View from the Abyss

by OR7A

Babylon 5: The Lost Tales. Two tales told in a slice of the Babylon 5 universe. The year is 2263 and there's a telepath war looming.

7. In the Light, Act Three

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

EXT. PLANETARY ORBIT

An establisher on the Titans and Sukann is followed by a wide PAN shot of a small Earth shuttle being launched from the Titans and heading down toward the planet.

INT. SHUTTLE

The interior is similar to all those shuttle insides we've seen before in the series. (Perhaps use parts from Raider interior?)

Lyta is inside alone.

IVANOVA (O. COMM.)

You're sure it's wise to go down there alone? Without an escort? I have plenty of able bodied marines just sat up here waiting for some action.

LYTA
It's a gracious offer Captain, but to be perfectly honest I'm surprised there isn't more booby traps in orbit to destroy me, you and the raiders – so there's got to be some down here.

IVANOVA

And you're presumed because you were – were – altered by the Vorlons these booby traps won't effect you?

LYTA

Well either that. Or it's only me that dies. I don't want to risk anybody else's life in my quest.

IVANOVA

Talia was my friend Lyta. Never underestimate what I'd be willing to do for a friend.

LYTA
I know I didn't know her the way you did Captain, but –

There is a few chirps from her computer. Lyta attempts to find out there source.

IVANOVA

Is everything alright Lyta?

LYTA

I don't know.

(beat)(Fiddles with controls)

I'm detecting – Well I'm not sure what.

EXT. PLANETARY ORBIT

Lyta's shuttle is slowly descending into the dark green haze that surrounds the planet below. All of a sudden the shuttle disappears – the effect should be like a phasing out, molecule, by molecule.

Over which we HEAR,

IVANOVA

Lyta? Lyta?!

(beat)

This is EAS Titans to shuttle, are you receiving me?!

INT. SHUTTLE

She isn't fighting the process, she can sense that whatever the Vorlons have left behind is going to take good care of her.

LYTA

I mean no harm, or disrespect by coming to this place.

VORLON VOICE (Kosh clone)

You do not belong.

LYTA

I know I don't. No human, not even those chosen by you to serve your purposes, truly belong this side of the Vorlon border.

(beat)

Am I speaking to the last of the Vorlon people? Or somekind of recording?

Suddenly the screens go black. The CAMERA turns around to find Lyta stood in a large black room. Only she is illuminated; but a single bright white light.

VORLON VOICE
Who are you?

LYTA (A small smile at the familiar question)

Lyta. Lyta Alexander. Personal aid to Kosh Navanek.

VORLON VOICE
Kosh.

LYTA

Yes. I was chosen by him to serve him before he passed on Babylon 5 three years ago.

VORLON VOICE

We are all Kosh.

LYTA

These are all things you've said to me before! Am I really talking to a Vorlon? To a Vorlon device left here to protect this planet's treasures? Or am I just dreaming… my shuttle's had an accident entering the storm filled atmosphere on this gas giant and I'm hallucinating?

VORLON VOICE

The borders between reality and fiction have always been blurred in this place.

LYTA

See, that's a new one. I haven't heard that before, from the real Kosh, or Ulkosh.

VORLON VOICE
Who are you?

LYTA

A person with a mission. My name is Lyta Alexander. I am here because I know you have something here that will aid my cause greatly.

She pauses for a BEAT, there is no response.

LYTA (CONT'D)

I know it's here! Four years ago Kosh took an interest in a human named Talia Winters: I guess he took an interest in a lot of telepaths – with you guys creating our gene pool and all.

(beat)

But even with all his power Kosh didn't realize Talia was part of the Psi Corps' sleeper program. Her true personality was on the surface, whilst a second personality: a sinister personality worked behind her closed eyelids during the night, gathering information that would've been useful to Psi Corps and to President Clark's agenda.

(beat)

Fortunately for the army of light on Babylon 5 I arrived, fresh from my bout of treatments at the hands of you Vorlons, with the knowledge that someone on Babylon 5 was a traitor. We just didn't know who. I played a game, and Talia turned out to be that traitor. Her programmed personality resurfaced and the Talia that could have helped my cause died.

(beat)

I need her back. I need that original Talia back, she is more valuable to me: to my kind now, than she would have ever have been to the Vorlons during the Shadow War.

(beat)

And I know Kosh made a copy of her. Of her mind. It was one of the first things he did to me: and it would have been one of the first things he did to her as well.

A second light joins the darkened room. It begins at first as a small dot on the floor, but expands to create enough standing room for a person.

