- Sheridan: I'm caught in a web of my own good intentions.Lochley: Well, the road to hell is paved with them, sir.Sheridan: I know, but why does it have to go through this office?
Delenn finds Captain Lochley and tells her John told her why he chose Lochley for this position, along with the rest of it. Lochley is a little embarrassed but Delenn assures her she understands. Regardless, Lochley asks her to keep it under wraps, there are others who might not be so understanding. Like Garibaldi, for instance who's been listening from around a corner.
Zack finds Londo to tell him his ship to Centauri Prime has arrived. Londo isn't that keen on going, but duty requires him to. The regent is not well, in within a matter of months, leadership of the Centauri will fall to Londo. When that day comes, he will leave Babylon 5, never to return, except the occasional state visit, a prospect that he's surprised to find he's not keen on. Beyond that, he has a sense of bad portents. He tells Zack this is where it will start to go wrong for everyone.
In C&C a transport is having trouble with its docking sequence and, defying Corwin's instructions, fires maneuvering thrusters and backs into the pressure doors, causing an explosion.
With the docking bay out of commission, traffic begins to back up outside while the damage is assessed. Lochley gets an estimate of twelve to thirteen hours for repair, but manages to...motivate them to have it done in eleven. As she heads out, her fighter passes a shuttle with a Psi Corps emblem.
Lyta is in Medlab seemingly stocking up. She's so intent that she doesn't even notice Franklin standing behind her. He opens her bag to see what she's making off with, guessing it's for the telepaths in downbelow. A lot of them are sick, and in need of basic essentials, and they're mistrustful of doctors due to certain experiments done by the Corps. Besides, all this stuff was earmarked for Lurkers anyway. Lyta says she believes in the dream Byron is trying to build, to the point that she came up her of her own volition.
Franklin gets a call from Delenn just then asking to meet with her and Lyta decides to take her leave. Franklin reminds her to ask if she needs anything next time, and she smiles gratefully.
In the colony she presents her haul to Byron who gives them to several of his followers. Lyta gives him some vitamin pills insisting that he take care of himself as well. When she asks if he's gotten any sleep, he tells a parable of a willow tree, which is stronger than it looks, bends but will not break, hes deep root and promises shade and comfort to those who would look for it, claiming Lyta has become their willow, sheltering them all with her kindness. A very touching story, which Lyta calls "the most elegant attempt to change the topic" she's ever heard. She insists he get some sleep but they suddenly sense something, which causes great alarm throughout the colony: Psi Corps bloodhound units.
- Byron: He's here.
In the docking bay, the bloodhounds file in. And leading them: Alfred Bester.
Garibaldi is in the security office when one of the officers comes in, looking for Zack. He isn't sure he should say anything, even to the former chief, but he does: Bester's meeting with Lochley. Garibaldi hurries off and finds Bester and Lochley having a laugh over a drink. As soon as he lays eyes on the little bastard, with that smug grin, all the hell he'd been put through last year runs through Michael's head. He moves forward to throttle Bester but Lochley puts herself between him and his rightful prey. When he tries to get past her, she slugs him and orders security to take him to the brig until she personally says otherwise. After some some additional cajoling, the guards cart Garibaldi off.
- Lochley: My apologies for the interruption, Mr. Bester.
Bester: Not at all, Captain. I'm used to it.
In Medlab, Delenn is informing Franklin on what she has in mind; with all the races in the Alliance that will be interacting, there is a heightened risk for illnesses to be able to cross species barriers. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much written on the subject, due to lack of case studies, but this is the perfect time for just such a project. The Advisory Council has determined that such a resource needs to be compiled and are offering Franklin the opportunity to put together the definitive work on the subject. If he's willing.
- Franklin: Hell, yeah. Where do I sign up?
As they leave, G'Kar begins to think he's not doing enough for the Alliance lately. Delenn warns him that if the Universe hear him say that it will answer in unexpected ways.
