“Grey 17 is Missing” is episode nineteen of season three of Babylon 5.
Zack is sitting behind a desk interviewing people. The current interviewee says his name is Harry Sanders. When asked if he is a telepath, Sanders says yes, and asks what the job pays. Zack replies that it’s more of an adventure than a job, a chance to fight the bad guys. Sanders wants to know where it’s an hourly or a weekly salary; he has expenses. Zack says that if Sanders is a telepath, he must be with the Psi Corps. Sanders says they missed him. Zack replies that they don’t miss anyone. Sanders states he fell through the cracks. Zack replies that Psi Corps doesn’t have any cracks. Sanders says he escaped; where does he sign. So Zack asks Sanders what he, Zack, is thinking. Sanders replies he doesn’t work for free then, when pressed, waves his hands around. Clearly, he isn’t a telepath. Sanders says that he really needs the job and he can learn, he’s a quick study. Does he grasp what a telepath actually is? When Zack gets rid of him Sanders complains that it’s not what you can do, it’s who you know. Well, in this case it really is what you can do.
Sheridan asks Ivanova how recruiting is going; she tells him slowly. They are sorting through files and conducting interviews. but she hates being this open about it. Sheridan replies that they need as many telepaths as that can get to take on the Shadows. Which is another problem. Ivanova says that as soon as telepaths learn that part they quit instantly. Sheridan brings up another possibility. Franklin used to be running an underground railroad for telepaths escaping the Psi Corps; there may be some of those willing to help. Ivanova believes that Franklin will probably have deleted his files to prevent anyone else using the information and he’s still on walkabout – as Franklin explained to Garibaldi in the previous episode, “Walkabout”. Still, Ivanova continues, despite the station’s size it’s not like anyone can hide out for very long. Which is probably a bit of foreshadowing. In another part of the station, a maintenance worker is in an open hatch in the floor. He contacts control and says he can’t find the problem. Supposedly there is a dead power relay in Grey 16, but they are all working. He’s told to keep looking, and the link is ended. Then something drags the worker down through the hatch.
On Minbar, Delenn is being thanked for coming by Rathenn. He says the loss of Ranger One – Sinclair; he wasn’t lost, he became the Minbari Valen in “War Without End: Part Two” and went back a thousand years – is a great loss. Delenn asks if Sinclair said anything before he left and Rathenn replies that Sinclair gave him his thanks, as that was all he had to give. Lennier arrives, saying that he finished going over his room and found only this – a box with such as Sinclair’s Earth Alliance and Ranger badges in. Rathenn tells them that Sinclair had very few possessions. Sinclair gave the strangest feeling that he was only visiting this life and did not want to be overly burdened by it. Delenn replies that she will send these to Sinclair’s family.
Rathenn continues, saying that the loss of Ranger One leaves one last issue – his replacement. The Rangers need a leader to guide and inspire them. It is a great responsibility. Delenn tells Rathenn that she has absolute confidence in him. He replies that he was thinking more of Delenn. He doesn’t believe the Rangers will rally behind anyone else. Delenn says that the Rangers are training on Minbar and her place is on Babylon 5. To which Rathenn replies that the Rangers were here because he was here; where Delenn is, the Rangers will be. They need her.
Garibaldi is polishing a revolver when Zack comes in, apologising for being late. He was held up in Grey Sector due to a weird report. Then sees what the chief asks and asks if it’s what he thinks it is. Garibaldi replies that it’s a Smith & Wesson .38 calibre revolver; it belonged to his grandmother when she worked for Boston PD. A slug thrower Zack replies, and asks if they still make ammo for them. Garibaldi says yes, but not as much as they used to, not since EarthForce made all sidearms PPGs. Wanting something that would burn through flesh without punching a hole in a wall (which is a very important thing when the other side of the wall may be a vacuum and does explain why the weapons hit objects and do no damage yet kill people). According to Garibaldi, they are still used for private security and target practice back on Earth.
The chief asks what the weird report was. Zack tells him that there were dead power relays and maintenance sent someone to check it out. Garibaldi asks if the worker fixed it and Zack says he did. Garibaldi agrees – that is unusual. Anyway, the guy that maintenance sent disappeared. Garibaldi says it’s a closed station, where can someone go. They found the missing man’s gear but no trace of him. Garibaldi tells Zack that he will go and check it out; he likes mysteries but hates Grey Sector, for there’s always something about it.
