As the Narn and Drazi fleets continue their bombardment, G'Kar watches from his cell beneath the palace.
- G'Kar: Dear G'Quon...
Soon after a nearby hit rocks the palace. Londo comes to get him out before the place collapses. He brings G'Kar to his quarters then goes to summon a doctor and find the regent.
Sheridan and the White Stars are still racing to Centauri Prime when Garibaldi calls with news that the assault has already begun. All of the Centauri defenses have either been moved or turned off, leaving the way clear for the Narns and Drazi to waltz right in. On top of that, he reports that Delenn's White Star has been missing for twelve hours now.
In her shattered ship, Delenn and Lennier are trying to find ways to stay alive.
The assault continues as Londo searches for the Regent, who comments that the bombardment seems to be moving away from the capital so they should be safe for a while. Londo has just about had it, their people are dying and the regent keeps talking about "they". Who are they? Londo demands to know what's going on and the regent looks to the side. "They!" Londo turns to see a tall alien with scaly-looking skin watching them.
- Virini: It's your time now, Londo.
Virini explains that they're called the Drakh. Londo remembers this; they worked for the Shadows.
- Virini: The Shadows were our masters. We served them, believed in them, loved them. Then they went away and left us behind, to escape on our own. But without our masters, Who are we? In the end, what are we but...
Drakh: A shadow...of a Shadow. An echo of what was. Our home, Z'Ha'Dum, destroyed. We wandered. Then we remembered this place. We remembered...you.
Virini explains that the Shadows saw great potential on Centauri Prime, expending considerable effort on them, even moving a large fleet there, along with their associate, Mr. Morden. Londo remembers him, all right.
He thinks back to their final confrontation, Londo demanding the ships on Centauri Prime be removed and Morden refusing since the Centauri can't fight them off.
- Londo: Oh yes, your ships are very impressive in the air or in space; but at this moment, they are on the ground.
Morden: That's right, they’re on the ground. But they can still detect another ship coming miles away; so what are you going to do, Mollari? Blow up the island?
Londo: Actually... now that you mention it... (pulls out a remote detonator)
Morden: NOOO!
Londo presses the trigger and the island is engulfed in nuclear fire. Londo quietly comments that he remembers, then thinks back to Morden's final threat.
- Morden: You just made a mistake Londo! Even if my associates lose this war, they have allies! They'll make sure Centauri Prime pays the price for what you've done here today!
And now the piper has come for his pay; these are the allies Mr. Morden was talking about. The pieces start clicking into place, they are the ones who started the war, not the regent.They hid here, using Centauri forces the attack the other worlds and turn them against the Centauri, and provoke them into the assault that is still raging. This is all to get revenge on the Centauri people.
But why bring them into it? If they want revenge, he's the one they want, just take it. Virini explains they don't want him dead, not yet. They want a home, and Centauri Prime will do nicely.
- Drakh: You are now what we need you to be. A beaten, resentful people who will have to rebuild. Who will have to rely on our...good graces. Who can be used and guided as we wish to guide you. Perfect ground for us to use our work. Quietly. Quietly.
Londo is not willing to go along with this, but the regent explains that he won't have a choice. They learn quickly, and have turned Londo's own trick against him, planting fusion bombs across the planet. Unless Londo does as they wish, they'll set them off. Millions will die and the Alliance will be blamed for it. The Drakh pulls out a detonator, and Londo backs down, then asks what they want from him.
- Drakh: What we want from you is you.
The White Star fleet emerges from hyperspace and Sheridan orders the assault fleet to stand down. General Na'Tok is surprisingly obliging, as long as Sheridan is willing to back them up. He did say he would back any actions the member worlds deemed appropriate. Not this, however, he explicitly forbid bombing Centauri Prime. Well, that presents a problem, because the defense fleet will be returning soon and they aren't likely to care about any of that, and what will you do then.
Londo is being told the same thing, the ships will soon be back and they will attack Sheridan's forces without hesitation and with everything they've got. There is one way to stop them, a surrender order. But the regents can't issue it; he will be Londo's alibi. The official story will be thus: in his final days, Regent Virini fell into madness, ordered the attacks on Alliance members without the knowledge of anyone else in the Centauri government knowing, then died. This will enable Londo to issue the surrender as emperor.
- Virini: It's all very clean that way. Once I'm gone you can blame me for anything you want. I won't mind, really. Because I'll know you had no choice. No choice at all.
Londo asks what he means and a tentacled creature appears on the regent's shoulder. He explains that it's called a Keeper; it becomes part of you taking control at certain times, but only when their interests are at stake. The rest of the time, Londo will be free to do as he wishes. Also, because it becomes part of you, if it leaves, the host will die.
- Virini: I have to go now, Londo.
Londo: No, don't go.
