Recap / Babylon Five S 01 E 15 Grail

Season 1 Episode 15

Grail

A true seeker.

Garibaldi: You think he's genuine.

Sinclair: Aldous? Yes. The question is, genuine what? One man's lunatic is another's true seeker.

Garibaldi: You've been hanging around Delenn too much.

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Sinclair and Garibaldi have just sat down for dinner when Delenn and Lennier come up to them, insisting the commander get changed to meet their distinguished visitor. Garibaldi finds the situation amusing until Sinclair drags him along as well.

In Downbelow, a crime boss named Deuce is intimidating another man, Jinxo, for information. As an example of what will happen if he doesn't talk, Deuce indicates a woman tied to a chair. She had agreed to testify against him in court, but will not get a chance. A tentacle touches her head and her mind is drained. The tentacle then withdraws into Kosh's encounter suit. Deuce tell Jinxo to tell him what he wants to know, or come up with 100,000 credits before the Vorlon becomes hungry again.

In the docking area, Delenn and Lennier warmly greet a man in a cloak carrying a staff. Sinclair and Garibaldi stand awkwardly nearby as the visitor, Aldous Gajic, is introduced. He had not informed the command staff of his arrival because he was not on official business. He is searching for the Holy Grail. Sinclair and Garibaldi both react with skepticism and leave. Delenn follows Sinclair and asks why he reacted that way. He tells her the Grail is just a myth. Delenn tells him that she considers him a holy man, a true seeker, searching for enlightenment and helping others. Sinclair comments that he's probably the only true seeker they have, but Delenn counters that he does not know himself in that case. They are interrupted by a call from Medlab. As Gajic is exchanging currency, Jinxo picks his pocket but is nabbed by Garibaldi moments later, and insists that Gajic testify against him.

Sinclair arrives in Medlab where the woman who was mindwiped earlier is lying. She'll live, but she'll have to start her life all over. This is apparently the latest in a string of such incidents. Garibaldi comes in and reacts angrily when he sees her. Without her, his case against Deuce falls apart.

In court, the ombudsman is sentencing Thomas "Jinxo" Jordan, for petty (and incompetent) theft. Jinxo is odd among criminal Lurkers because he has a valuable and marketable skillset: deep-space construction. He could easily find work anywhere else and likely have travel expenses paid by a new employer. Thus, the ombudsman rules Jinxo is to be barred from the station for a period of five years. Jinxo suddenly starts yelling that he can't leave or the station will be doomed. Gajic speaks to the ombuds and convinces him to remand Jinxo into his custody. Next up is Deuce, who pleads not guilty, and as there is no compelling evidence or witnesses, the charges are not upheld.

In Gajic's quarters, Jinxo explains why he can't leave. He was a construction worker on the original Babylon station, but when he took a leave, it was sabotaged and destroyed. When the same thing happened to the second and third ones, he was dubbed Jinxo. During the construction of Babylon 4, he stayed through the entire process until it became operational. But as he was on the shuttle, he looked back and saw the station warp and then vanish. He explains that he can't leave Babylon 5 or the same thing will happen. Gajic tells him he should be named Lucky, he escaped death four times.

Dr. Franklin has determined that the mindwipes are probably being caused by something called a Na'ka'leen Feeder. Sinclair goes to Londo to find out more about them. He tells of an entire Centauri colony that was lost to them, and realizes that the reason the commander is asking is because one is on the station. He quickly leaves and locks himself in his quarters.

Gajic and Jinxo are meeting with Delenn in her quarters. She regretfully informs them that the Grail does not seem to be in Minbari space. There is no mention of anything like it in their files, but they will put the word out to Minbari outposts.

In Downbelow Deuce is watching the Vorlon encounter suit as a high pitched voice demands more minds. Deuce sends his men for Jinxo and the ombudsman.

Franklin has used the information Londo sent to confirm that a feeder is causing the wipes. Now they can begin narrowing down where it came from and where it might have gone. Garibaldi saw Deuce talking to Jinxo and goes to find him.

