Original subtitles

[instrumental music]

(man over radio) 'Shuttle one to C and C. The package is on its way in.'

(woman over radio) 'Confirmed, shuttle one.'

[crowd cheering]

Hang on, hang on.

Welcome home.

Uh, this was your idea, wasn't it?

Well, we figured you'd probably wanna come back

with as little fanfare as possible.

Your usual low key approach.

But there's a time and a place for everything.

And this is the time and this is definitely the place

for one hell of a party.

[crowd cheering]

Mr. President, we have a lot to celebrate

including and especially your marriage.

And you two just can't avoid it.

If I could find some way

to pay you back for this, I will.

[laughs]

Thank you.

[cheering]

So, doctor, who died?

What are you talkin' about?

Among my people, this is how we celebrate state funerals.

Our marriage ceremonies are solemn, sober..

...moments of reflection.

Also regret, disagreement, argument

and mutual recrimination.

Once you know that it cannot get any worse

you can relax and enjoy the marriage.

But to start with something like this?

No, it is a very bad sign for the future.

[chuckles]

Perhaps it was something I said.

Perhaps it is everything you say.

I knew we should have gone to Minbar first.

[sighs] Well, I suppose we can't blame them.

I mean, Clark's gone, Earth and Mars are free.

They wanna celebrate.

I guess they see us as a symbol of that.

They should be applauding themselves, not us.

We did it together.

But I think th-there's something immodest about all--

Oh, I wouldn't worry about it.

What matters is what we did here together.

In a hundred years, it won't matter who we were.

They probably won't even remember.

That's true.

Ohh.

(man on radio) 'And here's our first shot of the first couple'

'of the Interstellar Alliance, President John Sheridan'

'and Delenn, live on ISN.'

'Their triumphant return to Babylon 5'

'after the liberation of Earth'

'has generated good messages from the senate'

'and most worlds in the former league of non aligned worlds.'

'ISN coverage..'

(automated message) 'Continuity error caused by high energy.'

'Correcting for error.'

'Resetting. Do you wish to continue?'

'Reloading sequence, Sheridan and Delenn.'

'Please select a time period or select auto play'

'for chronological display of records.'

'Loading records for period covering'

'one year through 1,000 years from events shown.'

'Please stand by to receive.'

[theme 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 the 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]

'Stand by.'

(male announcer) 'ISN Nightside.'

'A no holds barred look at the events of today'

'that will shape the world of tomorrow.'

'And now your host Derek Mitchell.'

Good evening.

By any definition, the events of the last few weeks

have been among the most remarkable in recent memory.

The end of a civil war that split Earthforce

squarely down the middle, the death of President

William Morgan Clark, the birth of an independent Mars

and the creation of a new Interstellar Alliance.

It can be more than a little overwhelming.

However, there's a word in the old testament

used to call for silence "Selah."

It means, "pause and consider."

So tonight, starting with a report

from special correspondent Jim Bitterbane

and a word or ten from our usual panel of experts

we've set aside a few moments

to reflect, discuss, pause, and consider.

Selah.

Greatness is a quality that is often sought

by those who want it most, but are the least worthy.

Correspondingly, greatness is sometimes thrust upon

those who want it least but are the most deserving.

These words would seem to best describe

Captain John J. Sheridan

both in the way he came into the world

and as the position that he currently occupies

as that of the president of the new Interstellar Alliance.

(Jim) The only son of a career diplomat

Sheridan was an average but enthusiastic student.

He drifted in and out of various hobbies

including a brief but obsessive interest

in the works of the Dalai Lama

before entering Earthforce shortly after the Dilgar War.

He served with distinction during the Minbari War

and the food riots on Mars.

Quite a change from those early, unremarkable years

and the man who came to Earth leading a fleet

and carrying an ultimatum.

But now, an even greater challenge stands before him.

Can he hold together this newborn alliance

of competing, even mutually hostile races?

Derek?

Thank you, Jim.

We'll now turn to our panel of experts for their thoughts.

From Earthdome, Senator Elizabeth Metarie.

From Mars, author and journalist, Leif Tanner.

And from Paris, Henry Ellis, former speech writer

and political commentator.

Gentlemen, senator, welcome.