Virini: I have been many things in my life, Mollari. I have been silly. I have been quiet when I should have spoken. I have been foolish. And I have wasted far too much time. But I am still Centauri .. and I am not afraid.
With that, the Keeper slips off his shoulder, and the regent collapses and dies.
The White Stars are waiting for the Centauri ships to return, but Sheridan is still not willing to engage them, and Centauri Prime's not responding. He orders continuing hails to Centauri Prime and to Delenn's ship, diverting any White Stars in the area to search for it.
On that ship, Delenn and Lennier are discussing the situation. Life support is holding for now, who knows how long? A bigger concern is fuel for the navigation thrusters; once that's gone they won't be able to hold position anymore and will drift in the hyperspace currents.
Londo comes to check on G'Kar. G'Kar takes the time to thank him for saving his life. Londo says he would have done the same.
- G'Kar: Yes, but I am a better person.
Londo: You ingrate.
They share a moment of levity before Londo explains what's happening. He can no longer have a Narn bodyguard, as he will soon be crowned emperor. He wasn't sure if he'd ever see G'Kar so he wanted to say good-bye. He also gives a vague warning about things he may hear in the coming years about Londo' behavior. G'Kar says he understand but Londo hopes he never actually does.
- Londo: Isn't it strange, G'Kar? When we first met, I had no power and all the choices I could ever want. Now I have all the power I could ever want, and no choices at all. No choice at all.
He turns to leave, but G'Kar has something to say.
- G'Kar: Understand that I can never forgive your people for what they did to my world. My people can never forgive your people. But I can forgive you.
The two share one more moment of solidarity before Londo goes to face his fate.
He finds the Drakh and says he's ready, removing his coat and vest. The Drakh pulls open his robe and one scale seems to come loose, which he pulls off to reveal a new Keeper. He drops it down, where it begins climbing up Londo's leg until is wraps its tendrils around his shoulders.
The White Stars haven't had any luck, Sheridan somewhat distracted. Then someone on Centauri Prime makes contact with the approaching fleet. It's encrypted, but the fleet does not seem happy about it. They stop, then a signal comes from Centauri Prime. Londo appears to explain what has been happening. He has been monitoring communications and knows that Sheridan did not order the attack. In a strange turn of fate, they are in similar situation; the regent did not get consent from the Centarum for the attacks and has been acting on his own. There is no chance of bringing him to justice as he's dead, his hearts seemingly giving out. Londo is in command now. Sheridan asks if he will give the recall order, and Londo says they will, as the ships come up on their pre-arranged order time frames. Then the war is over. Sheridan asks to come down and talk face-to-face, about Delenn. Her ship has been missing, and Londo agrees to meet.
After the transmission ends, Londo goes to the Drakh, demanding to know where Delenn is. The Drakh does not say anything, but Londo begins pleading with him not to kill her.
After Sheridan arrives, he briefs Londo on everything they know, her last known position, somewhere near Minbari space. The Grey Council has half their forces looking for her, but searching for something in hyperspace is like looking for a needle in a haystack in the middle of a tornado, assuming Londo knows what a tornado is. To narrow it down, they need to know the exact location the attack took place. That might take a while. Do to the specific nature of their communications, the ships will ignore any order that does not come at the appropriate time. Sheridan understands that and only asks that he do what he can. Londo agrees, but says he my come to ask for a return favor someday.
Sheridan is surprised at this; she's Londo's friend as well, but Londo suddenly gets rather upset. After everything they've done to the Centauri, he dares talk about them being friends? Londo declares that the Centauri will have nothing more to do with the Alliance. They will rebuild their world, reclaim their lost glory, and they will do it alone. And if he saves Delenn, it's an act of charity at best. Sheridan accepts this, but then reminds Londo that as the posing party, his government will be expected to make reparations to those they harmed, but they might be able to mitigate that somewhat. The attacking ships were controlled by leftover Shadow tech. Londo is aware of them, saying the regent got them on the black market. Sheridan asks why he didn't bring it up before, but Londo shuts him down, asking they be allowed to look for Delenn, if that's what he wants.
Delenn's White Star makes a corrective thruster fire, and that's it. Their fuel is gone. Now they can only drift. Delenn wonders what they might find out there in the vast unknown. A million-year-old jumpgate the First Ones built, perhaps? That'd be something, assuming Lennier can get it working again, of course. He does have another idea; their weapons are still functional, barely. If they fired off a burst they might attract the rescue ships...or the Centauri. Either way, it would push them even further off the beacon. Delenn goes to the weapons control, and Lennier talks her through the firing sequence. The forward guns fires off several shots before failing, but it seems to have been enough. The proximity alert goes off, and Delenn goes to the viewport to see...Centauri warships. An alert starts sounding as they close in, indicating their preparing to fire. Then a transmission comes in from Centauri Prime.