Gajic's meeting with Londo is not as productive as Londo is more concerned with the feeder and getting their native world quarantined again. He then tells Gajic that he can arrange a search of Centauri trade records but it will be very expensive...or rather, it would be if Vir hadn't already done it.

As they leave Londo, Gajic explains what he will do if he finds the Grail. He then explains that he used to work for a large corporation in a world of numbers as an accountant. One day his entire family was killed while on vacation. Wondering why he was spared, he encountered a man searching for the Holy Grail, who told him he was a man of infinite promise and goodness. After the man died, he left his legacy and task to Gajic.

Meanwhile Deuce's thugs kidnap the ombudsman. Another group comes for Jinxo, but Gajic is able to fight them off. Jinxo is impressed and asks if he can earn to fight like that. Gajic says, "You can learn whatever you like, because you are a man of infinite promise and goodness." Jinxo isn't so sure, but Gajic reminds him that he is willing to stay on the station, even at the risk of his life, to protect the people on it.

They enter the alien sector to visit the next ambassador, but when the door opens to reveal Kosh, Jinxo panics and runs away. Gajic follows and tries to find out what Jinxo knows, but the thugs come back. Gajic holds them off long enough for Jinxo to escape, but is knocked out in the process.

Ivanova hasn't had much luck figuring out which ship the feeder arrived on, but Garibaldi informs them of the ombudsman's kidnapping and Sinclair heads off.

In Deuce's lair, the ombudsman is tied to the chair as the Vorlon encounter suit approaches. Jinxo runs into Sinclair in the corridors and tells him that Deuce is going to feed Gajic to the Vorlon. They follow him to Deuce's hideout. Inside, Gajic stands between the feeder and the ombudsman, telling it to come out. The suit opens and a tall, squid-looking creature steps out. Security forces their way in and in the confusion the feeder vanishes into the shadows. It attacks one security officer then heads for the ombudsman. Jinxo appears and tries to untie him, but Deuce lines up a shot. Gajic notices and jumps in front of it, getting shot himself. Garibaldi's forces then destroy the feeder, but Deuce escapes.

Gajic's wound is mortal, but before he dies, Jinxo promises to continue his search. Gajic bequeaths all his possessions on him, with Sinclair acting as a witness.

Later, Sinclair is talking to Kosh, telling him about the fake encounter suit and the feeder. He explains that the fact that no one knows what a Vorlon looks like makes some people nervous. Kosh simply replies, "Good."

In the docking bay, Sinclair and Delenn arrive to see Gajic's body off. Jinxo arrives, wearing the cloak and bearing the staff. Garibaldi says, "Good luck, Jinxo."

"Thomas. My name is Thomas." He replies. He then turns to board his ship.

In C&C they watch as the transport disappears through the jumpgate. Nothing happens, all is normal.

Garibaldi: No boom?

Sinclair: No boom.

Ivanova: No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. (Sinclair and Garibaldi roll their eyes and walk off) What? Look, someone's got to keep some damned perspective around here. Boom. Sooner or later...BOOM!

This episode contains examples of:

• Alien Abduction: Played for Laughs. In the opening scene, the great-grandson of a human abductee is suing the great-grandson of his alien abductor for damages.
• Artistic Licence – Law: An ombudsman is someone who investigates complaints against the government, whereas here he's played like a judge. It is possible the term has changed usage in the future.
• Beleaguered Bureaucrat: The ombudsman is clearly frustrated with the endless cases placed in front of him, particularly when having to deal with strangeness like an alien giving their plea by holding up an incomprehensible symbol on a sheet of paper.
• Continuity Nod: Londo's services as Ambassador are very expensive for offworlders.
• Cool Old Guy: Jinxo quickly comes to admire and respect Aldous.
• Early-Installment Weirdness: Lennier and Delenn mentioning that the Minbari have two castes, when it will be later revealed that they have three. This is pseudo-handwaved in later seasons when Delenn mentions that people often forget about the Worker caste, who are caught between the struggles of the Religious and Warrior castes.
• The End... Or Is It?: Played for laughs when the station doesn't blow up the moment Jinxo leaves, but as Ivanova points out there's always tomorrow.
• Foreshadowing:
  • Jinxo's description of how Babylon 4 vanished.
  • Also, Garibaldi's throwaway line of "You've been hanging around Delenn too much" takes on greater resonance as Sinclair becomes more involved with the Minbari.
• Hilarity Sues: The scene with the human whose grandfather was abducted and tested on by the Vree.
• Good Is Not Dumb: Faced with the dark underbelly of humanity, Aldous still retains his sense of optimism, and his belief in Jinxo is eventually vindicated.
• The Grays: The Vree are basically confirmed as being the Grays. The episode features a comical scene wherein a human sues a Vree for damages on the grounds that the Vree's ancestor abducted his own. The Vree is clearly the classic "gray", and given that Vree ships are saucer-shaped...
• The Idealist: Aldous, not to the point of The Pollyanna, perhaps, but even after enduring great trial and despair, and faced with the darkness in humanity, he still believes good will find a way.
• The Jinx: Jinxo is convinced he is this to the Babylon stations he helped build. Gajic disagrees, and think he's actually Born Lucky.
• Last of His Kind: Aldous explains that he is the sole remaining member of his order, as is Thomas when the mantle passes.
• Martial Arts Staff: Aldous, a member of a quasi-monastic order, wears robes and carries a walking staff. When attacked, he demonstrates that in his hands the staff is also an effective weapon.
• Mind Rape: The feeder can suck the memories right out of a sentient mind, leaving them not quite a vegetable, but barely a step above one.
• Non-Malicious Monster: The feeder is just eating and gives the impression that it's not got a complex enough mind (being described as "semi sentient") to understand the damage it's doing. It also seems to be intimidated in some way into working for Deuce and ceases its attack on Aldous when approached with kindness.
• Nothing Is Scarier:
  • Garibaldi decides to troll Londo and Vir by telling them that you are perfectly safe from the Feeder... unless you can't hear him.
  • Lampshaded when Sinclair mentions the fact that no one knows what a Vorlon looks like makes people nervous of them. Kosh approves.
• Oh, Crap!: Londo's reaction to the mere possibility of a feeder being on the station has him immediately put down his drink, leave the casino, transfer all data on feeders to Sinclair, and then barricade himself in his quarters.
• "Scooby-Doo" Hoax: A more lethal version than usual, since the Feeder actually is dangerous. Deuce puts him in a fake Vorlon encounter suit to make his minions think he has powerful connections with Ambassador Kosh.
• Seeker Archetype: Aldous Gajic. Delenn implies that Sinclair is also one.
• Shout-Out: Londo going, "Fools to the left of me, feeders to the right!" is a take on lines from "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealer's Wheel.
• Smug Snake: Deuce.
• Starfish Language: The Vree language seems to have a combined visual and auditory component, requiring a specially-trained translator.
• Take Up My Sword: Jinxo offers to continue Aldous' quest.
• That Man Is Dead: After taking up the quest, Jinxo responds to Garibaldi addressing him by that nickname with a polite but firm declaration, "Thomas. My name is Thomas."
• What Happened to the Mouse?: Deuce escapes at the end, presumably intended to make some future appearances, but whatever those were ended up not happening. At the least, he'll have a much harder time pulling his Loophole Abuse after kidnapping and trying to murder an ombudsman who survived to tell the tale.
  • He is later seen in the TV movie "Thirdspace," caught while apparently trying to open up an airlock, but there is no mention of any of the events of this episode.
• You Shall Not Pass!: Gajic, unarmed, stares down the Feeder and stops him from attacking the Ombudsman by declaring that he is under his protection.