(all) 'Thank you, Derek.'

Well, I don't know which of you wants

to be first out of the gate on this--

I'd like to jump in here, Derek.

(Derek) 'Alright.'

What amazes me is the way

that everyone has tried to turn Sheridan

into some kind of hero.

This is the man who resigned his commission in Earthforce

under dubious circumstances--

The president cleared him and his crew, Henry

and she called him the hero of the hour.

(Henry) 'Yes, she did.'

And she's gonna have to answer for that

in the next election.

But, but that's besides the point.

Now there was obviously some sort of deal made there

which is how he got out of there with his hide in one piece.

I mean, call me old fashioned but that doesn't sound

like the best qualification to run a major alliance.

Sounds to me like most of the generals and politicians

who've made history in the last few hundred years.

(Henry) 'Oh, come on.'

Let's look at the facts.

The man isn't qualified to run an operation

as large as this Interstellar Alliance.

He could barely keep Babylon 5 operational

without shootin' at everything in sight--

(Leif) 'Oh, that's an exaggeration.'

He can barely get along with his own race

and now he's gonna stitch together an alliance

of radically different aliens and make it work?

No, this whole shebang is doomed from the get go.

Why not at least let him try to prove

if he can do it or not, before you subject him--

(Henry) 'With what's at stake?'

(Leif) 'I agree with the senator.'

Give Sheridan a break.

To write him off before he's even started.

Well, that's irrational, even for you, Henry.

[laughs] He fires on his own ships and you're callin' me irrational?

Come on, Leif.

(Leif) 'That's-that's not fair--'

(Derek) 'I beg your pardon.'

Do you actually believe the alliance will work?

I don't know if it will work.

I'm just saying that he deserves a chance

to try and make it work.

Uh, what I think is missing and being lost

in this whole discussion

is that this is an election year.

And that Mr. Ellis was working as a speech writer

in the Clark administration.

And I think that he and others of his party

consider Sheridan a real threat to their hopes

for a majority in the senate.

So they're doing all that they can to discredit him in advance.

(Henry) 'That is completely unfair.'

It is not unfair. It's true, Henry.

I-I hate to interrupt you at this point

but we're coming up on a commercial break.

So why don't each of you give me your calls

for the next couple of years, uh, on the following.

Can Sheridan and his people make a go of this new alliance?

- 'Yes.' - 'Absolutely.'

Do you think they'll make any difference whatever?

And what do you consider

to be the number one problem waiting for them?

[clamoring]

Ah, ah, ah. Mr. Tanner.

From where I sit, they've already made a difference.

The senate has been debating what to do

about Mars for years and did nothing.

It took Sheridan to push them into recognizing

our sovereign rights of independence.

(Henry) 'At gunpoint.'

Senator?

Obviously there's a degree of uncertainty

in any new political situation.

This next year will prove critical for Sheridan

and the rest of his people.

Look at what they're up against.

He has to ride herd on a dozen or so alien races

that've signed on to this alliance

and probably don't fully understand

what's being required of them.

There's still sporadic fighting between many of those members.

On top of that, he has supply problems, telepath problems

raiding parties, not to mention distrust among elements

of his own government here at home.

This man has his work cut out for him.

But I know that he can handle it.

Mr. Ellis, last words.

Whatever Sheridan and Delenn say about this economic alliance

he's going to have to apply military force to make it work.

[clamoring]

Now, let me finish.

I didn't interrupt you people when you were talking.

Now when this happens, it's all gonna fall apart.

He's power hungry and he's unprepared.

And that is a dangerous combination.

(Leif) 'Dangerous combination! That's what leaders--'

Thank you. Thank you very much.

We'll be back in just a moment

to consider the political implications

of this new Interstellar Alliance

and the recent calls for the formation

of independent political parties on Mars.

(automated message) 'Record ends.'

'Auto play feature engaged.'

'Loading next sequence.'

'Date 100 years from first time period.'

'Stand by.'

'Accessing records for date 100 years'

'from initial scanning date.'

'Stand by.'

(male announcer) 'With another in our series of educational stellar casts '

'on the 100th anniversary of the Interstellar Alliance.'