Moments later the Centauri get grappling beams on them and start towing them away. Delenn goes back to Lennier, saying she didn't quite catch what he said just now. He says it was nothing. Delenn tells him that sometimes when things are dire, we say things we'd never say otherwise, and they should never be asked to explain such things. She hads him look at her and tells him nothing happened, except that she felt very complimented by him and was glad to have his friendship.
- Lennier: When we get to Centauri Prime, do you think we'll have to fight out way out?
Delenn: For their sake, I hope not.
On Centauri Prime, Vir has arrived and is looking for Londo. He comes into Londo's room, who gets very upset that he came in without knocking. Never do that again, understand Vir? Never do that again! Vir is a little nonplussed, but says he understands.
Londo then asks what he's doing there. Vir came to make sure he's alright, like he does. Like he has for five years now. He's surprised Londo isn't in the royal suite by now, but he can't go there until after the inauguration, and if time were to suddenly slow down, Londo would have no complaints, he's not looking forward to it.
- Londo: How am I supposed to live in the royal suite and look out at all of that?
Vir: You could always board up the windows.
Londo does not seem amused, then asks if Vir's seen the terms of the surrender. He has, but if they pay for the damages, they won't be able to afford rebuilding. But they have no choice. The people won't go for it, they're angry and resentful at just about everyone. Londo muses that they got what they wanted.
Who got what they wanted? Londo dismisses it. Vir asks if Londo will calm the people down, help them see reason, and Londo says he will. The others are here as well.
Despite her ordeal, Delenn wants to be present for the inauguration, feeling it presents the best chance they have to get this off to a good start. Londo's voice is suddenly heard coming from outside. They go to a window and see a towering image of Londo dressed in full royal regalia.
Londo begins recounting the events that lead them to where they are and describes the price they have paid in lives and blood and the price yet to be paid in reparations, which will no doubt cripple their economy. Sheridan and the others listen in growing dismay as Londo declares this is unfair, but the Centauri will bear it and will rebuild and show those who humiliate them that they will not bow down. In the recording chamber, the Drakh stands to the side, nodding in approval as Londo delivers his message.
- Londo: As a symbol of our new isolation, I will walk alone to my inauguration. I will take on the burden of emperor in silence. The bells of our temples will sound all day and all night, once for each of our people killed in the bombings. We are alone, alone in the universe, but we are united in our pain. May the Great Maker be with you all.
As the speech ends, Vir comes up. They ask what he's doing, he was going to calm them down; instead he's whipped them up. Vir can only say he's sure Londo has his reasons. Londo comes up, saying his reasons are his own. He then suggests they all leave, it would probably not be a good idea for them to remain, he can't guarantee their safety. Before they part ways, he names Vir as ambassador to Babylon 5.
- Londo: I have every confidence that he will do at least as good a job as I did.
He then bids them leave, quickly. They shouldn't be here.
Delenn takes the opportunity to convey Lennier's gratitude for saving them.
- Delenn: I find I can no longer see the road you're on, Londo. There is a darkness around you. I can only pray that in time you may find your way out of it.
She and Sheridan walk off, while G'Kar comes and gives him a Narn salute, which Londo answers with a bow of the head. As the Narn strides away, Londo has Vir give the message that he's ready.
As he steps up to the door, his mind begins going over his life on Babylon 5, remembering the things he's done and what brought him here. As the bells start tolling, he walks slowly and silently through the courtyard to his inauguration.
The crew have returned to Babylon 5 where Sheridan is briefing them on what Stephen and Lyta found. It's not as efficient as their normal means of control, using sentient beings as processing units, but it gets the job done for simpler systems, such as the younger races' ships. But it brings their investigation to a screeching halt; Londo says the regent got them on the black market, but there's no way to verify that.
- Franklin: Well, I know one thing, this device scares me more than anything I've ever seen, not for what it is, but what it represents. You ever been out to see the San Diego ruins? (Lyta shakes her head) Well, I have. The thermonuclear device used by the terrorists to blow up San Diego could be traced right back to the breakup of the Soviet Union in the late 20th century. When they fell, all their weapons ended up in the hands of smaller governments who didn't understand them, sure as hell couldn't build them, but were eminently willing to use them. The great thing about war is that it advances technology. The bad thing about war is that most of those technologies are destructive. Once the war is over, those weapons are still around.
Weapons like the telepaths, this little pod thing and who knows what else? The Shadows had allies on Z'Ha'Dum, and there's no telling how many got off before it blew.
- Franklin: Now, who knows what they took with 'em, and how much of it is in the hands of people who don't understand them, couldn't build it, but are willing to use it?
Sheridan: The giants have left the playground, but they left their guns behind.
