“And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place” is episode twenty of season three of Babylon 5.
The episode opens with ‘Z Minus 14 Days’ displayed. Garibaldi is directing people to different destinations and Ivanova starts narrating her personal log, dated December 7th, 2260. She says that they are shipping out telepaths as fast as they can to the races who have signed on against the Shadows. The telepaths will be assigned to warships that are already on patrol. With the Shadow vessels being vulnerable to telepathic interference, Ivanova hopes this will even the odds.
She continues, saying that Sheridan is coordinating the defence of what’s left of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds and rarely leaves the War Room. Ivanova says that the fatigue is getting to him. Dr Franklin is still on walkabout, and no-one has seen him in over a week. She hopes Franklin will find himself soon, as they will need him back in Medlab.
Ivanova may not share the beliefs of Brother Theo and his monks, who arrived at the station in “Convictions”, but since they broke away from Earth, the monks have been a wonderful stabilising force. Ivanova cannot understand how Brother Theo can be annoying one minute then comforting the next. A description that Brother Theo shares with someone else Ivanova knows.
The someone else is G’Kar, who is currently speaking to Ivanova. G’Kar does not consider his request to be difficult; he simply wants to send along one of his Narns as a bodyguard with every telepath sent out. If the telepaths have the value believed, they will need protecting. Ivanova reassures G’Kar that the safety of the telepaths has been guaranteed. He is sure that will be a great comfort to their grief-stricken families when a Shadow agent carves them up into spare body parts. That will not happen if G’Kar’s Narns are around. They are willing to be themselves into great danger, to sacrifice for others and in turn serve themselves. G’Kar concludes, saying that if the symmetry was any more perfect, one of them would break into tears.
Londo is currently talking to Vir about G’Kar. He says that it is time G’Kar was dealt with. Not eventually, as Vir suggests, but now. Vir tells Londo that half of the other races are at war, and that Londo should be concerned what to do about them, about the Centauri, not worried about G’Kar. They have bigger concerns.
Londo tells Vir that big concerns grow from small ones if you neglect them. Vir replies that Sheridan has given G’Kar sanctuary; they can do nothing against G’Kar as long as he is here. To which Londo agrees – as long as G’Kar is here. Londo has found a way to get G’Kar away from the station and back to Narn, where he will be arrested, detained and executed. And Vir is going to help. Vir does not put on a happy face.
Ivanova is waiting for an incoming shuttle when Brother Theo turns up. He says fine and if she hears an odd sound in a few minutes, it will simply be his teeth grinding like tectonic plates. One man who has just arrived tells Theo that he has started already. When it comes to judgements, Brother Theo says in return he will leave them to those better qualified. And less loud. The newcomer says that the Bible says the Lord wants a joyful noise. Theo replies that he has heard him sing, and that is not what the good Lord had in mind by joyful noise.
The newcomer introduces himself to Ivanova as Reverend William Dexter. He is accompanied by Mr Chang, Rashid Abdul and Rabbi Leo Mayers (Erick Avari). Ivanova tells them that temporary quarters have been set up for each of them and Brother Theo says that temporary is a nice word. As they leave, Lord Refa arrives on the station as well.
Delenn arrives in the War Room and goes to speak to Sheridan who is frowning at the display. She tells him that Commander Ivanova sent her to find Sheridan, as he is not sleeping and barely eating. That, according to Ivanova, Sheridan is ‘cranky.’ so Delenn looked up cranky in the dictionary. This led to ‘grouchy.’ Which in turn led to ‘crotchety.’ Delenn tells Sheridan it’s no wonder his culture is eccentric as no word has its own meaning. To understand one word you have to look up another. It never ends.
Sheridan says to Delenn that something here does not make sense. She agrees; that’s what she thought when she came across crotchety. Which cannot be a real word. Sheridan is actually talking about the Shadows. Which Delenn likely knew. The captain says that they are attacking random targets and are very illogical. But when the Shadows actually engage, their attics are very logical and very successful. Which is a contradiction. Delenn suggests that the random attacks are logical in a way they have not yet determined. And says that if Sheridan is sitting here thinking illogically about logic or logically about the illogical it’s no wonder he is cranky. Sheridan ends up giving her a look which results in Delenn saying his face broke the language barrier.
Sheridan says he has not had a good night’s sleep since Kosh died (in “Interludes and Examinations”; there may be a reason for that) and he is having nightmares like Delenn wouldn’t believe. She tells him he needs food and rest and that the humans he was waiting for have arrived. They would like to have dinner with Sheridan – he starts saying he doesn’t have time and they can come to see him here – but Delenn interrupts, saying she told them yes. As Minbari do not lie, except to save another, Delenn’s reputation is now at stake. If Sheridan refuses, Delenn will be publicly dishonoured. Sheridan tells Delenn she doesn’t fight fair; she tells him that dinner is in two standard hours.
Vir arrives in Londo’s quarters to tell him that Lord Refa and Minister Virini have arrived. Londo already knows, and tells Vir to meet him there. Because Londo has an errand he needs Vir to run first. Londo asks Vir if he remembers G’Kar’s aide Na’Toth; Vir says he still has the claw marks. Londo continues, saying that G’Kar was very close to Na’Toth when she was on the station, but lost track of her when the Centauri bombed Narn and assumes she is dead. Londo wants Vir to go to G’Kar and tell him that Na’Toth is alive and being held prisoner in the cells beneath the building that once housed the ruling body of the Narns, the Kha’Ri.