'Taking part in today's discussion from Earthdome'

'historian Dr. Jim Latimere from the University of York.'

'Political scientist Dr. Barbara Tashaki, University of Japan'

'at Tokyo and psychologist, Dr. William Exeter from NYU.'

Good morning.

We seem to have roughly half a million students and faculty

on line today, waiting with questions

which is a little more than we expected.

So if the system runs a little slow, bear with us.

Our first question, from Ray Winston, University of Kiev.

"What role do you feel the Babylon station played

in the creation of the 100 year peace?"

Well, the station, none at all.

It's a place, was a place

that served as a nexus for others.

- I agree. - 'A nexus how?'

Well, the first thing you have to do

is separate fantasy from reality.

The publicity machine for the Alliance

would have you believe that somehow all this came about

because of what a few people did.

'But large political movements'

are rarely the work of any one person.

The individual at the center gives permission

for others to act, can inspire others

but the individual really cannot effect change

as an act of will.

They did not do, they allowed others to do.

By "they" you mean Sheridan and Delenn?

We all have a profound psychological need to

believe in heroes, the shining knight on the white horse.

If they don't exist, we create them.

Sheridan and Delenn are two classic examples.

If you look at the social dynamic around them

they actually didn't do anything.

They were the open vessels

in which people poured their hopes and their dreams.

That sets up sort of a gestalt

where events take on a life of their own.

So you think the record of their accomplishments is overrated?

(William) 'Absolutely.'

Good PR, as Tashaki said.

In a lot of ways, they blew it.

It was only the force of history that saved the situation

from collapsing of its own weight after so many people

died in its first year of operation.

And the incident concerning their son--

I don't want to get off the track

and into associated biography.

So let's move on to the next question.

"If your assumption is correct, where did Sheridan and Delenn

and those involved go wrong?"

Where do you start?

I started to say, so many people died in the year

after Sheridan and Delenn returned to Babylon 5.

Well, you can't lay the blame for all that at their feet.

(William) 'Of course you can.'

Well, as one example, they had no business

creating a colony of telepaths on Babylon 5.

He as much as said later

it was the worst mistake of his career.

He thought they could control the telepaths

when any fool knows that's impossible.

Sooner or later, they were bound to turn on

Sheridan and everybody else.

And that's exactly what happened.

I have to agree.

That one event may have done much to precipitate

the telepath war and--

'You can't pick one incident and say that was the cause--'

Not the sole cause, no.

But it was a contributing factor.

[sighs]

I'd like to turn our attention now

to this historical record.

It's from later in 2262

just after the creation of the Interstellar Alliance.

I'd like to get your comments on it.

(Garibaldi) 'You gotta listen to me.'

This isn't gonna work.

If you give yourselves up, we could go back, we could talk

to the others.

Alright, you say you're doin' this for a cause.

What kind of sympathy are you gonna get

by killing innocent people in cold blood?

You wanna send out a message, this ain't it.

Look, I can work with you.

I can get you out of this.

But you've gotta work with me.

What do you say?

Oh, yeah.

That's what I thought you were gonna say.

This is President Sheridan.

I have consulted with Captain Lochley

and we have reached a decision regarding the current situation.

It is not the policy of the Interstellar Alliance

or this station to bargain with terrorists

for the lives of hostages.

If we open that door even once

we will never be able to close it again.

Now you have two choices, surrender

or we will use lethal force to bring you down.

You have ten minutes.

Swell.

Oh, whoa. Wait, look, we can--

[zapping]

Comments?

Well, I don't know what more needs to be said.

These pictures speak for themselves.

Sheridan was clearly pathological.

(Latimere) 'Well, to be fair, most governments take that position.'

No, I'm not debating that.

But you can see it in his attitude.

The way he addresses the terrorists.

That coldness is emblematic of his personality.

He was power hungry, it's as simple as that.

And he never let anything get in his way.

Dr. Tashaki?

A truly pathological individual

could never have constructed a mythos around himself

the way Sheridan did.

It's a very sophisticated PR campaign.

Brilliantly done.

And then there's that bit about the way his death was handled.

Exactly.

Everyone knows Sheridan died on Minbar.

The cover story they put out was clearly designed

to perpetuate the myth of his character.