Ivanova is looking for Franklin when she hears his voice demanding to know what she’s doing here. Ivanova opens a curtain and sees Franklin. She asks if he’s alright – he certainly doesn’t look it. Franklin says it’s stim withdrawal; some drugs are different when it comes to withdrawal. Ivanova tells him he needs help but Franklin replies he can’t go back yet. Ivanova replies that she respects that but they need his help. Ivanova explains that they need telepaths to make a tactical core group. Franklin says that he purged his records on the telepaths he smuggled from the main computer, as she had expected he would have done, but he kept a backup as it might have come in handy. Franklin will give Ivanova the location of the backup in exchange for one thing – to leave him alone. Ivanova must promise not to send anyone else after him; Franklin can’t find himself if people keep looking for him. That’s his price – no-one else until he’s done. No matter what.
Garibaldi is at the hatch where the maintenance worker was with a supervisor. The hatch is now closed. When the worker was missing for a few hours they called in security. They even checked the level below in case the man had fallen through. No-one saw anything either, as this is primarily an industrial area. The man vanished into thin air – Garibaldi questions why air is always thin. She tells the chief she went through all 29 Grey levels. Garibaldi replies that there are actually thirty. She tells him no, 29, the schematics are wrong. It’s a mistake on the blueprints no-one noticed in the rush to complete the station and she checked all 29 herself.
Sheridan tells Delenn that she is a great choice to head the Rangers. She replies that she is the logical choice; she does not know if it would be popular. Sheridan wants to know who would object. Perhaps no-one is the response. Delenn wants to hold the initiation ceremony on the station. The captain asks if it’s not a bit public, because the Rangers have operated behind the scenes. Delenn tells him that will change soon enough. Sheridan says he will get Garibaldi to arrange a security team, then Ivanova contacts him saying she has the information on the telepaths, and Sheridan excuses himself.
After the captain has gone, a voice congratulates Delenn, saying that power beckons and who amongst them could resist it. The one saying this is Neroon. He continues, complimenting Delenn on her strategy. He thought she had no ambition but was mistaken. She ahs reformed the Rangers after a thousand years and the religious caste is building new starships without the help of the warrior caste. Delenn points out that the warrior caste refused to help. Neroon said they allowed Sinclair to train the Rangers and even diluted their purity by allowing humans to join. This was tolerated, but now their training is complete. It’s time for new leadership, and by right of tradition the warrior caste will take command, by the law set down by Valen.
Delenn replies that the warrior caste violated the law when they become dominant on the Grey Council. Which, Neroon says, no longer exists – Delenn dissolved it. She underwent the transformation promised by Valen and broke the council as prophesy said, creating a vacuum of power. The religious caste now command military forces and Delenn can fill the vacuum herself. Neroon tells her that she must walk away from the path taken and refuse command of the Rangers, turning them over to the warrior caste. Or Neroon will stop her by any and all means necessary.
Garibaldi is in one of the tubes, counting the time it takes to pass between the floors in Grey Sector. It’s three.
Lennier asks Delenn if Neroon really threatened her. She says that this has come as no surprise, as she knew the warrior caste were unhappy. Lennier queries her use of unhappy, as they are planning to kill her. Delenn admits that’s one interpretation. Lennier says that Neroon promised to stop Delenn by any and all means necessary. He doesn’t think Neroon is going to stop at harsh language. Delenn replies that no Minbari has killed another in a thousand years. Lennier says the rules have changed. He asks Delenn if she is going to tell the captain. She says not; this is an internal problem and they will handle this on their own. And makes Lennier promise he will not tell Sheridan.
Garibaldi is still in the lift and is pretty bored by know. He goes from Grey 16 to Grey 17. When his count passes three and gets to six seconds, the chief regains his interest. He gets the lift to stop between the levels and overrides the safety protocols so he can manually open the doors. Which reveals another Grey 17, one that’s rather the worse for wear. Garibaldi wanders out of the lift – and the doors shut behind him. There is no way to open them again. He hears a noise and goes looking, briefly distracted by a dummy. Which turns to look at him and tells Garibaldi he shouldn’t be here, and he’s in trouble. Then fires a dart at him. Garibaldi tries to call for help but collapses.
In order to get around Delenn’s request, Lennier goes to see Marcus. And uses some rather convoluted logic about breaking a promise by not breaking a promise, and telling Marcus because he isn’t in the chain of command and it won’t get back to Sheridan. Essentially, Lennier wants Marcus to stop Neroon from interfering. Lennier warns Marcus that Neroon is very good at killing humans.
Delenn and Sheridan get a brief moment to have a chat. Garibaldi is stuck on a level that doesn’t exist and has no exits without his weapon and link, one that is occupied by a strange cult (of course it’s strange – their leader is Freddy Krueger. Well, Robert Englund). And there’s something else in there as well. When Garibaldi explains it to Sheridan, the explanation does not make a lot of sense.