Garibaldi asks what about the Vorlon homeworld? There must be something useful there, right? Well, no one can get close to it. Just about everyone has tried already, but the automated defenses destroy them before they can get close.
- Lyta: The Vorlon homeworld is off-limits until we're ready, until we've earned the right to go there, a million years from now. Don't ask, I don't know where that came from any more than you do. I just...know it.
Zack comes in with news that fighting on station has pretty much stopped since the Centauri surrender. Things are quiet again, we won the war, so why's everyone so down?
- Delenn: Yes, we won the war, but what did we lose?
On Centauri Prime, Emperor Londo Mollari sits by himself on his throne in the dark.
This episode contains examples of:
- Anger Born of Worry: Londo gets very upset with Vir for barging in, since doing so could result in him glimpsing a Drakh after which his life would be forfeit.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: How many times has G'Kar expressed the wish to see Centauri Prime burned like this? He finally gets his wish...and is horrified by it.
- Call-Back:
- Londo is reminded of his last conversation with Mr. Morden.
- Londo finds the position of emperor to be how his predecessor did, all the power he could want, but no choices at all.
- Emperor Mollari had a Keeper in the future. Now, it's finally happened in real time.
- Delenn's situation and the Shadow devices continue on from the last episode.
- The Chains of Commanding: More literal in Londo's case as while he is the leader of his people, he is a prisoner in his own body now.
- Cassandra Truth: Morden's final words back in Season Four — about the Shadows allies exacting vengeance for Londo's betrayal — are finally revealed to not have been boasting or a finale, desperate plea.
- Chekhov's Gun: Why is Centauri Prime so devastated seventeen years from now? Those buried bombs, set off after Vir's resistance destroys what is essentially the Drakh headquarters.
- Defiant Captive: Even as Londo prepares for the Drakh keeper to take control of him, he still stares down Shiv'kala with a defiant sneer as if to say "If you think I'm going to give in to despair as your slave, just know that I've been a willing slave to duty all my life. You may have my world and even my body, but you will never crush my spirit."
- Dying Declaration of Love: Lennier to Delenn, as Centauri warships are closing on their position.
- The Emperor: Londo is finally crowned.
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: The story is about the fall of Centauri Prime.
- Face Death with Dignity: Regent Virini in his final moments.
- Foregone Conclusion: We know Delenn is going to survive the attack on the White Star because of the events in the future shown in "War Without End" and "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars".
- Forgiveness: G'Kar says while he cannot forgive the Centauri for what they did to the Narn, he can forgive Londo.
- Flashback: The things Londo thinks of before his inauguration:
- Passing out/becoming one with his inner self at the Centauri religious celebration.
- Kissing Adira.
- Sharing a drink with G'Kar right before the start of the Narn-Centauri War.
- Watching the bombardment of Narn.
- Delenn's Hug and Comment just after Lennier found the proof they need.
- Londo's horrifying vision of himself and G'Kar choking each other to death in the future.
- Gilded Cage: To anyone looking in, Londo would appear to be on top of the world (a shattered world, yes, but still). He has the royal palace to himself now, staff for his every need, and the resources of the entire Centauri Republic at his command. No one knows the price he has paid, or that despite being the leader of his people, he has lost his freedom and will never be able to get it back again.
- Irony: G'Kar finally gets to see Centauri Prime burn after he is no longer the kind of person who would wish to see it burn.
- Mouth of Sauron: The Regent to the Drakh, until he speaks for himself.
- Orbital Bombardment: Continuing on from last time, only now we see the effects on the ground.
- Personal Horror: The keepers are practically designed for this as they can make the host go against what they would normally do. Londo gets bonus points for having the Sadistic Choice variant shoved at him. Accept a keeper and become a puppet emperor for the Drakh or have them detonate the bombs hidden across the planet?
- Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: When Sheridan went to Z'ha'dum at the end of Season Three, part of his motive was his visit to the future (and the glimpse of a devastated Centauri Prime) during "War Without End". The future Delenn warned John not to go to Z'ha'dum, but Sheridan went anyway because he feared not going was what would bring that possible future and ruin of the Centauri to pass. Instead, John's actions on Z'ha'dum set off the chain events that have devastated Centauri Prime (and sealed the fates of both Londo and G'Kar). Although the consequences of not going would likely have been worse for the galaxy.
- Shoo the Dog: Londo does this to Vir, appointing him ambassador to Babylon 5, which will keep him away from Centauri Prime and the Drakh.
- Silent Scapegoat: Regent Virini tells Londo to blame everything on him. He won't be around to see it, and it will allow Londo to start with his hands more or less clean.
- Spoiler Title: Three guesses what happens?
- Tragedy: Londo's comes full circle here. We know how his story will end.