Lyta's father steps out of the darkness and into the light.

LYTA'S FATHER (In Vorlon Voice.)

Your cause: Is irrelevant.

Lyta is unsurprised at the arrival of characters from her past. There is very little the Vorlons do that surprises her.

LYTA

Irrelevant? IRRELEVANT?! Your people created us! Created telepaths amongst the younger races to serve your purpose! To serve as soldiers in your never-ending war against the Shadows! Your people were supposed to help the younger races develop, but not by altering us to better serve you!

(beat)

You created us, and now you've left us here in our own mess!

(beat)

I haven't been to Earth in a very long time. But I have contacts that have. The speak of a war coming, a crisis looming: and it will be fought between my kind, the kind breed by you, and the mundanes, the normals who just don't understand.

(beat)

Will you not take responsibility for your actions and help me?

LYTA'S FATHER
How do You know what you seek is here?

LYTA

Yes! You aren't going to fob me off that easy. I've been inside a Vorlon's mind. I got pretty good at it towards the end. I managed to skim the surface, only the surface of Kosh's mind: that's how I found out about this place. The Vorlon safe deposit box – snug and secure where only a Vorlon would know to look and where only a Vorlon would dare go.

Lyta's father disappears into the darkness, a second person steps into the second beam of light. An elderly woman: Lyta's mother.

LYTA'S MOTHER
Your

LYTA

Mum…

LYTA'S MOTHER

Is the Psi Corps so bad Lyta?

LYTA

You're not my mother.

LYTA'S MOTHER

Aren't I? They never did tell you what happened to your mother? Fifth in the Alexander generations of telepaths.

LYTA

No… You can't be.

LYTA'S MOTHER

Come and join me. Sit with me.

As she speaks a third light appears, and an old looking park bench appears. The CAMERA pulls back to reveal this and it's proximity to our characters.

The CAMERA cuts to Lyta's expression, but when we return to the wide shot that should have had Lyta and her mother standing in front of the bench, Lyta's mother is now sat upon the bench.

Shrugging she joins what could be her mother.

LYTA

Yes. The Psi Corps is one of the most evil organisations on Earth! It's corruption kept Earth out of the Shadow War, no doubt causing great outrage to our Vorlon friends and has ruined the lives of countless telepaths.

LYTA'S MOTHER

Should telepathy not be regulated? To keep safe the secrets of the mundanes?

LYTA

To breed more powerful telepaths for the Vorlon's war?

(beat)

No you aren't my mother. She honestly believed in the virtues of Psi Corps, the old Psi Corps. I'm glad she never lived to see what it become. What Bester, and people like him made it.

(beat)

Lyta rises to her feet, she is done talking to this Vorlon apparition.

LYTA (CONT'D)

And what I want! Is Talia's personality!

The bench disappears, her mother disappears and all the lights but the one surrounding Lyta disappears.

VORLON VOICE
You have answered the wrong question.

The room, if you can call it that (!!), begins to shake. She has answered the shadow's question: "What do you want?"

LYTA (Steadying herself)

So that's it? The benevolent Vorlons are just going to cast out another one of their children into the abyss.

(beat)

Who am I? WHO AM I? I am the instrument of vengeance. I am the instrument of peace. I am the instrument of telepath's salvation. Byron started us on the road, and now I will lead our people to a new homeland: free of Psi Corps tyranny, free of mundane wars, mundane politics.

(beat)

I am Lyta Alexander – and you are in my way.

Suddenly the rumbling stops. Lyta's eyes goes black (Close up on this).

LYTA (CONT'D)

They say eventually the student will surpass the master. I was hoping it wasn't going to come to this. But you Vorlons never play fair. You're like children, who don't want to share their toys. Well this student… just surpassed her teachers.

WE FADE TO WHITE:

INT. SUKANN - SHUTTLE

Suddenly Lyta is back in her shuttle. Infront of her is a vast sea of white. The only point is a small floating, glowing orb. The colours inside are Yellow and Black. It is the orb from the first story, found in Talia's quarters.

The orb floats through the windowpane of the shuttle and settles itself on Lyta's passenger seat. The CAMERA can follow Lyta's POV for this sequence.

VORLON VOICE

You will leave this place.

LYTA

I've gotten what I came for, I'll never need to return to this place.

VORLON VOICE

You are at a crossroads. Two paths stretch out before you. Down one is life. Down the other is death.

A BEAT for emphasis, close-up on Lyta's face.

VORLON VOICE

When you leave this place you will have already chosen a path. Decide wisely.

