The Babylon Project
Register
Advertisement

The "Conspiracy of Light" is jeopardized when Bester comes to Babylon 5 to find a dealer of the telepathy-inducing drug Dust, one who has made G'Kar's acquaintance…

Cast[]

Regular[]

Guest Starring[]

Special Guest Starring[]

Featuring[]

Cast Notes[]

Summary[]

Introduction[]

After the release of the recording implicating President Morgan Clark in the assassination of Luis Santiago, Nightwatch attempts to clamp down on "seditious" materials, threatening a shop owner. Captain John Sheridan stops Nightwatch, warning them that there will be consequences if they continue.

Michael Garibaldi informs Susan Ivanova that Alfred Bester is heading to Babylon 5 while, in Downbelow, a crazy man is raging and screaming about a mountain falling on him.

Act I[]

With Bester's upcoming arrival on the station, the War Council meets to discuss what to do during his visit. They do not want Bester reading their minds, and they don't trust that he won't do it anyway, without their permission. Delenn comes up with an idea that would shield them from scans.

Meanwhile, Vir Cotto has arrived for a visit with Londo Mollari.

In Medlab, Stephen Franklin is treating the crazy man from Downbelow when a woman is brought in. The cases seem unrelated until the Med Tech suggests a connection. She explains that the woman, a climber who was nearly killed in a rockslide on Mars, was found in the same section. Believing the man experienced a memory from the climber, Franklin orders the man tested for Dust, a highly dangerous drug that gives the taker temporary telepathic abilities.

Bester's ship approaches the station. Ivanova orders the crew out of C&C and intends to blast Bester's ship with the station's Defense Grid, killing him and ending her career. Sheridan manages to talk her down, assuring her that Delenn's plan will work.

Act II[]

Bester is shown into Sheridan's office. Along with the command crew are a group of Minbari telepaths who are shielding their minds, and Bester wants to know why. Sheridan tells him that he doesn't like him, doesn't trust him, and holds him personally responsible for everything that happened to Talia Winters. It is also implied during a failed attempt to provoke Garibaldi that Talia is dead and was dissected by Psi Corps. Bester is given an ultimatum: take sleepers for the duration of his visit to suppress his telepathic abilities, or conduct all his business with Minbari telepaths present. Bester agrees to take the sleepers.

Delenn attempts to mediate between the Centauri and the Drazi, with Londo Mollari insisting on an ever-growing "buffer zone." After the meeting, Vir Cotto approaches Delenn and thanks her for his current position on Minbar. He believes that Londo visiting Minbar would be good for him, but Delenn disagrees, noting that the darkness of the heart cannot be removed by moving the body. Vir refuses to give up hope for Londo.

With the sleepers taking away his telepathic abilities, Bester briefs the command crew about the nature of his mission on Babylon 5. He is trying to stop the trafficking of Dust, and Psi Corps believes the distributors are trying to break out into alien markets. Bester's information is correct; at that moment the dealer, Lindstrom, concludes a deal with G'Kar. As the search begins, G'Kar takes the Dust and goes in search of Londo Mollari.

Act III[]

Garibaldi and Bester interrogate one of the station's underworld leaders, Ashi Van Troc. During the questioning, Bester pretends to be able to read his mind and gets Ashi to confess he is lying. The information leads to Lindstrom in Red Sector, who has a shipment of Dust due that day. Garibaldi confronts Bester about reading the suspect's mind, and Bester says he figured that Ashi was lying about something. The badge and the uniform then convinced Ashi to reveal what he knew. Garibaldi accuses Bester of using his Psi Cop badge and uniform for intimidation; Bester points out that Garibaldi's security uniform and badge can be used for the same purpose.

Londo and Vir meet in Londo's quarters, discussing Vir's report on Minbar. Londo tries to explain that intelligence has nothing to do with politics and tries to rewrite Vir's report on the Minbari into something more palatable to the Centauri leaders. As they talk, Vir gets the door and is knocked out – G'Kar enters, dropping Vir to the floor and approaching Mollari.

Garibaldi and Bester lie in wait for Lindstrom and the shipment of Dust. They manage to arrest him and seize the drugs.

Act IV[]

G'Kar abducts Londo and begins looking through his mind. He learns that Londo is only the Centauri ambassador because no one else would take the job. Other memories show Londo talking with Mr. Morden after the attack on Quadrant 37. G'Kar demands to know who he is in league with, but Londo doesn't really know himself. G'Kar continues to look through Londo's mind.

G'Kar finds himself on the Narn Homeworld with his dying father. Then, a separate vision of his father urges G'Kar to put aside the cycle of hatred and try to build something better for the future. G'Kar insists that his actions honor his father's name, but the vision of his father asks him if that is really true. G'Kar is warned that his current course of action would lead to the death of the Narn race. G'Kar then sees the angelic form of G'Lan flying away.

G'Kar wakes up next to an unconscious Londo and begins to cry. Unnoticed, Ambassador Kosh turns and glides away.

Act V[]

On trial, G'Kar pleads guilty. Sheridan tries to vouch for G'Kar, but G'Kar is sentenced to 60 days in prison. Garibaldi attempts to return his copy of the Book of G'Quan, but G'Kar tells him to keep hold of it.

In Medlab, Londo is recovering from his ordeal when Vir comes to visit him. Vir needs to leave for Minbar that night. He advises Vir to never let anyone make a joke out of him.

Garibaldi escorts Bester to the docking bay. After Garibaldi leaves, Bester is met by another Psi Cop. Bester reveals that the Corps is responsible for the creation of Dust as a way to create new telepaths, but it has not been successful. Bester was against the plan and is relieved that the substance is out of alien hands.

In prison, G'Kar begins to think about everything he saw.

Memorable Quotes[]

"I'd like to introduce you to my associates. These are Minbari telepaths. Nothing like a level playing field to ruin a Psi Cop's day. Am I right, Mr. Bester?"

Sheridan to Bester


"Yeah, and if I had a baseball bat, we could hang you from the ceiling and play piñata."

Garibaldi to Bester


"A piñata, huh? So you think of me as something bright and cheerful full of toys and candy for young children? Thank you. That makes me feel much better about our relationship."

Bester to Garibaldi


"(Laughing) Who would believe it? The great and powerful Londo Mollari got his job because no one else was stupid enough to take it!"

G'Kar to Mollari


"We are fighting to save one another. And some of us must be sacrificed if all are to be saved."

Narn image to G'Kar


DVD Release[]

This episode, along with the other 21 from Season 3 have been released on DVD with extensive Special Features.

External Link[]

Episode guide page for Dust to Dust at the Lurker's Guide

Advertisement