Babylon 5 s02e06 Episode Script
Spider in the Web
Schedule "Delta Wing" for maintenance | at 1400 and make sure Conference Room 7 | is properly laid out for the Tikar delegation.
Six yarwood chairs placed precisely | one meter apart in a star pattern with the hee-lok on the center chair.
Very good.
-Sheridan.
| -"Captain" section.
We need a command officer.
I'll handle it.
Help is on the way.
It's good to be the captain.
Isogi-san.
Talia, it's been too long.
What did you think | of my NeoMars proposal? It's like all your proposals: too progressive, | too risky and too costly in the short run.
-But if you can make it happen.
| -I must make it happen.
FutureCorp has to expand beyond Earth, | and Mars is the first step.
The Senate won't like it, and the | Mars Conglomerate will try to bury you.
We're prepared for that.
Now I need | only convince Mars to share the risk.
And if they won't? Then their path to freedom may well | be drenched with innocent blood and a long-held dream of mine will die.
Mr.
Isogi? Amanda Carter, Mars | Colony Business Affairs Committee.
Ms.
Carter, Ms.
Talia Winters one of the finest commercial telepaths | I've ever worked with.
She will be monitoring our | negotiations for FutureCorp.
Ms.
Winters.
Please.
I read your proposal, Mr.
Isogi.
Frankly, you're either insane | or a very brave man.
That's what they said | of your great-grandfather, John when he volunteered to pilot the first | colony ship to Mars.
So they did.
Let's talk.
Please.
of our own people that Luis Santiago.
Thirteen.
on Babylon 5.
Control is prepared to go online.
Commence operation.
best hope for peace.
located in neutral territory.
A place of commerce and diplomacy humans and aliens.
all alone in the night.
of the Third Age of mankind.
came upon us all.
of the Babylon stations.
The name of the place is Babylon 5.
Sheridan.
from Senator Voudreau.
Patch her through.
Capt.
Sheridan.
Senator, what can I do for you? of FutureCorp on Babylon 5 with Amanda Carter of the Mars Provisional Government.
of Mars independence is conspiring with her on Mars Colony.
Do you have any proof? wants a foothold in space.
with Mars would give it to them Mars Conglomerate out.
out after the last rebellion.
like river rats.
I understand your concern, | but there's not much I can do about it.
I have no authority over corporate | negotiations.
Babylon 5 is neutral territory.
Any race can negotiate here | without interference, even our own.
Alliance security, captain to check it out.
and an ear open and report anything of interest to me.
With all due respect, senator my duties as commander of B5 | don't include spying on civilians.
These are volatile times, captain.
principles if lives are to be saved.
I'll expect to hear from you soon.
-Yes? | -"Captain" the Tikar delegation is docking.
I'll meet them in the conference room | immediately.
Mars has resources the alien worlds need.
Now, they in turn can supply | an economic base which will enable the colony to become | self-sufficient within 10 years.
You can win your independence | without bloodshed.
It will be a hard sell with the Committee.
They'll need concrete assurances | from the alien worlds.
Not entirely true.
You're sure the Committee will accept | your recommendation.
You're the one who needs assurance.
Yes, I do, Ms.
Winters.
Mars is being ripped apart | at the seams right now and before I bargain with its future, | I need to know what's expected of us.
Naturally.
That's one of the reasons why | I suggested Babylon 5 for this meeting.
All our prospective partners have | representatives here.
We can iron out all the details | to your government's satisfaction.
You actually believe you can make | this work? No, I believe we can try.
I'll speak with the Business | Affairs Committee.
I think I can have an answer | by tomorrow afternoon.
Very good.
She likes the idea.
She has her doubts, | but basically she likes it.
And you? Now that you've heard | the details of my little plan do you also have your doubts? Frankly, yes.
The financial risk | is bad enough but the legal maneuvering | will be even-- I want to hear them.
Over dinner? I'd love to.
Well, commander, may I? Please.
How did the conference go? Very well, very well.
Your seating arrangement was flawless.
Latir Corvo himself complimented it.
I think we'll be seeing the Tikar | on Babylon 5 soon.
I'm pleased.
They're an interesting people.
And I believe you made first contact | with them.
Yes.
The "Agamemnon" was in an unexplored | sector beyond the St.
Andre Nebula when we sighted this green cloud | floating in space.
Only, it wasn't a cloud at all.
| It was a ship.
We hailed it, but got no response.
We moved toward it.
It moved away.
We kept that up for hours, | until finally they responded.
It took our linguistics division | a whole day to get even close to deciphering | their language.
They'd already deciphered ours | but neglected to tell us so.
Oh, a Jovian sunspot.
-You're indulging.
| -I earned it.
And I'm off duty.
Please, continue.
Well, we finally broke the language barrier | and introduced ourselves.
And I was invited aboard their ship.
It was incredible.
I'd never seen | so much space on a starship.
And the Tikar themselves so unlike any other alien species | we'd encountered.
I spent two days with them.
And what I learned in that time made me realize just how wondrous | this galaxy of ours really is.
I've never seen you so excited | about a deal before.
Well, it's not just a deal, Talia.
| It's a step into the future.
Mars can be the beginning of a whole | new life for the human species as it was meant to be.
Free Mars.
No! Taro! Taro.
So you have no idea what the images you got | from the killer meant? No, it was all too quick.
Just a blur of light and sound | and then the blackness.
And all he said was, "Free Mars"? Yes, but my first assignment was | Mars Colony.
I scanned several Free Mars people | during that time.
They're violent fanatics with a murderous | hatred of Earth Alliance.
But this man was different.
There was no | thought of a cause in his head, no anger no emotion of any kind, | just those images.