Lyta looks at the orb. She has what she's come for and be damned with the consequences.

EXT. PLANTARY ORBIT

We can just SEE the Titans and Sukann in shot.

Suddenly the shuttle bursts out of orbit.

IVANOVA (Over Comm.)

EAS Titans to shuttle. Are you receiving me? Lyta. What happened? Where have you been? Your shuttle disappeared off scanners for half an hour.

INT. SHUTTLE

LYTA (To Ivanova)

I'm sorry Captain.

IVANOVA

It's okay, we were just getting worried. I was concerned for you, and the quartermaster was concerned about his shuttle.

(beat)

Did you find what you were looking for? Did you find her?

LYTA

I did.

IVANOVA

That's great! Come back aboard, we'll escort you back to – to – well, wherever you need to go next.

LYTA
That won't be necessary Captain.

EXT. SHUTTLE

Instead of heading to dock with the Titans as expected, the shuttle veers off course and toward the Sukann.

The opening exterior CAMERA angle should suggest the shuttle is headed uneventfully back to the Titans, making its course alteration a surprise.

The shuttle disappears under the Sukann as we CUT,

INT. SHUTTLE

The lightening is darker, as if the nature light from the nearby star is now blocked by the Sukann's shadow.

The CAMERA shakes, to indicate the shuttle has docked with the Minbari vessel.

COMPUTER VOICE

Shuttle docked. Hatch pressurized.

Lyta undoes her straps, but we cut before the need for a Zero-Gravity shot.

EXT. PLANETARY ORBIT

The scene is as before, except the shuttle is not visible because it's hidden underneath the Sukann.

IVANOVA

What?! Lyta, what are you doing?

INT. SUKANN – CORRIDOR

The lights are low to hide detail inaccuracy and add to the feel of a rundown under-maintaining vessel. Lyta is walking down with purpose, the CAMERA is in front of her. She is carefully carrying the orb.

LYTA

I said sorry Captain. You've been very helpful. Thank you for fending off those raiders, and thank your quartermaster for the loan of the shuttle. But I have a destiny to fulfil, a people to save.

(beat)

My people.

INT. SUKANN – BRIDGE

We cut to a show of the bridge. Lyta enters and immediately sits at her console. A holographic display pops up showing the Sukann and Titans.

LYTA

Computer, set a course for pre-set coordinates. Open a jump point and make best speed.

EXT. PLANETARY ORBIT

The Sukann suddenly moves off at great speed.

IVANOVA (Over Comm.)

LYTA! LYTA!

A jump point opens and the Sukann disappears.

The CAMERA watches it go from behind the Titans.

IVANOVA

It's a good job we got our crew off before she returned.

(beat)

Where is she headed?

TITANS TECH

Based on the ship's trajectory and the analysis we took of her ship's computer before she left, and the likely targets on those vectors I conjecture she's headed to –

IVANOVA

Babylon 5.

INT. SUKANN – BRIDGE

Lyta slumps back into her seat, holding the orb she received from the Vorlon world in her hands.

She looks at it closely. We can kill some time with a CGI play of the orb's interior swaying about, the black and yellow twisting and playing too and fro.

LYTA

I hope it was worth it.

(beat)
I hope she is worth it.

VORLON VOICE (Now just an echo)

You are at a crossroads. Two paths stretch out before you. Down one is life. Down the other is death.

(beat)

When you leave this place you will have already chosen a path. Decide wisely.

LYTA

Have I already chosen my path? Or has my path been chosen for me? Oh Byron – I don't know. I'm just trying to do right. Things have to change back home, for the better. Our people will have your vision realized… a colony of telepaths, where we're free from Psi Corps, free from people like Bester. And free from the Mundanes.

WE hang on this relation. That it is not Psi Corps she's angry at, but all those who are not her kind. This is what we've seen throughout the DVD; she is a different person now than the one we SAW in The Gathering, even different to what we SEE in Season Three.

LYTA

And so it begins.

INT. BABYLON 5 – TALIA'S QUARTERS

Talia is where we left her at the end of the first story. Listening to Lyta's recording. The CAMERA can be set at anywhere as WE know it is Lyta leaving the message.

LYTA (On RECORDING)

If you're playing this, then you must be Talia Winters. I doubt anyone else could've known the password Ivanova put on your quarters. I only knew of course because – well, because she told me.

(beat)

I've gone a long way to find YOU Talia. Because you are more important to my cause, than to yours.