Lochley comes to Sheridan's office, where he angrily demands to know what she's getting at locking Garibaldi up like that. Well, he barged into a private meeting, attempted to assault a guest. Sheridan tries to tell her what Bester put Garibaldi, and himself, through last year. Lochley's already read the reports, then calmly asks if she can tell her side. Sheridan sighs and shuts up. First off, she was against this from the start. Second, those telepaths are wanted for a variety of charges by Psi Corps (Sheridan's not impressed with that one). Third, Bester's people are here on direct orders from EarthGov, which she too is still beholden to. As a member of the Alliance, each member world is able to govern themselves as they see fit, and the Alliance is bound to recognize those laws.
- Lochley: How am I doing do far?
Sheridan: Annoyingly logical.
Lochley: Thank you.
Sheridan: It wasn't a compliment.
Despite their history with Bester, Lochley wasn't there for all that, so she can only go by her own experience, otherwise she'd have to accept everyone's reports on everyone else, which would have marked Sheridan himself as a traitor. She promises to watch him for the slightest indiscretion, but until then she will so this her way. Sheridan reluctantly agrees, realizing the corner he's painted himself into. He can't use the Alliance to circumvent Earth policy whenever it's convenient without appearing to be a hypocrite and he can't break his promise to the telepaths without pretty much the same thing happening.
Sheridan decides he's going to keep to his promise and orders Lochley to find a way to make it happen. Irritated, the captain walks off, probably to look for a magic wand.
The docking bay is still out of commission, but the ship waiting for Londo has to get going. Corwin clears them to depart, but as soon as they transfer their navigational control, the ship explodes.
Later, Zack briefs Lochley on what they found, traces of a chemical explosive and a detonator, seemingly tied to their navigation system, set to go off when a particular destination had been set. The substance was of Centauri make, so it was planted there. Since B5 was the last stop they were to make before returning home, the target had to be someone getting on here. And the only VIP here is Londo. Lochley sighs and says she'll talk to him and try to get a list of likely suspects. She also asks for Zack's reports so she can back check them afterword, and he hands them over.
Zack then tentatively asks how long she intends to keep Garibaldi in the brig. She hasn't decided yet. Zack tries to explain why Garibaldi reacted the way he did, but Lochley just gets exasperated, wondering how anyone can run a station where everyone's always trying to kill each other or pound each other to a pulp...wait a minute, someone pulled her security jacket. Using Garibaldi's security code! Lochley stalks off to pound some Baldi.
The bloodhound unit prowls the B5 corridors where Lyta finds them. She says they're not here, and Bester quickly realizes where her sympathies lie. He tries to convince her that they're dangerous and she should tell him where they are, but she refuses. If he wants to find them they'll have to do it themselves, but the bloodhounds aren't picking up anything...they aren't picking up anything. In a crowded area? Bester looks at Lyta.
- Bester: For a moment, I forgot how strong you are. I won't make that mistake again.
Lyta warns him to leave, but he orders his men to check the hall. Lyta is able to drive them back with her mind, which Bester finds impressive, wondering if it's telekinesis or tricking the nerves into feeling like they'd been slapped. It's draining though, and she can't keep it up for long. How far can she go. She admits she doesn't know. She doesn't even know if she's doing it right. She might make a mistake, get someone killed accidentally. Bester doesn't press the issue, since there are easier ways this time, and he goes to get backup.
After he leaves, Byron emerges from the shadows, asking how she did that. She tells him to have his people scatter, it's their best option. Byron nods and then kisses her in gratitude. Lyta is rather surprised.
In Garibaldi's cell, Lochley arrives to settle the matter. First off, why has he been on her case from the start? He doesn't trust people he doesn't know. But the world is full of strangers, which he's all too aware of. Second, why does she get along with Bester? Bester helped her out when a rogue telepath began causing trouble for her people a few years back, eventually killing a couple of them. Bester managed to find the guy, and saved a couple more of her guys. She owes him some common courtesy at least, and won't rescind that until he does something to warrant it. As for Garibaldi's history with him, whatever he does, do it quietly and where she can't see. He seems to appreciate that.
Now for the big one, what's the deal with her and Sheridan?
Seriously?
- Lochley: Is that why you went ransacking through my personnel file? Looking for something that I'm holding over the president? Blackmail or some covert political agenda? Are you really that dead inside that you can't even imagine another reason?
