“Convictions” is episode two of season three of Babylon 5.
Garibaldi is speaking to a couple of Drazi who say they are missionaries. The Drazi higher being was seen on the station – actually Ambassador Kosh in “The Fall of Night” – which is why they have come. Garibaldi is approached by Ivanova, who wants a word with him, so he leaves Zack to explain the… missionary position. The Drazi start touching Zack and when he asks why they say that everything on the station is blessed after the appearance of the higher being. Touching shares the blessing. Zack doesn’t want to be touched, so he suggests the Drazi touch a nearby plant, claiming that it was in the garden when the higher being appeared and moreover was closer, hence more blessed.
Ivanova tells Garibaldi that three anonymous messages have been received by C&C in the last four hours. The first stated that ‘Chaos is three hours away’ then it went to two, then one. Then nothing. In Down Below, lurkers are looking for something to sell when one finds an open cage of some type. He goes inside, two doors swing closed and something explodes.
Back in the docking bay, Zack tells another security officer that they need ten more guys sending to Downbelow to help deal with the explosion. First he needs to deal with another shipment; a group of monks led by a Brother Theo, who says that they are going to be staying for a while.
In Downbelow Sheridan is talking to Garibaldi. The chief says that so far they have four dead but Dr Franklin says there might be live ones in the wreckage, so they’re being careful. Sheridan wants to know what could have caused the explosions and Garibaldi tells him that there are a lot of things that could go wrong here. The chief isn’t going to rule out a bombing though, not the way things have been going recently. However, Garibaldi says that nine times out of ten bombings are political statements, but there’s nothing worth blowing up down here.
Ivanova arrives at a conference room to deal with Brother Theo. Theo knows why she was delayed and wants to know if there’s anything he and his brothers can do to help. Ivanova tells him not currently. Brother Theo explains that his brothers have applied to Earthdome for permanent residential status on Babylon 5. Ivanova tells him that not many people live on the station; she is stationed here and most who do live here work here. Theo explains that they have studied Babylon 5 carefully and decided that the station is perfect for their needs.
Theo and his brothers wish to learn and teach. As God sees everything, he would not have abandoned alien worlds, even if he goes by many different names. They wish to learn all the names of God. Visiting all the alien worlds would take centuries but they can accomplish the same task on the station in a mere four or five decades. The monks are patient. Ivanova tells Theo that they can’t harass the aliens; he replies that they will simply be there to talk to for those who wish to talk. Ivanova’s next response is that the station doesn’t have much space. Brother Theo says the monks do not need a lot and will live in Downbelow. They will earn their way, as they have in-demand experts in many technical fields. Ivanova wants to know why, if these experts are in demand, they are here. Theo tells her that they also have faith. Ivanova, try as she might, is not going to be able to talk Brother Theo out of staying.
Garibaldi finds the source of the blast, but there is nothing in the area that would cause it. So, a bomb. Lennier is waiting in the docking bays and is being spoken at by a human, who might be drunk. Lennier finally tells the man he is heading home to put his affairs in order as he only has seven days to live. He claims he has a disease that he has never heard of, which is passed by physical contact. This causes the man to leave and Lennier promises to do penance later.
Lennier was actually waiting for Delenn, who arrives with Londo close behind. As the two are exiting, there is an explosion. Lennier manages to get both Delenn and Londo to safety, but is himself trapped on the other side of a pressure door as the explosions continue.
Garibaldi says that the second explosion was the same type of device, and that the bomber seems to be targeting people. the explosive is similar to plastique and is available from a number of commercial manufacturers. Like all such explosives, they are embedded with something that allows the manufacturer to be identified. Garibaldi doesn’t believe either the Home Guard or Free Mars are involved.
The halls are going to be cleared of groups larger than ten to reduce the bomber’s targets. G’Kar corners Garibaldi and blames the Centauri whilst Londo does the same with Sheridan and blames the Narns. The captain doesn’t want anyone using the bombs to their political advantage but Londo replies that there is nothing political about the truth. Sheridan tells Ivanova that they need to figure out what the message means and who is trying to send it.
Londo goes to see Lennier in Medlab. Lennier is in a coma and Londo has heard that talking to patients in a coma can help. Londo may not be able to do much, but he can talk. Whether or not what he is saying makes sense is a different story. Brother Theo and his monks do prove to be useful and G’Kar and Londo get to spend some quality time together, a situation that G’Kar finds far more amusing than Londo does.