So, what reason would Free Mars | have for killing your client? None.
Taro's proposal was a peaceful solution | to the Mars problem.
Earth Central feels differently.
They believe he was going to back | another rebellion on Mars.
Taro hated the violence on Mars.
| He never would have done such a thing.
Someone's been lying to you, captain.
-Or to you.
| -I'm a telepath.
Telepaths are human beings.
| You are an old friend of Isogi's.
-You trusted him.
| -With good reason.
Taro Isogi spent his life improving | the lives of others.
He built a business based | on that principle and he never broke a rule or harmed | another to do it.
Mars was his dream, captain.
Now he's been murdered for it, | and you're trying to cast the blame on him.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry too.
I'm also tired, and I hurt.
| May I go back to my quarters now? Yes.
I'll arrange for an escort.
One escort, at your service.
This really isn't necessary.
Captain's orders.
He's worried about you, | and so am I.
This gives us a chance to get to know | each other better.
I've led a fascinating life.
Mr.
Garibaldi, Taro Isogi was | like a father to me.
I loved him as a client and as a mentor | and as a friend.
And now he's dead.
You'll forgive me if I'm not in the mood | for your usual badinage.
You're right.
This is a bad time for you.
| I'm being a yutz.
Apology accepted.
Could you at least tell me | what badinage means? Well, my pop always said that laughter | was better than pills for what ails you.
He was right.
We'll get the creep who did this.
| I promise.
That won't bring Taro back, | or his dreams for Mars Colony.
No.
But it will save someone else | from getting killed.
Command? Code: Alpha-66, Zeta-3.
Unable to respond.
"Code not recogni"-- Code acknowledged.
Report.
Phase One complete.
then erase source file.
Taro! commercial telepath, rating P5.
Stand by.
jeopardize mission.
with Phase Two.
Understood.
Search mode.
Location of Talia Winters.
I want you to hold all outgoing traffic | until further notice.
There's been a murder, | and I don't want the killer leaving.
-Do you know who it is? | -Not yet.
But we do have an eyewitness, | Talia Winters.
Was she hurt? Fortunately not.
I think the killer | wanted a witness.
Tell me.
What do you think of her? Ms.
Winters? I think she's an interesting person.
You never describe anybody that way.
I don't really know her that well.
| We've chatted from time to time.
And she's interesting.
You know how I feel about telepaths.
Do I ever! You threw one out | of a third-story window on lo.
-There was a pool below the window.
| -I'll assume you knew that.
Aside from Ms.
Winters' | "interesting" quality do you think she can be | trusted? Yes, except she's very loyal to Psi Corps.
And you don't trust Psi Corps? No.
Do you? Telepaths are gifted and cursed | in ways I can never hope to understand.
But they're still human beings, | good, bad or indifferent.
No.
I trust in individuals, | not organizations.
Then you may trust Ms.
Winters.
Come in.
Ms.
Carter, I'm Capt.
John Sheridan, | commander of Babylon 5.
I'd like to ask you a few questions | about your meeting with Taro Isogi.
I'm afraid I must decline, captain.
Private negotiations are not subject | to Earthforce scrutiny.
In this case, they are.
Mr.
Isogi was murdered last night.
What? Who could--? According to an eyewitness, the | killer said, "Free Mars.
" Free Mars? Yes.
No, that can't be.
There's no way they could have known | about this meeting.
And even if they did, they had | nothing to gain by killing Mr.
Isogi.
Taro was working to achieve | a peaceful compromise that would ensure the colony's | independence without bloodshed.
Somebody obviously didn't like it.
Damn them.
Any idea who "they" might be? The Senate, Mars Conglomerate.
They'd be the most opposed.
I never thought they'd go this far.
Thank you for your time, Ms.
Carter.
| I may have more questions for you later.
I'll be glad to help.
Whoever killed Taro Isogi killed | Mars' best hope for the future.
What have you come up with? Forensics said Isogi's body was hit | with a massive electrical charge.
Disrupted every cell in his body.
There's scorch marks on his throat | that show the outline of fingers but no prints or striations of any kind.
A slaver's glove? No.
I mean, they pack a jolt but | not enough to do this much damage.
No, this is high-tech and definitely | not standard Free Mars issue.
My guess is some sort | of prosthetic weaponry.
What I can't figure | is how he got it on station.
A power source that would generate that | big a charge should show up on scanners.
Maybe he had some special help.
You want to explain that? Not until we have more to go on.
Keep an escort on Ms.
Winters | and intensify the search.
Include EarthGov and Corp secure areas.
Will do.
Captain? I'd like to know where | you're going with this.
Someplace very dark.
I hope to God I'm wrong.
Hey, Earther! Free Mars.
No.
Help! | Help me, somebody! What have they done to me? The images in his mind were | the same as before except this time I saw an Earth Alliance ship.
A big one.
A cruiser, I think.
It was firing at him.
And I know this sounds crazy.
| But it hit him, and he died.
Died? It was as if he were reliving the thought | of his death over and over again clinging to it as if it were | the only thought he had.
Captain, I've got an ID on our perp.
I checked the DNA in the hair | that Ms.
Winters pulled out.
It's positive.
Take a look.
-That's him.
| -He's Free Mars, all right.
One of their leaders in fact.
| Name's Abel Horn.
-Abel Horn? | -Do you know him? In a way.
My wife Anna and I had | some very special friends on Mars.
They worked at Ritchey Station.
They were there when Free Mars blew it.
Abel Horn claimed responsibility for it.
I want him, Mr.
Garibaldi.
So do l, but there's a problem.
According to Earthforce Intelligence, | Abel Horn is dead.
A cruiser scragged his ship | over Phobos during the rebellion.