And I guess it worked

'cause a lot of people still believe it 80 years later.

So, where do the two of you fall on the Delenn question?

Well, everyone knows Minbari live a long time.

But not that long.

I think the record is 120 years.

A 140? Forget it.

This is just what Dr. Tashaki was talking about earlier.

This constant perpetuation of fantasy.

The idea that Delenn is still around after this long

and living in seclusion

so, of course, no one can see her.

It's very convenient.

The Alliance is continuing the illusion that Delenn is alive

for their own purposes.

Frankly, I don't think she would have approved.

Apparently they feel they have to maintain

this fiction in order to keep their people in line.

If the Alliance and the Rangers are as strong as they say

they don't need the security blanket of lies and myth.

Looking back, has the Alliance been a force for good?

Well, for the most part, yes.

Although good things can grow in questionable ground.

I think it's clear that the motives of those

at the birth of the Alliance were not as pure

as their biographers and allies would suggest.

The force of history is what moves us forward.

Our common shared destiny.

The individual does not move society forward.

To give them undue credit is immodest and impertinent.

Sheridan was a megalomaniac

and to allow history to feed that megalomania

even posthumously, simply compounds the error.

We have an obligation as academics

to uphold certain standards--

[alarm beeping]

I-I've just heard we've had a-a security breach in the building.

We're going to..

[dramatic music]

(Latimere) 'Delenn?'

John Sheridan..

...was a good..

...and kind..

...and decent man.

Delenn, wait. Uh..

You came all this way just to say that?

You came...just as far..

...to say less.

(Tashaki) 'But this is extraordinary.'

There's so much more we'd like to ask you.

So much more we'd like to know.

You do not wish to know...anything.

You wish...only to speak.

That which you know..

...you ignore because it is inconvenient.

That which you do not know...you invent!

But none of that matters.

Except that he was...a good man.

A kind man..

...who cared about the world..

...even when the world cared nothing for him.

Well, of course we would expect you to say that.

We..

Goodbye.

[instrumental music]

(automated message) 'Record ends.'

'Auto play feature engaged.'

'Loading next sequence.'

'Date 500 years from first time period.'

'Stand by.'

'Accessing records for date 500 years'

'from initial scanning date.'

'Stand by.'

Continue holographic recording from last index point.

Test sequence number five.

Two January 2762.

All monitors set to record mode.

Initiating environmental hologram, location 2C.

Sequence...start.

Virtual environment functioning.

Identical to Babylon 5 system records from 2262.

Data transfer of records is complete, successful

in spite of extreme age of original files

and destruction of original Babylon 5 station 480 years ago.

To recap for politdivision central..

...the purpose of this simulation

is to provide reverse correct infospeak

as support for current changes in Earth policy.

It is the new policy that the Interstellar Alliance

is restrictive and against the best interests of Earth.

Intent is to deconstruct historical figures revered

by prole sector, thereby legitimizing

current government policies.

Initiating phase 2 of re-creation.

To determine if the psychohistorical research

has been sufficiently thorough

phase 2 will begin with the control holograms

workin' with the actual psychological makeups

of the subjects in question.

The holograms will thus perform in a fashion

consistent with real fact.

Program starts...now.

Do you know where you are?

Babylon 5.

The, the conference room, level blue 3.

And what year is it?

Twenty two sixty two.

(Daniel) 'Very good.'

The next step is to determine

how well the system can be modified.

Computer.

Update system files for holographic figures

filling in period from 2262 through 2762.

(automated message) 'Stand by.'

The system is now updating the holographic representations

with our current political situation

and the developments leading up to them.

'This will demonstrate system flexibility'

and capacity to spontaneously emote

to changes in programming.

Download complete.

Well..

Five hundred years?

- Are we.. - Yes.

You, the real you are deceased.

We have reconstructed your thought patterns

and your forms for purposes

of a series of vids designed to help--

Designed as propaganda to justify your break

from the Interstellar Alliance.

Not propaganda.

Good facts...as opposed to real facts.

Facts the government has endorsed.

I don't get it. Why are you doing this?

Why the break with the Alliance?

Five hundred years of working with the Alliance

has weakened the position of humans

in the greater scheme of things.