(beat)

You don't believe me? Well maybe I'll just explain to you the lengths I went to find you. A trip into Vorlon space, one that nearly cost me and my travelling companion our lives. One that forced me to betray a friend, one of the last of the people who actually trusted me. But I know this isn't going to be a wasted trip. You are one of us Talia, not one of them. You are the key. I know what you are. I know about your gifts. I know about Jason Ironheart, the powers he bestowed upon you. And I know you are probably one of the few telepath's who's powers could rival even my own Vorlon enhanced powers.

(beat)

I went to Vorlon space to find you Talia. And I succeeded. Kosh knew you were important, whether he thought you would be important to him and his people's plans, or he knew the real struggle that was coming, I'm not sure. He made a copy of your personality, a copy of what made you: YOU.

(beat)

I went after it because I see you as a sister in arms. A friend. A comrade. An ally in the struggle we both know is coming. When you finish this come and find me, you will know where.

(beat)
I will be waiting.

Throughout we can cut between Lyta's recording and Talia's dismissive reaction.

The recording ends and the Babcom logo reappears on the screen.

The CAMERA looks back on Talia, and past her to the bedroom. In the BG we can SEE the orb, brought back by Lyta and left in Talia's quarters is raising itself up out of it's box.

Talia laughs off Lyta's words and turns around, just as the orb comes towards her and enters her body.

Talia gasps. It is not a painful experience, but the shock of this apparently glass item becoming one with her body is enough to produce a gasp.

We hold on this for a BEAT, Talia eventually relaxes, and closes her eyes. When she reopens them we have a CLOSE-UP of her teary eyed face. Tears soon flood down her face.

She just stands there for a BEAT before running from her quarters.

INT. BABYLON 5 – BLUE SECTOR – CORRIDORS

In a tearful furious rush she runs down the corridors of Blue Sector. We can reuse the sets, using different CAMERA angles and wall layouts to simulate a changing scene.

Eventually she runs into someone. A Figure: all we see at first is the rear of an Earth Force uniform.

Talia looks up into the person's eyes. The CAMERA reveals it as Ivanova.

WINTERS

What have I done? Susan – the things I've done: the things I've said. To you, to Michael… everyone here. The things I've done to all those innocent people, the things I did in the name of the Corps. How can I live with myself knowing what I've done?

IVANOVA

Talia? It's really you isn't it.

WINTERS
Lyta – She – She restored my personality. She found it –

IVANOVA

I know. I know.

WINTERS

How can I ever live with myself now? I'm a monster! A Monster!

IVANOVA

YOU weren't responsible for those atrocities Talia. It was a different you. That personality Psi Corps embedded in your subconscious, the real Talia Winters… is looking at me right now.

WINTERS
How can you be sure? Maybe this is the personality I was given as a cover.

IVANOVA (Shaking her head)

No! No!

WINTERS

How can you be sure?

IVANOVA

Because I'm a latent telepath Talia –

WINTERS

You?

IVANOVA

I'm probably not even a P1, but –

(beat)

It's why I understand.

WINTERS

Understand what?

IVANOVA

Where you have to go. Who you have to meet. And what you have to do.

WINTERS

Susan I –

IVANOVA

As soon as I made a report back to EarthGov I received new orders. I'm to bring you in, apprehend you, ready for Bester – or some other Psi Cop to come to Babylon 5 to take you back to Earth, or Syria Planum, or wherever they take telepaths.

(beat)
But I owe it to you.

WINTERS

What are you saying?

IVANOVA

I didn't find you here in this corridor Talia. I never saw you. I arrived on Babylon 5, checked in with Security Chief Allen and went in search of you. But you were already gone… who knows, maybe you were even smuggled out by the underground.

Talia just looks at Ivanova. They take a few steps apart. Talia goes to leave, takes one last look back at Ivanova before disappearing round a corner.

We CLOSE UP on Ivanova's face, as we see a single tear roll down her cheek.

WINTERS (Telepathically)

Thank you. I owe you my life.

IVANOVA (Orally)

We may meet again Talia, but I pray not. Because we're likely to be on opposite sides.

(beat)

Good luck Talia Winters.

INT. BABYLON 5 – DOWN BELOW

A few hooded figures are milling about. Talia is walking along, her tears gone but she is still upset.

Suddenly she stops. A more prominent figure is stood at the end of the corridor. The figure drops her hood back to reveal her as Lyta.

At this point several other hooded figures appear behind Lyta, and throw back their hoods to reveal them as the telepaths we saw earlier.

LYTA
Welcome Talia Winters. To the future.

Talia walks toward her kin. As we,

FADE TO BLACK:

END OF ACT THREE

END OF SHOW