Oh, my God.
Is that what you saw in his mind? Yes.
Would someone tell me what the hell | we're talking about? Sir? Later.
Right now I want her in protective custody | and a fugitive alert posted on Horn.
Done.
Ms.
Winters.
Amanda.
It's been a long time.
I thought you were dead.
Damn near.
Earthers blew me up over Phobos.
Your old buddy Singer found me, | got me out.
A snakehead doc fixed me up.
I've been hiding in the Tigris Sector | ever since.
Then I got word you were coming here.
-Why did you kill Taro Isogi? | -Who? The man I came here to meet.
| They say you killed him.
There's a fugitive alert out for you.
They're lying.
I haven't killed anyone.
I came here to see you.
I have to get back to Mars, | and you're the only one who can help me.
I can't do that, Abel.
I am finally in a position to help | with Mars independence.
If anyone found out I was once | a member of Free Mars-- Which just might come out if they | were to catch me here.
You came here to blackmail me | into smuggling you back to Mars? That was never your style, Abel.
I've changed.
Abel, what's wrong? Abel! Amanda, please.
Have tohelp me! | Help me! Did something toto me.
Telepath knows.
Talia Winters saw it in my head! Have to find her! -Lose, lose, lose, lose, losing control! | -Stop! Stop! There's one way in, and I have a detail | on it.
It'll take an army to get in.
If you need to go somewhere, call the | guard post and they'll assign an escort.
Try to relax, enjoy yourself.
We'll take care of this guy.
Mr.
Garibaldi? I was just going to make | a cup of tea to soothe my nerves.
Would you like one? Well, since I am chief of Security, | I guess seeing you're secure is my job.
And tea just happens to be | my third favorite thing in the universe.
I needed this yesterday.
The captain of the "Matheson" is demanding | an update on his departure.
Tell him to go away.
| Tell them all to go away.
-How's it going? | -We've had 20 complaints six formal protests and one threat, all | in the last hour.
The natives are restless.
Start moving them out.
What about the murderer? I don't think he's trying to leave yet.
| But have every ship searched.
I'll be in my quarters.
There's something | I want to check out.
So then my pop says to the guy, | "Fifty credits for a salami? I could've killed you for 20.
" -Your father was quite a character.
| -He was the best.
He cooked like an angel, swore like the devil | and taught me everything about security.
He could spot a crook a sector away, | and he was still hauling them in at 75.
Then he got Torg's Syndrome | and just kind of faded away.
I sure miss him.
I never really knew my father | or my mother.
I was raised by Psi Corps | from the time I was 5.
-Of course, there was Abby.
| -Abby? She was my support during my first year | at the Center.
When telepaths first come, a senior | telepath guides them through the program.
The first day I was crying all the time.
I was scared and confused and hurting.
And then Abby came.
She held me for a very long time, | never saying a word.
I didn't know it then, but she was | scanning me, ever so gently.
And little by little, the pain and fear | and confusion melted.
And all that was left was | this warm, safe place in my mind.
It was wonderful.
But the next year Abby was | assigned to another newcomer.
Garibaldi.
to my quarters.
On my way.
Sorry.
Mr.
Garibaldi.
Thank you.
My pleasure, Ms.
Winters.
Come.
Mr.
Garibaldi, take a look at this.
Project Lazarus? Never heard of it.
It was part of Earthforce's cyber | experiments back in the late '30s.
The cyber experiments were a bust.
| Humans couldn't function -with machines in their brains.
| -Correct.
That's why they decided to use | subjects on the verge of death: Accident victims, wounded soldiers, | people in comas-- You're kidding? That's grotesque.
It gets even better.
The theory was to hardwire the subject's | brain with a computer intelligence.
It kept the brain functional | while the body was repaired.
Then using telepathic deep-scan the subject was fixated | on the moment of his death shutting down all conscious thought.
The computer takes complete control while the subject is dying over | and over again in his subconscious.
Ms.
Winters said that Horn was clinging | to the thought of his death as if it were the only thought he had.
Hold on.
Are you saying Horn | is one of these cyber zombies? I'm saying he might be.
His body could | have been recovered after the blast.
Or Intelligence was wrong again, and Horn | was never in the ship that was blasted.
Well, that's the simple explanation.
And ordinarily I'd accept it, | but this isn't a simple thing.
A known Free Mars terrorist kills a man | in front of a witness and leaves her alive.
Later he kills another man to get | to that witness and again leaves her alive.
Why? He's squeamish about killing women? Or maybe Talia Winters touched | something in him.
Something that made Horn realize | who he really was for a moment.
I think it's playing havoc | with his programming.
-You almost have me believing this load.
| -I'm not sure I believe it myself.
But if it's true, there should be | a way to locate him.
Command? I'd like to make a transmission | to Ms.
Talia Winters.
Working.
-So you'll meet with me? | -"Yes.
In a half"-"hour?" I'll look forward to it.
-Amanda, I knew you'd help me.
| -Abel, all I did was-- This is a long shot.
My information on Lazarus | is 20 years old but according to the files the computer power crystal emits | a low level of a benign radiation.
It wouldn't ordinarily show up | on the environmental scanners but if we could reconfigure | them to look for it.
-Garibaldi.
| -"Chief, Zack Allan.
" for a business meeting in Red 7.
-With who? | -"Amanda Carter.
" That's a go, Zack.
Come through | Red Alpha.
I'll join you at Point 6.
This is trickier than I thought.
The element is definitely out-of-date.
Why not let the wizard have a go? Now, all we have to do is cross-reference | with the Medlab files find the updated element number log that with e-systems | and, voil�! It's trickier than you thought.
