“The Wheel of Fire” is episode nineteen of season five of Babylon 5.
G’Kar has returned to Babylon 5 and is greeted by Captain Lochley when he arrives. She welcomes him back and asks how Londo is; in the previous episode, “The Fall of Centauri Prime”, Londo became emperor. G’Kar replies that he doesn’t know. G’Kar has mourned for his own people but doesn’t think he has ever felt more for anyone than he does Londo. Lochley thinks that perhaps as emperor Londo will have more chance for happiness than he did as ambassador. G’Kar doubts it.
Lochley says she should mention that there are a few Narns waiting for G’Kar at customs. G’Kar confirms that it is just a few and Lochley assents. In a way that doesn’t sound quite right. G’Kar thinks that his time away will have given people time to cool down; he was afraid that the cult of personality was getting out of hand. It matters that Lochley came to meet G’Kar; she wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Which again doesn’t sound quite right. As they exit and discover many, many Narns with signs, along with pictures and icons of G’Kar, who start chanting his name. Lochley makes her excuses and leaves; G’Kar holds his hands in the air and everyone stops and kneels. Clearly disconcerting him.
Garibaldi is in his quarters with a drink when Dr Franklin calls. The meeting that Garibaldi thought was in two hours is now. Garibaldi arrives and apologises for the mix-up; Sheridan suggests that Garibaldi start. Unfortunately, he isn’t coherent. Because he’s drunk. Sheridan tells Delenn he will need to see her in the hall, and dismisses the others. Except for Garibaldi.
Garibaldi waits whilst Sheridan speaks to Delenn. When Sheridan returns, he asks when Garibaldi started drinking again. Garibaldi says that if he’s going to be fired to just do it. Sheridan repeats the question. Garibaldi replies maybe a couple of months. That’s what Sheridan figured. No, he didn’t know, until now, but he suspected. He hopes it was just pressure but didn’t know for sure until today. He isn’t angry; he was, but Delenn helped. He’s just disappointed. Garibaldi would prefer anger to disappointment.
Sheridan is disappointed because he didn’t pick up on it earlier. That Garibaldi couldn’t come to him on his own. Sheridan references Franklin’s problems, and that he didn’t offer to help, and how Franklin nearly died dealing with it on his own. Sheridan has made a lot of mistakes but tries not to make the same ones twice. Garibaldi may not be fired, but he can’t remain in his job. He’s on indefinite suspension until he works it out. Garibaldi says that could take a long time. It takes what it takes. Sheridan is still his friend and he will be here when Garibaldi has worked it out.
Dr Franklin goes to see G’Kar. Who has a lot of followers outside his quarters. More are arriving every hour. G’Kar doesn’t understand. Franklin might. He got a call from G’Kar’s government; they’d been trying to call but G’Kar wasn’t answering. It seemed an easier way for G’Kar to get some peace than hanging himself. Half the Narns want G’Kar to come home and run the place. Something G’Kar has refused to do already. The other half want G’Kar to give them his blessing to run Narn on his behalf. The Narns believe that G’Kar’s presence allowed them to attack Centauri Prime without retribution. Plus, he survived. G’Kar also doesn’t want power and people love to give power to those they believe they don’t want it. G’Kar doesn’t know what to do.
Zack goes to see Captain Lochley. There’s a message from Earth she needs to be in on. It’s related to attacks on Psi Corps. At every attack ‘Remember Byron’ is painted on the wall. The attackers are amateurs, but they have resources, and the funding has been tracked back to Babylon 5. Lyta. Earth wants her arrested and sent home.
Lochley also goes to see Garibaldi. She wants to help, even with their confrontational history. Garibaldi angrily asks her what makes her think she understands. She explains that her father was an alcoholic. Eventually, Lochley ran away from home. Garibaldi doesn’t want to hear whatever Lochley has to say, but she’s going to tell him like it or not. Garibaldi tells Lochley he’s never even seen her take a drink. That’s the point. Lochley has the same problem Garibaldi does. If it could be swallowed, shot or smoked, she tried it, and it was only when someone close to her died that she stopped. It was hinted in “Day of the Dead” that Lochley had a history of addiction.
Arresting Lyta is not easy because she is becoming very, very powerful. She later explains why to Garibaldi, when he makes her a mutually beneficial offer. Lyta is also very, very angry. G’Kar being on the station, and not on Narn, starts causing problems he doesn’t know how to deal with. And Delenn’s reaction results in something being found out about her. Everyone is hoping that Londo is alright. He isn’t.