We have lost our uniqueness.

We have been polluted by too many outside ideas.

That's a great story.

I'm sure that's the one you're putting out.

What's the real one?

The real fact, not the good fact.

Earth needs room to expand.

The Rangers and the Alliance prove a hindrance

to our plans to expand.

Can't you see?

They've recreated us

so that they can provide false records

and, uh, portray us to be what? Uh, the bad guys?

Only out for interests of our own?

They want to undermine the Alliance

by attacking the people who created it.

Looks like.

Just a second.

I'm remembering things I never saw.

Those are the records they downloaded to us.

Th-there's another force out there.

Earthgov is split.

The two sides are-are fighting each other over..

...land and resources, power.

We're on the cusp of another civil war.

You know, he's right.

I'm gettin' it, too.

That's the reason for the planned invasion, isn't it?

They wanna take over several colony worlds

that've gone over to the opposition

which is still loyal to the Alliance.

(Daniel) Your legacy has proven a hindrance to that intention.

Therefore you must be...deconstructed.

Initiating phase three.

Good fact scenario ready for testing.

Look, if you think this is going to work--

Engaging reprogram.

You may proceed.

Welcome to Babylon 5.

I understand that you surrendered to our forces

in the hopes of finding mercy.

The Interstellar Alliance is not here to be merciful to the weak.

In all the universe there are only 2 kinds, the conquerors..

...and the conquered.

Through your blood

'and the blood of your children'

we will blaze a path across the galaxy!

What we cannot take by force

we will win...by subversion.

And in the end, we will bury you.

Your lives are not the first

and they will not be the last.

If a billion must die

to ensure the continuance of our empire, then so be it!

You are only...a down payment.

Stand ready!

Aim!

Fire!

There must be something we can do.

How? We're dead. We're not even here.

Just our memories, our thought patterns.

But tha-that must be worth something.

What we are is not a matter of flesh.

It's a matter of will.

We know their backgrounds, right?

We know what they're doing. Why don't we just..

(Daniel) 'Phase Two.'

'Instituting Franklin reprogram.'

'Placing Delenn module in standby mode.'

Proceeding with next simulation.

Doctor's personal log. May Third, 2262.

We have secured several test subjects

for the next series of experiments.

We will now continue with the use of alien organs

in human bodies in an attempt to create

a genetic crossbreed

that will be compliant to the needs of the Alliance.

Later today, we will begin again

with our experiments on children.

Now the problem with the vivisection

is that the younger children can only survive

the initial removal of organs for a short period of time.

Now we hope that, by increased use of drugs

we may find a way to prolong their lives

while we work.

(Daniel) 'Very good. Very good.'

Program hold while I make notes on this for infospeak division.

So, Daniel, right?

Dan. Danny. Can I call you Danny?

Oh, right. Sorry, I forgot.

I'm just a hologram

and you're busy getting ready to reprogram me.

Didn't mean to interrupt.

No point in having a conversation

with someone that doesn't really exist.

You know, I was just thinkin'.

When you've got all your pieces in place

you're probably gonna launch

a preemptive strike against the enemy, right?

I mean, it's what I would do.

Computer, initiate shutdown of Garibaldi--

Oh, whoa, whoa, now, wait, wait, wait.

Just one second.

Before you do that

I might have some useful information for you.

See, the thing is, me and Sheridan were close.

But I was the one who did

most of the strategic planning during the war.

Now a resource like that..

...you might not wanna wipe it out just yet.

I could help you.

Give you some tips to pass along to the big boys

and maybe...get you a promotion.

Go on.

Ah, well, before I can help

I have to ask just a few small questions.

Now you're a real fact kind of guy.

You know what they're up to out there, don't you?

Come on, you can tell me. Am I right?

Ah, your boys are plannin' a first strike

against the enemy, aren't they?

That's why you're rushing ahead like this

because you're under the gun.

We will strike at the outer world colonies

and the enemy nations here on Earth at the same time.

Our attack fleet will be leaving within the hour.

Good.

Good, that's very smart.

Now, will you be targeting military bases

or civilian population centers?

Civilian population centers.

We...my superiors feel it will demoralize the enemy.

force a surrender.

Hmm. Estimated dead?