Thanks Mr.
Wizard.
Ms.
Winters, it's not a good idea | to be roaming around the station.
I'm hardly roaming.
No, I guess not.
So, what's up? Amanda Carter wants to pursue | Taro's plan.
I don't know if I can convince | FutureCorp to go along but if I could, it would be | like a memorial for Taro.
They can kill a good man | but not a good idea.
Take your time.
We'll be right here.
Hello? Hello? Ms.
Carter? Ms.
Carter.
Make one sound, and I'll kill you.
That should do it.
Computer, begin scan.
Commencing.
What am I? Tell me! I don't understand.
You're a mindbender.
| You saw it in my head.
Tell me what it means! Tell me! -Pain.
Pain.
| -Yes, pain! Tell me.
Tell me, please.
Please.
Ours now.
All ours.
You were dying.
They operated on you, rebuilt you.
Scanned you.
There was a Psi Cop.
Scan complete.
"Low"-"level ironium radiation detected.
" Red 7, Suite 15.
Suite 15? Amanda Carter.
Garibaldi.
-"Captain?" | -Where's Ms.
Winters? Meeting with Ms.
Carter in her quarters.
but get him alive.
I'm on my way.
Our perp's inside! Jackson, left side.
| Hansen, right.
Watch out for Talia and remember this guy | kills by touch.
Zack, let's get the door.
Ready? Go.
Freeze! I'll fry her.
I swear it.
End of the road, pal.
There's nowhere to go.
-Come on, think about it.
| -Can't think.
Die when I think.
Okay, okay.
-Take it easy.
| -Drop the guns.
Back off.
Do it! You hurt her and I'll see it | takes you 10 days to die.
I'm already dead, Mr.
Security Man.
No, you aren't, Horn.
Now, just listen to me.
They are using you to betray | your own world.
How do you know this? You know it too, Abel.
You can feel the machine crawling | in your brain.
Get out of my way! Let us help you.
That's all we want to do.
You let her go, and we'll help you.
You've died too many times, Abel.
| There's no need to die again.
Good.
Now, put the weapon down.
It was the Earthers, wasn't it? It wasn't enough just to kill me? We'll find out who it was together.
| Just put the gun down.
Mars will never be free until the sands run red | with Earther blood.
Thanks for ending it, Earther.
Damn it.
Captain, I'm reading a dangerous | energy surge from the body.
Get her out of here.
Come on, | everybody out.
Everybody out! Come on! Go now! No trace.
No evidence.
I am very sorry, Ms.
Winters.
Abel said you knew what was wrong | with him.
I was worried about him.
-I didn't think he'd harm you.
| -And how does a Mars Government rep know so much about | a Free Mars terrorist? Abel Horn wasn't always a terrorist.
Fifteen years ago he was | a bright young man utterly devoted to independence | for Mars Colony.
That's when I met him.
Fell in love with him.
He convinced me to join Free Mars.
It wasn't a radical group at the time.
Later, when they began | to become violent, I left them.
I never saw Abel again until today.
Tell me another one.
You can have Ms.
Winters scan me | if you think I'm lying.
Besides, I've already said enough | to ruin my career.
If we report it.
Are you proposing a deal, captain? You said Taro Isogi's plan was | the best hope for Mars.
-Did you mean that? | -Yes.
Then continue to negotiate with | FutureCorp.
Make that happen.
I doubt they'd be interested | after what happened here.
I'll be glad to speak to them for you.
I'll make it clear that your government | had nothing to do with the murder.
I'm sure they'll consider going ahead.
Why? To make sure Taro Isogi's dream | becomes a reality and to keep you | where you can do the most good.
Thank you.
We'll talk later.
Captain, begging your pardon, | but have you gone space happy? She is an accessory to murder | and attempted murder.
Horn wasn't trying to kill me.
| He wanted me to scan him.
There was something in his mind, | controlling him -something he wanted me to find.
| -And did you? I saw an image, some sort | of an operation.
Well, did you recognize anything? | A location, a face, uniform? No.
Take Ms.
Winters to her quarters.
| I'll help lvanova move the traffic out.
Captain.
Mr.
Garibaldi.
Is there something? There's a whole list.
But let's start with how you knew | about the Lazarus Project.
Some people collect coins or art.
I collect secrets.
Black projects, conspiracies, | secret organizations.
They fascinate me.
Does one of those secrets include | who was behind this thing? -It's better you don't ask that.
| -Look, captain you don't trust me the way Jeff | used to, but if there's a threat-- The threat goes far beyond Babylon 5, | Mr.
Garibaldi.
I'm not surprised.
If Horn was what you say he was, then | this has nothing to do with Free Mars.
To pull something like this off would take | a lot of power and a lot of money.
And I think you know who it is.
All right.
But promise me this information will | never be repeated outside this room.
You got it.
For the past six years there have been rumors about a rogue | agency operating deep inside EarthGov.
A dirty-trick squad dealing in black | projects and star chamber justice.
It took me over three years | just to get a name.
Bureau 13.
And the man who gave me that name | died soon after.
I am convinced they exist | and that they are behind this incident.
Why? Isogi was a danger to Earth policy | on Mars.
I think his death was a warning | to the other corporations.
I also think Horn was meant to destroy | Free Mars from the inside and possibly ruin Amanda Carter as well.
Unfortunately -I can't prove any of it.
| -If this is true-- Then everything we believe in | is in jeopardy.
There is a spider in the web, Mr.
Garibaldi.
And I intend to find it and kill it.
Thirteen.
Mission only partly successful.
before he could leave station for Mars.
Is the Bureau at hazard? Control does not believe so.
Belief is not enough.
He is to follow up until he is certain.
