“Soul Mates” is episode seven of season two of Babylon 5.
Vir is repeating ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you’ in different tones and Garibaldi asks to be introduced. Vir is not actually talking to anyone, which he admits may look a little odd. Given where they are, Garibaldi says that it’s all relative, watching one of the aliens passing. According to Vir, relatives are what it’s about; he’s there to pick up some women. Garibaldi suggests that he might have better luck at bars. Vir is actually there to meet Ambassador Mollari’s three wives. Garibaldi comments that Londo is a lucky dog, when one of the wives, Timov, arrives. She’s rather abrupt. When Vir leaves with Timov, Garibaldi notices one man yelling at another, then suddenly stop and forget what he’s doing. Garibaldi, his suspicions aroused, follows for a bit.
The chief informs Sheridan that the man, Stoner, is a freelance navigator and a part time trader, just like thousands of others. Sheridan wants to know what the problem is and Garibaldi says he doesn’t know. Which is the problem. His job entails him seeing little things which bother him, even if he doesn’t know what. Then Talia Winters arrives; Sheridan has asked her to confirm or deny some Psi Corps rumours. He tells Garibaldi that they will discuss the Stoner matter later. Talia asks if the captain means Matt Stoner, and indeed that’s the man’s name. When asked if she knows Stoner, Talia says only in the most unpleasant sense – they were married.
Londo is in a bar enjoying himself whilst Vir is in the ambassador’s quarters telling Timov that Londo will be there shortly; he must be in a meeting. Timov says that she won’t bite, but that’s not what Vir has heard. Then another wife, Daggair, arrives. Timov is not exactly happy to see her, but Daggair says she refuses to engage in Timov’s verbal fencing and wonders why she does. According to Timov, that’s because she doesn’t have a real sword handy.
Sheridan approaches Talia about Stoner, but she says it isn’t his concern. He agrees that it isn’t, as commander of the station, but says that he is willing to listen as a friend. According to Talia, Stoner was her advanced trainer in Psi Corps, who oversaw her development. He was charming, but then the corps decided that they were genetically compatible and the chance of them producing a child with telepathic abilities was substantial. However, when Stoner left the corps – something that people don’t do – their marriage was annulled.
Ivanova has been asked by Ambassador Delenn to come to the latter’s quarters. A rather annoyed Delenn answers, then lets Ivanova in. Delenn is having a really bad hair day. Minbari do not have hair; it’s because of Delenn’s transformation that she does. She is not equipped to deal with it.
Delenn says that the hair was fine at first. Her transformation is supposed to be a dignified and inspiring position for both Minbari and humans, but her hair is refusing to cooperate. Ivanova notices that Delenn’s hair is very brittle, and asks what Delenn washes it with. Which turns out to be a chemical compound that strips away the outer layer of epidermal tissue, a symbolic rebirth every day. Probably not something that’s good for hair though. Delenn wants Ivanova’s help dealing with it.
G’Kar asks Sheridan if he’s settling in – the second person to mention that, as Talia did earlier. Sheridan wants to know why people keep asking that and G’Kar replies that it’s not as if there’s a chance he might vanish overnight for a strange Minbari post. After all, there’s no precedent for that happening on the station. Londo also asks if Sheridan is settling in, and he seems in a very good mood. Given his previous references to his wives, the fact that all three are on the station hardly seems likely to put him in a good mood.
The third wife, Mariel – younger and prettier than the other two – also arrives at Londo’s quarters. This leads to him explaining why he’s so happy. It’s the 30th anniversary of Londo’s ascension day, and his stock is high at the moment. So the emperor asked what gift Londo would like in honour of his service, any one wish within the emperor’s power to grant. Which is a divorce, an easement of Londo’s arranged marriages. The emperor insisted that Londo keep one wife for special occasions; he just hasn’t decided which one yet. So that’s why all three are on the station. Both Mariel and Daggair try to get Londo to keep them; Timov has no interest in playing such games.
Garibaldi speaks to Stoner to warn him away from Talia. Stoner comes across as being more than a little creepy. When he speaks to Talia, Stoner says he got out of the Psi Corps because he lost his telepathic abilities, and that he can do the same for Talia. Something about that doesn’t quite ring true; given what happened in the confrontation that Garibaldi saw, it seems likely that Stoner has some mental abilities.