She sits down and admits that they got off on the wrong foot, partly her fault, but mostly his. Sheridan wanted a symbol, someone who was on the other side of the civil war, but also someone he knew he could trust to stand up to him when called for but not try to undermine his authority. Great, so why her? After making him promise to keep it quiet ("I am the soul of discretion."), she admits that she and Sheridan were married for about three months. Met after officer school, fell madly in love, then realized it was a mistake and got divorced. She says in a relationship they need to take turns having control, but they both wanted to be in control all the time. That was years ago, there's nothing between them now, but he knows her well enough to know he can trust her. So that's it.
Garibaldi suddenly start laughing at the absurdity of it all. He never would have thought of that one. In any case, he can go now, right? Right? No, not until Bester leaves. Just then, Zack calls with a request from Bester for more security forces. This comes straight from EarthDome so Lochley has no choice. She gets up and leaves Garibaldi in his cell.
Meanwhile, Lyta watches as security rounds up the blips. Later she finds where Zack is mustering his forces, along with Bester. She and Bester have a silent exchange before she backs off. Then she hears Byron in her head. She finds him in a darkened room where he wants to say goodbye. With most of his people captured, he intends to stay with them. Lyta insists they can fight them, but Byron says fighting is not their way. He think she was wrong to bring them here, wrong to give false hope to them and to her. Lyta begs him not to go, to stay with her, but he insists on going with his people. He asks her to carry his ideas on to others then leaves.
Lochley is getting a status update, the docking bay is back in use and they are clearing out the backlog, and Bester's people have almost all the rogue telepaths in custody. Still nothing on their request to EarthDome to let them keep custody of the telepaths, and none of Bester's people have put so much as a hair out of line. So much for that. She dismisses the staff, but Franklin comes to talk to her. Before he gets started on the big database on each species biology and cross-species infections, he wants to clear it with her first. Lochely's fine with it...wait, cross species infections? They're rare, but not unheard of. That's why they need to get all this down, standardize quarantine times...quarantine time! She asks him to put that in writing and have it on her desk in half an hour.
In the meantime, the bloodhounds find Byron waiting for them.
Delenn meets with G'Kar to talk about what he said the other day about wanting to help the Alliance more. She talks about the liner that was destroyed, meaning someone is out to get Londo. And if he goes back to Centauri Prime, where he has many enemies, he will need someone to watch his back. And as the Alliance does not wish to lose a valuable ally in the Centauri, Delenn feels it is in their best interest to see that he is kept alive. And this is where G'Kar can have an opportunity to serve more, he can go and act as Londo's bodyguard.
G'Kar is a little dubious about the prospect, but Delenn insists it could be a great symbol and something for other Narns, as well as other worlds, to strive towards. As Londo's bodyguard, G'Kar would have to accompany him everywhere on Centauri Prime, including the royal court, an image that G'Kar finds hysterically gratifying. He accepts, if only to see their faces.
Bester is getting ready to ship Byron and his followers out when Lochley comes in. She's eager to get them off but there's a problem; they've been traveling around through different areas of space for years and before they are allowed back into Earth space, they have to undergo a 60-day quarantine. Bester is not happy, but he's willing to wait a couple of months, just as long as they aren't released in that time. Lochley assures him they will not be allowed to leave Babylon 5 during that time, she even offers to put it in writing.
- Bester: Just keep an eye on them, Captain. Don't trust them for a second, because sooner or later they will turn on you. You know all about that, don't you Byron? See you in sixty days.
After Bester leaves Lochley turns to Byron, telling him she's stuck her neck out for him, granted against her will and better judgement. It's only temporary and due to the promise she made, she can't allow him or his people to leave. At the end of sixty days they'll have to think of something else, but if they can't...Byron says he understands and she sends him to Medlab to get looked over.
After he leaves, she and Zack talk a bit about him. Zack thinks he's a martyr, charismatic, has a gaggle of followers. Lochley thinks there's nothing more appealing than knowing someone's willing to die for you but Zack counters that there's nothing more dangerous. Byron and Lyta go back to the colony where he's warmly received by his people.