Thirteen out.
Scanning files from listed data.
All ours.
Match found.
Babylonian Productions, Inc
Six yarwood chairs placed precisely | one meter apart in a star pattern with the hee-lok on the center chair.
Very good.
-Sheridan.
| -"Captain" section.
We need a command officer.
I'll handle it.
Help is on the way.
It's good to be the captain.
Isogi-san.
Talia, it's been too long.
What did you think | of my NeoMars proposal? It's like all your proposals: too progressive, | too risky and too costly in the short run.
-But if you can make it happen.
| -I must make it happen.
FutureCorp has to expand beyond Earth, | and Mars is the first step.
The Senate won't like it, and the | Mars Conglomerate will try to bury you.
We're prepared for that.
Now I need | only convince Mars to share the risk.
And if they won't? Then their path to freedom may well | be drenched with innocent blood and a long-held dream of mine will die.
Mr.
Isogi? Amanda Carter, Mars | Colony Business Affairs Committee.
Ms.
Carter, Ms.
Talia Winters one of the finest commercial telepaths | I've ever worked with.
She will be monitoring our | negotiations for FutureCorp.
Ms.
Winters.
Please.
I read your proposal, Mr.
Isogi.
Frankly, you're either insane | or a very brave man.
That's what they said | of your great-grandfather, John when he volunteered to pilot the first | colony ship to Mars.
So they did.
Let's talk.
Please.
of our own people that Luis Santiago.
Thirteen.
on Babylon 5.
Control is prepared to go online.
Commence operation.
best hope for peace.
located in neutral territory.
A place of commerce and diplomacy humans and aliens.
all alone in the night.
of the Third Age of mankind.
came upon us all.
of the Babylon stations.
The name of the place is Babylon 5.
Sheridan.
from Senator Voudreau.
Patch her through.
Capt.
Sheridan.
Senator, what can I do for you? of FutureCorp on Babylon 5 with Amanda Carter of the Mars Provisional Government.
of Mars independence is conspiring with her on Mars Colony.
Do you have any proof? wants a foothold in space.
with Mars would give it to them Mars Conglomerate out.
out after the last rebellion.
like river rats.
I understand your concern, | but there's not much I can do about it.
I have no authority over corporate | negotiations.
Babylon 5 is neutral territory.
Any race can negotiate here | without interference, even our own.
Alliance security, captain to check it out.
and an ear open and report anything of interest to me.
With all due respect, senator my duties as commander of B5 | don't include spying on civilians.
These are volatile times, captain.
principles if lives are to be saved.
I'll expect to hear from you soon.
-Yes? | -"Captain" the Tikar delegation is docking.
I'll meet them in the conference room | immediately.
Mars has resources the alien worlds need.
Now, they in turn can supply | an economic base which will enable the colony to become | self-sufficient within 10 years.
You can win your independence | without bloodshed.
It will be a hard sell with the Committee.
They'll need concrete assurances | from the alien worlds.
Not entirely true.
You're sure the Committee will accept | your recommendation.
You're the one who needs assurance.
Yes, I do, Ms.
Winters.
Mars is being ripped apart | at the seams right now and before I bargain with its future, | I need to know what's expected of us.
Naturally.
That's one of the reasons why | I suggested Babylon 5 for this meeting.
All our prospective partners have | representatives here.
We can iron out all the details | to your government's satisfaction.
You actually believe you can make | this work? No, I believe we can try.
I'll speak with the Business | Affairs Committee.
I think I can have an answer | by tomorrow afternoon.
Very good.
She likes the idea.
She has her doubts, | but basically she likes it.
And you? Now that you've heard | the details of my little plan do you also have your doubts? Frankly, yes.
The financial risk | is bad enough but the legal maneuvering | will be even-- I want to hear them.
Over dinner? I'd love to.
Well, commander, may I? Please.
How did the conference go? Very well, very well.
Your seating arrangement was flawless.
Latir Corvo himself complimented it.
I think we'll be seeing the Tikar | on Babylon 5 soon.
I'm pleased.
They're an interesting people.
And I believe you made first contact | with them.
Yes.
The "Agamemnon" was in an unexplored | sector beyond the St.
Andre Nebula when we sighted this green cloud | floating in space.
Only, it wasn't a cloud at all.
| It was a ship.
We hailed it, but got no response.
We moved toward it.
It moved away.
We kept that up for hours, | until finally they responded.
It took our linguistics division | a whole day to get even close to deciphering | their language.
They'd already deciphered ours | but neglected to tell us so.
Oh, a Jovian sunspot.
-You're indulging.
| -I earned it.
And I'm off duty.
Please, continue.
Well, we finally broke the language barrier | and introduced ourselves.
And I was invited aboard their ship.
It was incredible.
I'd never seen | so much space on a starship.
And the Tikar themselves so unlike any other alien species | we'd encountered.
I spent two days with them.
And what I learned in that time made me realize just how wondrous | this galaxy of ours really is.
I've never seen you so excited | about a deal before.
Well, it's not just a deal, Talia.
| It's a step into the future.
Mars can be the beginning of a whole | new life for the human species as it was meant to be.
Free Mars.
No! Taro! Taro.
So you have no idea what the images you got | from the killer meant? No, it was all too quick.
Just a blur of light and sound | and then the blackness.
And all he said was, "Free Mars"? Yes, but my first assignment was | Mars Colony.
I scanned several Free Mars people | during that time.
They're violent fanatics with a murderous | hatred of Earth Alliance.
But this man was different.
There was no | thought of a cause in his head, no anger no emotion of any kind, | just those images.
So, what reason would Free Mars | have for killing your client? None.
Taro's proposal was a peaceful solution | to the Mars problem.