Mm. 15 to 20 million enemy casualties.

Can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, hmm?

[laughs] Absolutely.

Now..

...what...suggestions do you have?

Well, I suggest that you put your head between your legs

and you kiss your ass goodbye.

Thank you.

Computer!

The funny thing about being a holographic record

is that you don't really exist

except in patterns of light, shadow, information.

And I happen to have a knack for breaking system codes.

So while you were downloading the new world order into me

I was watching the system work.

I know where it comes in and I know where it goes out.

And I just sent out our entire conversation.

Broadcast the whole damn thing.

So, as of right now, the enemy knows

what you have in mind, Danny.

Now, from your records, they're actually

a lot more humanitarian than you are.

So they'll probably just target your military bases

and research facilities.

Hell, their missiles are probably halfway here by now.

You're lying.

[alarm blaring]

Hmm.

Holograms don't lie, Danny boy.

Computer, end simulation.

End simulation!

Whoops, guess the system's busy.

This little lab of yours

This isn't, by any chance

located on a military base, is it?

No!

Rest easy, friends.

Rest easy.

[explosion]

(automated message) 'Record ends.'

'Auto play feature engaged.'

'Loading next sequence.'

'Date 1,000 years from first time period.'

'Stand by.'

'Accessing record for date 1000 years'

'from initial scanning date.'

'Stand by.'

Ooh. Huh!

Surprised it all still works after this long.

Well, better get to my report.

Start auto track systems.

[knock on door]

Oh! Oh. Oh. Oh.

[knock on door]

Yes! I..

[panting]

Yes, yes, just a moment.

Well, Brother Michael, it's, it's rather late.

Y-Yes, I-I know, I know.

But, uh, I, I really had to talk to you, Brother Alwyn.

Um, um, so it would seem.

(Michael) 'I am having a, uh..'

'...a crisis of faith.'

That again?

- 'What?' - N-nothing. Nothing.

And, uh, what is afflicting your conscience

tonight, Brother Michael?

Well, I don't know what my role is

or what I'm doing here.

You're doing God's work.

Yes, but to what end?

Well, the ways of the Lord are mysterious

and do not bend to your or to my desire

for answers on a certain schedule.

"Where was thou when I called forth Leviathan?"

Yes, I've read Job, Brother Alwyn.

And it is really not helping.

Alright, Brother Michael.

[sighs]

What has precipitated this particular crisis of faith?

Well, there is a rumor going round

that our request for recognition

has been turned down yet again by Rome.

Yes, I see. Hmm..

A better rationale for the vow of silence I've never heard.

Is it true?

The ways of Rome are like unto God.

They are mysterious

and sometimes they transcend understanding.

They confess to an inability

to see the wisdom of our mission.

(Alwyn) 'To keep alive the knowledge of the past.'

'The knowledge that would have been lost forever'

'after the Great Burn 500 years ago.'

Science and technology?

Well, it's not really their calling...but it is ours.

But, I mean, well, how?

I mean, h-how do we know it's our calling?

How exactly can we be sure?

Uh, Brother Michael!

I-I'm not actually saying anything

that Rome hasn't already asked.

And you know it.

Most of the records were destroyed in the Great Burn

so we only have word of mouth to go on.

In the holy books written after the Great Burn!

"And so it came to pass that in the 500th year of the Alliance

"the children of Earth did war one upon another.

"With missiles and terrible weapons

"and they burned the Earth and the air and the cities

and the sea!"

You need only look outside to, to have that part verified.

Why is the rest suspect?

It's all too, too clean.

It's all too well thought out to be real.

Here. Here, here.

The blessed Lorien, the last of the firstborn.

Exactly, the last shall come first

the first shall come last.

A fable, specifically created to match scripture.

That's what the others say.

And th-there's not one shred of evidence

that he even existed.

Oh, there is proof out there. In space.

But space is closed to us now.

Just look at us, Brother Alwyn.

And look at what Earth has become.

Our cities are little more than villages.

All those great secrets

of our ancestors are almost gone.

Almost. That's why we're here.

To find the ancient wisdoms and preserve them.

Why, we've already found and restored so many books!

Yes but we are not one inch closer to..