G’Kar is the last of the Kha’Ri still free, so he will be the only one who knows the layout of the cells. Vir asks how G’Kar is going to be able to get to Narn, as every ship is being searched. Londo tells Vir that G’Kar may be annoying, but he is very capable. He will find a way. Vir says that G’Kar will never believe him and Londo says he will. Because he trusts Vir. G’Kar knows that Vir helped his people when he was stationed on Minbar (which came out in “Sic Transit Vir” and trusts him as much as any Narn can trust a Centauri. And Vir has no reason to lie. Vir insists that he won’t do it. Londo tells him he will, because Londo asked, to help their people – and because if Vir doesn’t, Londo will reveal everything Vir did on Minbar and destroy his house. Motivation on multiple levels.
Lord Refa apologises to Minister Virini about the quarters, saying that they are the best the station can do on short notice. Virini tells Refa that the station asked to be recognised by the Centauri, as they believed it would be easier for Babylon 5 to establish their independence. Virini disparagingly comments that he cannot see much to be independent about and wonders why Mollari stays. Refa is of the opinion that Londo is no longer suited for life back home. He has spent too much time amongst aliens and is out of touch.
Virini tells Lord Refa that once the latter claimed Londo as a valuable ally and aligned their houses. This has changed and now their houses are in competition. Virini says that Londo has seen a great influx of funds to his house, and with money comes power. Many have gone over to Londo’s side. Refa retorts that he still has more voices in the Centarum than Londo and iterates all the ways he has served the emperor, including clearing the way to the throne. Virini replies that the emperor appreciates everything that Refa has done, but the division between two of the Centauri’s oldest houses must end. Refa tells the minister he invited him to Babylon 5 so that Virini could see for himself what Londo has become. Virini’s word can alter the balance, if he gives it. Which Virini will – to the side that is most deserving.
Vir visits G’Kar’s quarters and tells the Narn outside that he needs to see G’Kar. To no response. Then G’Kar’s door opens and Vir says that he needs to talk to him. He has information, about Na’Toth. And G’Kar gestures for Vir to enter.
Londo arrives at Virini’s quarters as Lord Refa is leaving. Virini tells Londo that the rivalry between the two houses is destabilising the royal court, that there are ugly rumours about one side or the other using poison. Londo agrees, and tells Virini he assumes that Lord Refa iterated all the ways that Londo cannot be trusted. Virini replies that the emperor has no preference, he merely wants the matter ended. At this point Vir arrives and Londo asks if Vir did what he asked. Vir assents, and Londo tells Virini that the rivalry must end, but with deeds, not words. He will prove the value of House Mollari by ridding the royal court of a problem, an embarrassment. Once Londo is finished, the rivalry will be over once and for all. When they leave, Vir complains to Londo about Londo doing this just to win favour at the royal court and elevate his position. When Vir says that he doesn’t understand, Londo tells him he will.
Sheridan is at the dinner Delenn made him attend. He tells their visitors that, since the station’s ties with EarthGov were cut off and ISN now puts out propaganda, they cannot get reliable news of what is happening on Earth. Reverend Dexter removes some data crystals from his Bible, where he had hidden them. They split the work of gathering information between them and also got underground transmissions. Ivanova asks if the resistance is still alive; the reverend says that Clark wants people to think otherwise, but they are very much alive. When asked how Babylon 5 is being portrayed, he tells them as a bunch of renegades, pirates and traitors working with aliens against Earth. The reverend considered it was worth the risk of this being right.
G’Kar comes to see Garibaldi and says that he is in need of a favour. Once Garibaldi was able to bring a message to the station from Narn and now G’Kar wants something smuggled back. When Garibaldi asks how big this thing is, G’Kar tells him about this big and this wide, indicating himself. Garibaldi asks G’Kar if he means himself and G’Kar confirms it. Garibaldi points out that there is still a warrant for G’Kar’s arrest and he could get shot. G’Kar replies that he must go; it is a personal matter. He just needs a ship to slip in and wait outside the capital city for a few hours. As to when G’Kar wants to go – that would be immediately.
Vir enters a drop tube that already has a Centauri guard in it. Behind Vir’s back, the guard activates something. When the doors open, Vir is rushed by more Centauri and taken to see Lord Refa. Vir tells Refa he didn’t do anything. Refa tells him that he will – he wants to know what Londo’s plans are. Or Vir will not leave the room alive.
Reverend Dexter gives Sheridan some personal advice related to making his life easier. Sheridan is reluctant, but does take heed. When he talks to Delenn in the War Room about thinking like the enemy, the Shadows, Delenn does not appear to consider this a great idea. G’Kar arrives on Narn, the first time since the bombardment, to find that his homeworld is rather a mess. Refa has his own plans to counteract Londo’s; the problem is, Londo’s plans are more complex than Refa believes.
The episode started at Z Minus 15 Days. It ends at Z Minus 10 Days. Something is getting closer. But what?