Earth Central feels differently.
They believe he was going to back | another rebellion on Mars.
Taro hated the violence on Mars.
| He never would have done such a thing.
Someone's been lying to you, captain.
-Or to you.
| -I'm a telepath.
Telepaths are human beings.
| You are an old friend of Isogi's.
-You trusted him.
| -With good reason.
Taro Isogi spent his life improving | the lives of others.
He built a business based | on that principle and he never broke a rule or harmed | another to do it.
Mars was his dream, captain.
Now he's been murdered for it, | and you're trying to cast the blame on him.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry too.
I'm also tired, and I hurt.
| May I go back to my quarters now? Yes.
I'll arrange for an escort.
One escort, at your service.
This really isn't necessary.
Captain's orders.
He's worried about you, | and so am I.
This gives us a chance to get to know | each other better.
I've led a fascinating life.
Mr.
Garibaldi, Taro Isogi was | like a father to me.
I loved him as a client and as a mentor | and as a friend.
And now he's dead.
You'll forgive me if I'm not in the mood | for your usual badinage.
You're right.
This is a bad time for you.
| I'm being a yutz.
Apology accepted.
Could you at least tell me | what badinage means? Well, my pop always said that laughter | was better than pills for what ails you.
He was right.
We'll get the creep who did this.
| I promise.
That won't bring Taro back, | or his dreams for Mars Colony.
No.
But it will save someone else | from getting killed.
Command? Code: Alpha-66, Zeta-3.
Unable to respond.
"Code not recogni"-- Code acknowledged.
Report.
Phase One complete.
then erase source file.
Taro! commercial telepath, rating P5.
Stand by.
jeopardize mission.
with Phase Two.
Understood.
Search mode.
Location of Talia Winters.
I want you to hold all outgoing traffic | until further notice.
There's been a murder, | and I don't want the killer leaving.
-Do you know who it is? | -Not yet.
But we do have an eyewitness, | Talia Winters.
Was she hurt? Fortunately not.
I think the killer | wanted a witness.
Tell me.
What do you think of her? Ms.
Winters? I think she's an interesting person.
You never describe anybody that way.
I don't really know her that well.
| We've chatted from time to time.
And she's interesting.
You know how I feel about telepaths.
Do I ever! You threw one out | of a third-story window on lo.
-There was a pool below the window.
| -I'll assume you knew that.
Aside from Ms.
Winters' | "interesting" quality do you think she can be | trusted? Yes, except she's very loyal to Psi Corps.
And you don't trust Psi Corps? No.
Do you? Telepaths are gifted and cursed | in ways I can never hope to understand.
But they're still human beings, | good, bad or indifferent.
No.
I trust in individuals, | not organizations.
Then you may trust Ms.
Winters.
Come in.
Ms.
Carter, I'm Capt.
John Sheridan, | commander of Babylon 5.
I'd like to ask you a few questions | about your meeting with Taro Isogi.
I'm afraid I must decline, captain.
Private negotiations are not subject | to Earthforce scrutiny.
In this case, they are.
Mr.
Isogi was murdered last night.
What? Who could--? According to an eyewitness, the | killer said, "Free Mars.
" Free Mars? Yes.
No, that can't be.
There's no way they could have known | about this meeting.
And even if they did, they had | nothing to gain by killing Mr.
Isogi.
Taro was working to achieve | a peaceful compromise that would ensure the colony's | independence without bloodshed.
Somebody obviously didn't like it.
Damn them.
Any idea who "they" might be? The Senate, Mars Conglomerate.
They'd be the most opposed.
I never thought they'd go this far.
Thank you for your time, Ms.
Carter.
| I may have more questions for you later.
I'll be glad to help.
Whoever killed Taro Isogi killed | Mars' best hope for the future.
What have you come up with? Forensics said Isogi's body was hit | with a massive electrical charge.
Disrupted every cell in his body.
There's scorch marks on his throat | that show the outline of fingers but no prints or striations of any kind.
A slaver's glove? No.
I mean, they pack a jolt but | not enough to do this much damage.
No, this is high-tech and definitely | not standard Free Mars issue.
My guess is some sort | of prosthetic weaponry.
What I can't figure | is how he got it on station.
A power source that would generate that | big a charge should show up on scanners.
Maybe he had some special help.
You want to explain that? Not until we have more to go on.
Keep an escort on Ms.
Winters | and intensify the search.
Include EarthGov and Corp secure areas.
Will do.
Captain? I'd like to know where | you're going with this.
Someplace very dark.
I hope to God I'm wrong.
Hey, Earther! Free Mars.
No.
Help! | Help me, somebody! What have they done to me? The images in his mind were | the same as before except this time I saw an Earth Alliance ship.
A big one.
A cruiser, I think.
It was firing at him.
And I know this sounds crazy.
| But it hit him, and he died.
Died? It was as if he were reliving the thought | of his death over and over again clinging to it as if it were | the only thought he had.
Captain, I've got an ID on our perp.
I checked the DNA in the hair | that Ms.
Winters pulled out.
It's positive.
Take a look.
-That's him.
| -He's Free Mars, all right.
One of their leaders in fact.
| Name's Abel Horn.
-Abel Horn? | -Do you know him? In a way.
My wife Anna and I had | some very special friends on Mars.
They worked at Ritchey Station.
They were there when Free Mars blew it.
Abel Horn claimed responsibility for it.
I want him, Mr.
Garibaldi.
So do l, but there's a problem.
According to Earthforce Intelligence, | Abel Horn is dead.
A cruiser scragged his ship | over Phobos during the rebellion.
Oh, my God.
Is that what you saw in his mind? Yes.
