We will wait for you.'

I think about this war being over, and I find I cannot quite

wrap my brain around the concept.

I don't know what to feel.

Well, let's see, the war is over

the Shadows are gone forever, the Vorlons are gone forever

Cartagia is dead, and we saved Centauri Prime.

I mean, I'm no expert, but I think..

...you should feel happy!

[chuckling] Yes, perhaps.

But every time I have been happy

the universe has conspired to do something nasty to me.

Maybe, but that's tomorrow.

I don't think any one of our Gods would object

Londo Mollari having one single night of happiness.

I suppose.

And you..

...you are going back to Babylon 5 now, yes?

I may join you.

'I've created quite a stir here'

by giving the order to free Narn.

And some have decided that killing the emperor

was an attempt to undermine the monarchy.

They have taken it personally. Who knew?

Once I have tidied up things here

it might be best for me to be elsewhere for a while.

[dramatic music]

It's hard to believe it's really over.

The First Ones' gone.

Mm-hmm. We're all alone now.

Just the younger races.

We can't blame anyone else from now on.

It's a new age, Delenn.

A third age.

Why third?

We began in chaos

too primitive to make our own decisions.

Then, we were manipulated from outside by forces

that thought they knew what was best for us

and now..

...now we're finally standing on our own.

Lorien was right. It's a great responsibility.

This is ours now.

Strange.

The galaxy seems somehow smaller

now that the First Ones are gone forever.

It feels like the magic's gone.

No. Not gone.

Now we make our own magic.

Now we create our own legends.

Now we build the future. Now we stop--

Being afraid of shadows.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]