Dalenn (Mira Furlan) is preparing an assault on Z’ha’dum. Susan Ivanova (Claudia Christian) intends to search for more First Ones to aid in the attack, and she needs a White Star ship. Delenn agrees but can’t spare Lennier to speak to the crew, but Ivanova has been studying Minbari. Marcus Cole (Jason Carter) will accompany her. Delenn agrees and warns the crew that anyone who laughs at Ivanova’s accent will deal with Delenn. On Centauri Prime, Londo (Peter Jurasik) and Vir (Stephen Furst) watch Emperor Cartagia (Wortham Krimmer) humiliate G’Kar (Andreas Katsulas) dressed as a jester. Delenn notes that everyone she cares about is gone from Babylon Five. Zack Allan (Jeff Conaway) hears about the lead that G’Kar was following in the search for Garibaldi and decides to follow it up himself. G’Kar has refused to scream and passes out from blood-loss. The Emperor says that if he does not scream, he will be killed. Vir decides it’s a good idea to kill Cartagia after all.
Allan leads a convoy of shuttles and Starfuries to track down Garibaldi. Delenn asks Lyta Alexander (Patricia Tallman) why the Vorlons have been denying her requests for ships. Alexander will try to figure out what the deal is with the Vorlons. Zack Allan’s convoy pursues a craft, attempting to disable it. The ship ejects a life pod before it explodes. Inside is Garibaldi. He is treated in Medlab. Doctor Franklin (Richard Biggs) congratulates Allan, but he thinks it was all too easy.
Alexander complains that when the Vorlon Ulkesh (voice of Ardwight Chamberlain) withdraws from her mind it causes her pain. When she attempts to leave, he throws her against the wall and opens his mind to her, making her scream. Londo visits G’Kar in his cell to persuade him to scream for Cartagia. If he is dead, the Narn will not be free. Is that an acceptable price for his pride? On the White Star, Ivanova and Cole detect an anomaly. Hyperspace is folded over itself. They enter the fold, looking for First Ones, and find an enormous Vorlon fleet. Garibaldi awakens in Medlab, surprised that two weeks have passed, and remembers nothing. The Alien Ambassadors are organizing a rally to tell the public that Delenn plans to attack Z’ha’dum. Delenn does not attempt to stop them but will attend and speak. One of the Brakiri probes has seen a ship in hyperspace, heading for the station. On Centauri Prime, Londo and Vir are summoned to Cartagia’s chambers to see G’Kar lashed with an electro-whip. After 39 lashes, when 40 are fatal to Narn, he screams, and Cartagia is delighted.
Returning to Babylon Five, Ivanova monitors sector 70 by 10 by 53. A mysterious ship enters the jump-gate using Babylon Five docking codes. The Red Alert is joined by Garibaldi. The new arrivals shock everyone. Lennier notices a gathering and informs Delenn. The Drazi and Hyach ambassadors tell the crowd about Delenn’s plans, telling everyone that it would be suicide to go to Z’ha’dum because no-one ever returns. Sheridan walks in with the First One, gives a rousing speech, and reunites with Delenn.
Lyta Alexander, recovering from the Ulkesh mind-attack, is visited by Ivanova and knows she has found the Vorlon fleet. Sheridan explains the history of the Vorlons and Shadows. Garibaldi is suspicious of Lorien (Wayne Alexander). Ivanova, Alexander and Cole arrive and tell them about the Vorlon fleet, which has already attacked a Shadow base and destroyed the entire planet, including four million people. The Vorlons have decided to eliminate everyone who has been touched by the Shadows.
This is the only episode in the series to include all of the main characters. In Deuteronomy 15:3, punishments must not exceed 40 lashes. G’Kar suffers 39, in case you didn’t know that G’Kar is a Jesus figure. J. Michael Straczynski, like many Atheists, is obsessed with the Bible. We are now beginning to realize that the Vorlons are just as dangerous as the Shadows.