ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. LIANDRA - BRIDGE
Martel is sat in the Command Chair. The others are scattered around the bridge, Sarah and Kitaro are also at the main console. Martel is talking to Cortana, who is displayed on the holographic matrix.
MARTEL (Angrily points towards the display)
If you EVER! try something like that again I'll have your First Officer blow you out the nearest air lock.
CORTANA
She wouldn't dare! Why don't you come over here and do it David?
MARTEL (His facing finally cracking into a smile and he begins to laugh)
Ha-ha. Very funny Elvis. I guess we'll have to start a new game of chess next time, and next time try not to get mad and cheat ok?
CORTANA (Shrugging and smiling)
You know me David.
MARTEL
That's the problem, everyone else that knows you are smart enough not to play you.
Cortana opens his mouth to reply but his head suddenly turns to the left, as if he's receiving word from someone next to him.
KITARO
Captain.
MARTEL
Guess I'm going to hear the same warning as Elvis? What have we found in the void of hyperspace?
KITARO
(Very frankly)No sir.
(beat)
We've reached the Babylon 5 Beacon.
Martel smiles and nods, trying not to laugh and notice Sarah's appropriate look.
Martel turns back to Cortana, who has done the same
MARTEL & CORTANA (Together)
Well...
(beat)
MARTEL
Yeah.
The transmission ends with Cortana's holographic image fading away downwards.
Martel stands up and puts on his "serious face".
MARTEL
Playtime is over unfortunately. Kit, jump.
EXT. BABYLON 5
The CAMERA opens on a similar Babylon 5 establishing shot as we saw before.
We HEAR the jump gate out of shot begin to power up and open. After this the CAMERA pans right as the PANDORA, WHITESTAR and LIANDRA exit hyperspace and come through the jump gate.
INT. LIANDRA - BRIDGE
KITARO
Transmission being received from the station Captain.
MARTEL
It's probably just our welcome shout.
KITARO
It can't be sir, it's from the station's Green Sector.
MARTEL
(speaking the second Kitaro had finished)Ambassadorial Quarters.
Sarah gives Martel a "little startled look", rather shocked he knew what each sector of Babylon 5 was.
MARTEL (Ignoring the looks) (CONT'D)
I can guess who that is. Put it through.
G'kar's smiley face appears on the holographic matrix.
G'KAR
Ah Captain. I know you said you'd stop by next time but I didn't think it would be this soon.
MARTEL
Sorry to drop in unannounced G'kar, but matters of galactic importance bring us here.
G'KAR
I was afraid of that. Will you be coming aboard?
MARTEL
That's the plan. Apparently there might be an Isaahi aboard and -
G'KAR (Raising his hand gently)
(interrupting) Do you remember what I told you?
MARTEL
Yes. No one here is exactly what they seem.
G'KAR
Remember that and you should be fine.
MARTEL
Should be?
G'KAR
Don't worry. I have many friends here. We'll help you search for the individual in question.
MARTEL
Thank you G'kar.
G'KAR
I'll be meeting with you in the Docking Bay then Captain.
MARTEL
(Semi Sarcastically)Can't wait.
The transmission ends and G'kar disappears into holographic nothingness.
Martel looks over to Kit.
MARTEL
Have us moved within shuttling distance and prep a shuttle.
KITARO
Aye sir.
MARTEL
Sarah.
Sarah looks up from her console.
MARTEL (CONT'D)
Have the Pandora and Whitestar been hailed?
SARAH (Taps the controls)
If they have our scanners haven't picked up any transmissions.
MARTEL
Wonder why none of us have been greeted yet.
INT. BABYLON 5 - BRIDGE
The Bridge layout is totally unchanged from what we saw in "Babylon 5 Season 5" and "A River of Souls"
The main console, where Lieutenant Corwin usually operates and greets new arrivals is on fire. The entire front of the bridge is ablaze. Lieutenant Corwin, Captain Lochley and a nondescript BRIDGE OFFICER are fighting the blaze with fire extinguishers.
The rest of the bridge staff look on half ready to act.
LOCHLEY
That is the last time -
(Uses extinguisher)
That I let you -
(Uses extinguisher)
Bring damned a hot fry up onto the bridge.
(Uses extinguisher)
Even if it is for my Birthday.
CORWIN
Sorry Captain.
(Uses extinguisher)
Next time I'll bring you flowers.
LOCHLEY
Anything would be preferable -
(Uses extinguisher on the last of the fire)
Than THAT.
The three put the extinguishers down and the awaiting horde of engineers move in on the blackened mess and begin to work.
The CAMERA follows Lochley and Corwin as they step over towards the Captain's communication console area at the rear.
Lochley works a few controls.
LOCHLEY
Least only the main scanner control was damaged. Not the scanners themselves.
(Fiddles a bit more)
(sarcastically)Hmmm, a quiet day.
CORWIN
Nothing arrived Captain?
LOCHLEY (Looks at Corwin is faked despair)
Three Ranger ships have arrived, plus an the Asimov is ready to receive its shuttles back.
CORWIN
Sorry Captain.
LOCHLEY
And I thought the riot had done enough damage.
(beat)
All the sorrys in the galaxy won't make up for this Lieutenant, what will though is dealing with these new arrivals.
Lochley moves aside and lets Corwin slip into the small captain's communication area where he sets about contacting the Asimov's shuttles. We can hear him talking in the background as Lochley moves away towards the bridge exit and relaxes against the big "B5 Logo".
Wait a couple of BEATS before,
Ta'Lon, G'kar's replacement as Ambassador to Babylon 5, enters through the main entrance and comes up to Lochley.