Londo is about to leave, and is quite shocked at who's been assigned his bodyguard. He agrees to go along with it, but warns her that it's going to be trouble. She just replies that everything of value is and as G'Kar joins them, she wishes them a good flight.
They walk off, arguing about who gets what seat, as Corwin finds Lochley. He compliments her on how he handled the situation, but she just says it's adequate. It solved the immediate problem and bought time to solve the next one.
- Lochley: I learned that on my last command, you don't have to solve every problem all at once. Problems are solved in pieces.
The telepaths, that's going to take her a while. Corwin says she did the right thing, she just hopes it's enough. She also worries that Bester's right and this is all going to blow up in their faces sooner rather than later. And there's one more thing she thinks she forgot...
- Lochley: Oh, no. Lochely to security.
Garibaldi: (over comms) I said let me the hell out of here! (crash!)
Lochley: Uh, you can release Mr. Garibaldi now.
Garibaldi: About time!
Lyta finds Byron's people surrounded by candles and singing a song about love and unity and leading them to a better place. Lyta removes her Psi Corps badge and Byron leads her to the center of the group.
This episode contains examples of:
- Amicably Divorced: Sheridan and Lochley turn out to be this.
- Bald of Evil: One of the Psi Corps Bloodhound Units attached to Bester sports one.
- Berserk Button: Garibaldi tries to attack Bester when he learns he's aboard Babylon 5.
- Blackmail: Get the docking bay back up when Lochley wants it and she won't mention certain embarrassing bachelor party pictures.
- Call-Back: Garibaldi did hack into Lochley's security jacket.
- Continuity Nod:
- Once again an accident occurs because of ships not following C&C's instructions.
- Ms Connally is mentioned once again.
- Contrived Coincidence: A random pilot's poor decision shut down the docking bay and inadvertently saved Londo's life.
- Didn't See That Coming: Garibaldi admits Sheridan and Lochley being exes is something he never would have thought of.
- Exact Words: Why couldn't Bester pick up any duplicity from Lochley? Because every word she said is technically true. She doesn't want Byron's people on the station, there is a complication, in that she's caught between Sheridan's orders and EarthGov's, the guidelines on quarantines did just come through (as in she had Franklin write them up and give them to her) and her promise to keep them on station is genuine.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Franklin mentioning standardizing quarantine times gives Lochley the out she's been looking for.
- Foreshadowing: Bester and Byron seem to have some history, we'll no doubt find out what that is before long.
- Insignia Ripoff Ritual: Lyta taking off her Psi Corps pin.
- It's Quiet… Too Quiet: When Bester realizes he's not picking up any of the usual mental background hum in a crowded area he realizes Lyta's jamming his entire squad.
- Let Me at Him!: As soon as he sees Bester, Garibaldi goes to throttle him, but Lochley stops him, or tries to. She has to have him incarcerated to keep the two apart.
- Loophole Abuse: Lochley takes advantage of a 60 day quarantine rule to get Bester off her back while keeping Byron's people on the station.
- Non-Answer: When Lyta asks when Byron last slept, he tells her it was lifetimes ago, out under the stars with his beloved caressing his temple, and awaking to find a willow where she'd sat.Lyta: If there was a straight answer buried in there somewhere I sure as hell didn't see it.
- Oh, Crap!: Byron upon realizing who's come to call, "He's here."
- Orphaned Punchline: We first see Bester and Lochley together just as he's finishing a joke.
- Rage Breaking Point: Lochley has been putting up with a lot from Garibaldi, seeming to take even him trying to attack a guest in stride, but when she finds out he's gotten into her personal files she's had it!
- Starter Marriage: The relationship between Sheridan and Lochley. As she puts it, "We met, fell crazy in love, got married, realized it was a huge mistake, fell crazy out of love, and divorced." Apparently the entire process took no more than three months.
- Too Much Alike: What Lochley attributes the breakdown of her and Sheridan's marriage to, as well as her friction with Garibaldi.
- Working with the Ex: Fortunately, Delenn doesn't mind, now that she knows. Garibaldi finds it unbelievable.