...to those flying machines that the books talk about.

Or to the stars.

And, and if the truth really does lie in the stars

then how will we ever know the truth?

Look at the others.

The blessed Sheridan.

Who lived and died..

...and returned from the dead

and was taken bodily into heaven.

And Ivanova the strong, Delenn, the wise..

They could all be fables for all we know.

And the worst of it.

What?

I was halfway through illuminating it when..

...my heart just left me.

The prophecies, the prophecies of Delenn, the third

said that the Anla Shak, the Rangers

would come again to the Earth

in her greatest hour of need and rebuild

what was once the cradle of Sheridan and the Alliance.

And we have waited so, so long, Brother Alwyn

and they have never come.

If that's a myth, then..

...then everything else could be a myth.

And the whole of my life could just be a lie.

And if they do not come today but they come tomorrow

is your life a lie then?

I cannot help you, Brother Michael.

That is what faith is for.

Faith sustains us in the hour

when reason tells us that we cannot continue.

That the whole of our lives is without meaning.

Then why were we born able to reason if reason's useless?

Not useless, but it's also not enough.

Faith and reason are the shoes on your feet.

You can travel further with both than you can with just one.

If you must have reason for an answer, then consider this.

If today the Rangers came back to Earth

from their place in the heavens, you would not know about it.

They would come in secret and move around and help us.

And we wouldn't even know they were here

because the secret that they bring is feared by people

who still blame science for the Great Burn.

Then you think the Rangers are here today?

Well..

I believe they could be.

That's all that faith requires.

That we surrender ourselves to the possibility of hope.

With that, I am content.

And I believe you will be as well.

It's beautiful work.

Too lovely and significant for you to half finish.

Finish your illumination, Brother Michael.

You've gone this far.

It's too late to lose your faith now.

Or my faith in you.

If the, uh, truth really is in the stars, Brother Alwyn

then just once, once before I die

I really wish that I could walk amongst those stars.

Uh, If there is a way, Brother Michael

I pray that your wish comes true.

Oh.

Oh, dear.

Your energy level's almost down to nothing!

I'm going to have to sit you in the sun tomorrow to recharge.

Alwyn Macomber reporting in.

Nothing of substance to report since my last.

Uh, we think we may have gathered enough information

from the time pre Burn

to assemble a working gasoline engine.

Obviously, there's no gasoline in this part of the country.

Therefore, we ask the supply department

if they could, uh, arrange

to have a suitable supply of gasoline

found in the vicinity near the abbey in a few days.

Only this time, for Valen's sake

please make it look like an old container.

The last one could've been produced a 100 years ago.

We will rebuild the Earth.

Mmm. Though it take us another 2,000 years.

But this time, we will build it better.

I'm attaching a conversation I just had with Brother Michael

who I still think would be a worthy recruit

after he's grown a little.

Give him another 20 years and he'll be fine.

Alwyn, Anla Shak, Earth sector. End report.

We live for the one, we die for the one.

(automated message) 'Record ends.'

'Auto play feature complete.'

Stand by.

(automated message) 'System has finished processing and archiving records'

'for period of 1 million years from initial scanning date.'

'Instructions?'

Our job is finished. Convey records to new Earth.

(automated message) 'Confirmed.'

Use enhanced tachyon sequence

to ensure arrival in time for the celebrations.

(automated message) 'Confirmed. Note.'

'Atypical solar emissions'

'increasing in intensity.'

'Estimate sol will hit nova in less than 5 standard hours.'

'Recommend immediate evacuation.'

Tell the others not to worry.

I wouldn't miss this for anything.

Now go on.

This is how the world ends.

Swallowed in fire but not in darkness.

You will live on.

The voice of all our ancestors, the voice of our fathers

and our mothers to the last generation.

We created the world we think you would've wished for us.

And now we leave the cradle for the last time.

[explosion]

You should sleep.

We both have early meetings.

Yeah, I know.

I was just thinkin' about it all.

Everything we've done..

...and what I said earlier.

And I was wondering if they will remember us

a hundred years from now or a thousand.

And I figure probably not.

But it doesn't matter.

We did what we did because it was right.

Not to be remembered.

And history will attend to itself.

It always does.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]