Lochley's facial expression doesn't change, but his body language shows frustration at her relaxation being distracted.
TA'LON
Captain Lochley.
LOCHLEY
(Trying to quell irritability)Yes Ta'Lon?
TA'LON
Both myself and Citizen G'kar need to speak with you on a matter of some urgency.
LOCHLEY
Is it that urgent?
TA'LON
If it was not would I have come to request your audience in person?
LOCHLEY
I get what you mean.
(beat)
I think.
TA'LON
It's a rather sensitive matters regarding the Ranger ships that have just arrived.
LOCHLEY
What? You... never mind, I not even going to ask how G'kar got access to the external sensors.
TA'LON
He has spent a lot of time here Captain.
LOCHLEY
Very well. Lead the way.
Ta'Lon gives a slight bow and leads Lochley out of the Bridge entrance.
INT. B5 - G'KAR'S QUARTERS
G'kar's quarters have remained unchanged since he was there during "Babylon 5 Season 1-5".
G'kar is sat behind his desk, Martel is sat opposite. Cortana, Dulann and Ranger Captain are stood near abouts.
MARTEL
So G'kar you can help us?
G'KAR
If you had dropped me a line before you had arrived I could've began research. However you have caught me a little unawares.
MARTEL
Apologies G'kar. But we're under orders to be discreet.
There is a chime at the door.
G'KAR
Enter.
Ta'Lon leads Lochley inside the now rather crowded quarters.
G'KAR (CONT'D)
I told you before Ta'Lon you don't need to knock.
TA'LON
My apologies G'kar, I have brought Captain Lochley as requested.
G'KAR (Rising and moving to welcome Lochley)
Excellent, Excellent.
(beat)
(pointing appropriately)This is Captain Martel. This is his First Officer Dulann. This is Captain Cortana and -
LOCHLEY
(interrupting) With all due respect can we please skip the introductions. I have a station to run and it's falling apart without me.
G'KAR
Are we still feeling the shocks after the riot?
LOCHLEY
Well apart from Zack we've mostly recovered from the riot. But this particular incident was caused by Lieutenant Corwin and a fried breakfast he brought to me on the bridge as a birthday surprise.
G'KAR
I did not know it was your birthday, congratulations.
LOCHLEY
Thank you. It was a nice gesture, if only the Lieutenant had split the hot food into the mechanics... it caused a rather sizable fire.
G'KAR
I see. I hope no casualties were involved?
LOCHLEY
None fortunately. The engineering crews are working now to fix the damaged computer systems. Though traffic is going to start backing up soon.
G'KAR
Then I will not detain you a moment longer than we have to. I merely wish to...
CORTANA
(interrupting)Captain. I assume as you're part of Earth Force and not the Rangers you are not aware of an ancient race called The Hand?
LOCHLEY (Slightly flustered)
The Hand? Not that I can recall.
MARTEL
If your relationship with the President no so strong Captain we could not tell you what were about to.
RANGER CAPTAIN
We can't reveal everything to you Captain. But what we can say is that The Hand are being considered the most dangerous threat to peace since the Shadows. We three and our vessels are on an intelligence gathering mission.
MARTEL
And we've come here seeking such intelligence.
LOCHLEY
Well I -
MARTEL
(interrupting) We know you have had an Isaahi citizen aboard the station recently.
LOCHLEY
Yes. I had an enquiry about that from the President himself... but our records were destroyed in the recent riot and we have no idea whether that individual remains aboard or not.
CORTANA
We need your assistance in ascertaining whether he is or not Captain. And if so, locating him.
MARTEL
We need your permission to have free roam of the station.
LOCHLEY
Of course, I'll inform my Security Chief to assist you in any way possible.
CORTANA
Thank you Captain that would be a great help.
LOCHLEY
If this is important enough for Joh... the President to request information from me PERSONALLY then I have to take it seriously!
MARTEL
Time is of the essence I'm afraid.
G'KAR
Let us get to work.
Close up on G'kar as we cut,
INT. B5 - DOWN BELOW
The Standard Down Below Corridor as seen in many episodes of the "Babylon 5" series.
The corridor is quite wide. Junk and bodies sleeping are littered along either wall yet there is still plenty of room for two or three people to walk side by side along the corridor.
Martel, Dulann and a B5 Security Officer called Jenkins are making their way along.
JENKINS
Seesh, why did you guys simply have to come down here?
DULANN
We are searching for an Isaahi by the name Kas'Kah.
JENKINS
I know that, but what makes you think he's down here?
MARTEL (His overall sense is uneasy)
The last remaining records that survived after the Security Databank was destroyed in the recent riot indicated this was the last known whereabouts of Kas'Kah.
JENKINS
Yeah but that was -
(Steps over a laid down Lurker)
- four days ago. What makes you think he's still down here? Or for that matter still on the station?
DULANN
I am certain of it.
JENKINS (Puzzled face)
And -
MARTEL
He's just like that. He can sense these things.
JENKINS (Starts to get a little weary)
He's a tele -
MARTEL (Cuts across Jenkins and points down a long corridor)
(interrupting) What's down there?
JENKINS (Lifting his touch and shining it down the darkened corridor)
There? Well... err... I'm not really sure.
DULANN
I shall lead.
Dulann confidently takes point and Jenkins and Martel follow in suit. The CAMERA is set a little way down the corridor and is facing back on the trio as they approach. They pass the CAMERA and we're left looking at the corridor where they were just standing. After a BEAT we see a Drazi dressed in long robes acting in classic cliché shadowing of the trio motion as we,
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT TWO