Would someone tell me what the hell | we're talking about? Sir? Later.
Right now I want her in protective custody | and a fugitive alert posted on Horn.
Done.
Ms.
Winters.
Amanda.
It's been a long time.
I thought you were dead.
Damn near.
Earthers blew me up over Phobos.
Your old buddy Singer found me, | got me out.
A snakehead doc fixed me up.
I've been hiding in the Tigris Sector | ever since.
Then I got word you were coming here.
-Why did you kill Taro Isogi? | -Who? The man I came here to meet.
| They say you killed him.
There's a fugitive alert out for you.
They're lying.
I haven't killed anyone.
I came here to see you.
I have to get back to Mars, | and you're the only one who can help me.
I can't do that, Abel.
I am finally in a position to help | with Mars independence.
If anyone found out I was once | a member of Free Mars-- Which just might come out if they | were to catch me here.
You came here to blackmail me | into smuggling you back to Mars? That was never your style, Abel.
I've changed.
Abel, what's wrong? Abel! Amanda, please.
Have tohelp me! | Help me! Did something toto me.
Telepath knows.
Talia Winters saw it in my head! Have to find her! -Lose, lose, lose, lose, losing control! | -Stop! Stop! There's one way in, and I have a detail | on it.
It'll take an army to get in.
If you need to go somewhere, call the | guard post and they'll assign an escort.
Try to relax, enjoy yourself.
We'll take care of this guy.
Mr.
Garibaldi? I was just going to make | a cup of tea to soothe my nerves.
Would you like one? Well, since I am chief of Security, | I guess seeing you're secure is my job.
And tea just happens to be | my third favorite thing in the universe.
I needed this yesterday.
The captain of the "Matheson" is demanding | an update on his departure.
Tell him to go away.
| Tell them all to go away.
-How's it going? | -We've had 20 complaints six formal protests and one threat, all | in the last hour.
The natives are restless.
Start moving them out.
What about the murderer? I don't think he's trying to leave yet.
| But have every ship searched.
I'll be in my quarters.
There's something | I want to check out.
So then my pop says to the guy, | "Fifty credits for a salami? I could've killed you for 20.
" -Your father was quite a character.
| -He was the best.
He cooked like an angel, swore like the devil | and taught me everything about security.
He could spot a crook a sector away, | and he was still hauling them in at 75.
Then he got Torg's Syndrome | and just kind of faded away.
I sure miss him.
I never really knew my father | or my mother.
I was raised by Psi Corps | from the time I was 5.
-Of course, there was Abby.
| -Abby? She was my support during my first year | at the Center.
When telepaths first come, a senior | telepath guides them through the program.
The first day I was crying all the time.
I was scared and confused and hurting.
And then Abby came.
She held me for a very long time, | never saying a word.
I didn't know it then, but she was | scanning me, ever so gently.
And little by little, the pain and fear | and confusion melted.
And all that was left was | this warm, safe place in my mind.
It was wonderful.
But the next year Abby was | assigned to another newcomer.
Garibaldi.
to my quarters.
On my way.
Sorry.
Mr.
Garibaldi.
Thank you.
My pleasure, Ms.
Winters.
Come.
Mr.
Garibaldi, take a look at this.
Project Lazarus? Never heard of it.
It was part of Earthforce's cyber | experiments back in the late '30s.
The cyber experiments were a bust.
| Humans couldn't function -with machines in their brains.
| -Correct.
That's why they decided to use | subjects on the verge of death: Accident victims, wounded soldiers, | people in comas-- You're kidding? That's grotesque.
It gets even better.
The theory was to hardwire the subject's | brain with a computer intelligence.
It kept the brain functional | while the body was repaired.
Then using telepathic deep-scan the subject was fixated | on the moment of his death shutting down all conscious thought.
The computer takes complete control while the subject is dying over | and over again in his subconscious.
Ms.
Winters said that Horn was clinging | to the thought of his death as if it were the only thought he had.
Hold on.
Are you saying Horn | is one of these cyber zombies? I'm saying he might be.
His body could | have been recovered after the blast.
Or Intelligence was wrong again, and Horn | was never in the ship that was blasted.
Well, that's the simple explanation.
And ordinarily I'd accept it, | but this isn't a simple thing.
A known Free Mars terrorist kills a man | in front of a witness and leaves her alive.
Later he kills another man to get | to that witness and again leaves her alive.
Why? He's squeamish about killing women? Or maybe Talia Winters touched | something in him.
Something that made Horn realize | who he really was for a moment.
I think it's playing havoc | with his programming.
-You almost have me believing this load.
| -I'm not sure I believe it myself.
But if it's true, there should be | a way to locate him.
Command? I'd like to make a transmission | to Ms.
Talia Winters.
Working.
-So you'll meet with me? | -"Yes.
In a half"-"hour?" I'll look forward to it.
-Amanda, I knew you'd help me.
| -Abel, all I did was-- This is a long shot.
My information on Lazarus | is 20 years old but according to the files the computer power crystal emits | a low level of a benign radiation.
It wouldn't ordinarily show up | on the environmental scanners but if we could reconfigure | them to look for it.
-Garibaldi.
| -"Chief, Zack Allan.
" for a business meeting in Red 7.
-With who? | -"Amanda Carter.
" That's a go, Zack.
Come through | Red Alpha.
I'll join you at Point 6.
This is trickier than I thought.
The element is definitely out-of-date.
Why not let the wizard have a go? Now, all we have to do is cross-reference | with the Medlab files find the updated element number log that with e-systems | and, voil�! It's trickier than you thought.
Thanks Mr.
Wizard.
Ms.
Winters, it's not a good idea | to be roaming around the station.
I'm hardly roaming.
No, I guess not.
So, what's up? Amanda Carter wants to pursue | Taro's plan.
I don't know if I can convince | FutureCorp to go along but if I could, it would be | like a memorial for Taro.
They can kill a good man | but not a good idea.
Take your time.
We'll be right here.
Hello? Hello? Ms.
Carter? Ms.
Carter.
Make one sound, and I'll kill you.
That should do it.
Computer, begin scan.
Commencing.
What am I? Tell me! I don't understand.
You're a mindbender.
| You saw it in my head.
Tell me what it means! Tell me! -Pain.
Pain.
| -Yes, pain! Tell me.
Tell me, please.
Please.
Ours now.
All ours.
You were dying.
They operated on you, rebuilt you.
Scanned you.
There was a Psi Cop.
Scan complete.
"Low"-"level ironium radiation detected.
" Red 7, Suite 15.
Suite 15? Amanda Carter.
Garibaldi.
-"Captain?" | -Where's Ms.
Winters? Meeting with Ms.
Carter in her quarters.
but get him alive.
I'm on my way.
Our perp's inside! Jackson, left side.
| Hansen, right.
Watch out for Talia and remember this guy | kills by touch.
Zack, let's get the door.
Ready? Go.
Freeze! I'll fry her.
I swear it.
End of the road, pal.
There's nowhere to go.
-Come on, think about it.
| -Can't think.
Die when I think.
Okay, okay.
-Take it easy.
| -Drop the guns.
Back off.
Do it! You hurt her and I'll see it | takes you 10 days to die.
I'm already dead, Mr.
Security Man.
No, you aren't, Horn.
Now, just listen to me.
They are using you to betray | your own world.
How do you know this? You know it too, Abel.
You can feel the machine crawling | in your brain.
Get out of my way! Let us help you.
That's all we want to do.
You let her go, and we'll help you.
You've died too many times, Abel.
| There's no need to die again.
Good.
Now, put the weapon down.
It was the Earthers, wasn't it? It wasn't enough just to kill me? We'll find out who it was together.
| Just put the gun down.
Mars will never be free until the sands run red | with Earther blood.
Thanks for ending it, Earther.
Damn it.
Captain, I'm reading a dangerous | energy surge from the body.
Get her out of here.
Come on, | everybody out.
Everybody out! Come on! Go now! No trace.
No evidence.
I am very sorry, Ms.
Winters.
Abel said you knew what was wrong | with him.
I was worried about him.
-I didn't think he'd harm you.
| -And how does a Mars Government rep know so much about | a Free Mars terrorist? Abel Horn wasn't always a terrorist.
Fifteen years ago he was | a bright young man utterly devoted to independence | for Mars Colony.
That's when I met him.
Fell in love with him.
He convinced me to join Free Mars.
It wasn't a radical group at the time.
Later, when they began | to become violent, I left them.
I never saw Abel again until today.
Tell me another one.
You can have Ms.
Winters scan me | if you think I'm lying.
Besides, I've already said enough | to ruin my career.
If we report it.
Are you proposing a deal, captain? You said Taro Isogi's plan was | the best hope for Mars.
-Did you mean that? | -Yes.
Then continue to negotiate with | FutureCorp.
Make that happen.
I doubt they'd be interested | after what happened here.
I'll be glad to speak to them for you.
I'll make it clear that your government | had nothing to do with the murder.
I'm sure they'll consider going ahead.
Why? To make sure Taro Isogi's dream | becomes a reality and to keep you | where you can do the most good.
Thank you.
We'll talk later.
Captain, begging your pardon, | but have you gone space happy? She is an accessory to murder | and attempted murder.
Horn wasn't trying to kill me.
| He wanted me to scan him.
There was something in his mind, | controlling him -something he wanted me to find.
| -And did you? I saw an image, some sort | of an operation.
Well, did you recognize anything? | A location, a face, uniform? No.
Take Ms.
Winters to her quarters.
| I'll help lvanova move the traffic out.
Captain.
Mr.
Garibaldi.
Is there something? There's a whole list.
But let's start with how you knew | about the Lazarus Project.
Some people collect coins or art.
I collect secrets.
Black projects, conspiracies, | secret organizations.
They fascinate me.
Does one of those secrets include | who was behind this thing? -It's better you don't ask that.
| -Look, captain you don't trust me the way Jeff | used to, but if there's a threat-- The threat goes far beyond Babylon 5, | Mr.
Garibaldi.
I'm not surprised.
If Horn was what you say he was, then | this has nothing to do with Free Mars.
To pull something like this off would take | a lot of power and a lot of money.
And I think you know who it is.
All right.
But promise me this information will | never be repeated outside this room.
You got it.
For the past six years there have been rumors about a rogue | agency operating deep inside EarthGov.
A dirty-trick squad dealing in black | projects and star chamber justice.
It took me over three years | just to get a name.
Bureau 13.
And the man who gave me that name | died soon after.
I am convinced they exist | and that they are behind this incident.
Why? Isogi was a danger to Earth policy | on Mars.
I think his death was a warning | to the other corporations.
I also think Horn was meant to destroy | Free Mars from the inside and possibly ruin Amanda Carter as well.
Unfortunately -I can't prove any of it.
| -If this is true-- Then everything we believe in | is in jeopardy.
There is a spider in the web, Mr.
Garibaldi.
And I intend to find it and kill it.
Thirteen.
Mission only partly successful.
before he could leave station for Mars.
Is the Bureau at hazard? Control does not believe so.
Belief is not enough.
He is to follow up until he is certain.
Thirteen out.
Scanning files from listed data.
All ours.
Match found.
Babylonian Productions, Inc