Episode 18: The Blackest Heart, part 1.
August 12th 2258.
Guest Stars:
Scott Bakula as Captain Jake Cunningham.
Julianna Margulies as Doctor Marissa Fletcher.
Tantalus station is going to be the site of a Mutai tournament among the resident aliens, and Ethan is given the job of making sure the event goes safely and as quietly as it can. Not too pleased as having such an activity on his watch, but also knowing that the aliens won't be pleased if he sticks his human nose in recruits Rathenn as his voice.
Ethan wants to speak with the organiser of the event so they head to the quarters of the Muta-Do. They are met at the entrance to his quarters by a Brakiri assist named Nakir. Nakir invites them in and introduces the Muta-Do, an ageing Hyach. Ethan explains that while the fight will be taking place in the opened levels below away from populated levels of the station, it will be televised across the station for all to watch and that he will have security there to make sure everything goes smoothly. The Muta-Do says that such precautions are unnecessary but fair. They discuss the tournament and eventually leave.
The next morning, Nakir comes to Ethan in his office and says that someone left a data crystal in a package outside his door this morning. When Ethan puts the crystal in the player it shows a silhouetted figure (no details visible) speaking through some kind of voice scrambler. The figure on screen advises Nakir to throw his fights or else he dies. Nakir is concerned for his life but also he cannot not fight in case he is shamed. He refuses to throw his fights either. Ethan calls Rathenn down to the office to see what he makes of it. Rathenn watches the screen and his keen hearing picks up the quiet hum of Minbari engines in the background.
Nakir is sent back to his quarters and told to go about his business while they investigate.
Rathenn runs the security tapes of that corridor earlier that day. He soon finds one of the station security walking down the corridor and placing the package outside Nakir's door and then walking off. Ethan runs the records and learns his name is Douglas Hetherington. He calls Douglas into his office and asks him why he put the package there. Douglas says that he has not been on that level all day. He's been in the enginerring areas since last night. Rathenn performs a surface scan and learns that Douglas is being honest. Ethan plays the crystal again and Douglas is shocked to see himself on the screen. Ethan sends him back to work but he is not to speak of this until the matter is cleared up.
Ethan has the idea that perhaps some illicit betting is going on and maybe its connected to that. Rathenn is not sure but agrees to help investigate. While Ethan goes down to the seedier side of the station to check into it, Rathenn runs ship records but cannot find any Minbari vessels having been here in the last three weeks. he begins to worry that perhaps the Shadowsouled have reared themselves again. He contacts Shinchiro and asks him to look into the situation as well since he is an unknown on the station.
None of the legitimate bookies in the Zocalo are taking bets yet since no fights have been announced, so Ethan heads down. As he enters a bar he almost walks into Shinchiro walking out. Shinchiro makes his excuses and leaves. Ethan speaks to the barkeep and is directed to a guy in the corner as someone who takes bets. Ethan proves to have less tact than his predecessor and ends up in a barfight. At the end of it, Ethan interrogates the bleeding and bloodied bookie than a Minbari named "Rathenn" put a sizeable bet on Nakir. Ethan pays for the damage and heads back uptop.
During this time Rathenn has been down to the engineering section to look about. Concerned that something may he been planted he looks around and asks the engineers if they have seen anything unusual. None of them has and one says "not since you were down here this morning." Rathenn scans his mind and sure enough sees himself down here talking to the engineer. He now changes his mind... this could be someone with a changeling net!
Rathenn returns to his quarters where Shinchiro is waiting for him. He learns that Rathenn has been seen putting large bets on the fight across the station. He thanks Shinchiro and gives him a few credits for his help. Ethan then turns up and explains the same. On a station this size how do they catch this person before someone gets hurt?
Cutscene: A gathering of lowlife's in the dark underbelly of the station, including the guy that Ethan beat up. Rathenn stands at the head of the room and looks them all over.
"Well done. The first stage of the operation is underway."
To be Continued...
August 12th 2258.
Guest Stars:
Scott Bakula as Captain Jake Cunningham.
Julianna Margulies as Doctor Marissa Fletcher.
Tantalus station is going to be the site of a Mutai tournament among the resident aliens, and Ethan is given the job of making sure the event goes safely and as quietly as it can. Not too pleased as having such an activity on his watch, but also knowing that the aliens won't be pleased if he sticks his human nose in recruits Rathenn as his voice.
Ethan wants to speak with the organiser of the event so they head to the quarters of the Muta-Do. They are met at the entrance to his quarters by a Brakiri assist named Nakir. Nakir invites them in and introduces the Muta-Do, an ageing Hyach. Ethan explains that while the fight will be taking place in the opened levels below away from populated levels of the station, it will be televised across the station for all to watch and that he will have security there to make sure everything goes smoothly. The Muta-Do says that such precautions are unnecessary but fair. They discuss the tournament and eventually leave.
The next morning, Nakir comes to Ethan in his office and says that someone left a data crystal in a package outside his door this morning. When Ethan puts the crystal in the player it shows a silhouetted figure (no details visible) speaking through some kind of voice scrambler. The figure on screen advises Nakir to throw his fights or else he dies. Nakir is concerned for his life but also he cannot not fight in case he is shamed. He refuses to throw his fights either. Ethan calls Rathenn down to the office to see what he makes of it. Rathenn watches the screen and his keen hearing picks up the quiet hum of Minbari engines in the background.
Nakir is sent back to his quarters and told to go about his business while they investigate.
Rathenn runs the security tapes of that corridor earlier that day. He soon finds one of the station security walking down the corridor and placing the package outside Nakir's door and then walking off. Ethan runs the records and learns his name is Douglas Hetherington. He calls Douglas into his office and asks him why he put the package there. Douglas says that he has not been on that level all day. He's been in the enginerring areas since last night. Rathenn performs a surface scan and learns that Douglas is being honest. Ethan plays the crystal again and Douglas is shocked to see himself on the screen. Ethan sends him back to work but he is not to speak of this until the matter is cleared up.
Ethan has the idea that perhaps some illicit betting is going on and maybe its connected to that. Rathenn is not sure but agrees to help investigate. While Ethan goes down to the seedier side of the station to check into it, Rathenn runs ship records but cannot find any Minbari vessels having been here in the last three weeks. he begins to worry that perhaps the Shadowsouled have reared themselves again. He contacts Shinchiro and asks him to look into the situation as well since he is an unknown on the station.
None of the legitimate bookies in the Zocalo are taking bets yet since no fights have been announced, so Ethan heads down. As he enters a bar he almost walks into Shinchiro walking out. Shinchiro makes his excuses and leaves. Ethan speaks to the barkeep and is directed to a guy in the corner as someone who takes bets. Ethan proves to have less tact than his predecessor and ends up in a barfight. At the end of it, Ethan interrogates the bleeding and bloodied bookie than a Minbari named "Rathenn" put a sizeable bet on Nakir. Ethan pays for the damage and heads back uptop.
During this time Rathenn has been down to the engineering section to look about. Concerned that something may he been planted he looks around and asks the engineers if they have seen anything unusual. None of them has and one says "not since you were down here this morning." Rathenn scans his mind and sure enough sees himself down here talking to the engineer. He now changes his mind... this could be someone with a changeling net!
Rathenn returns to his quarters where Shinchiro is waiting for him. He learns that Rathenn has been seen putting large bets on the fight across the station. He thanks Shinchiro and gives him a few credits for his help. Ethan then turns up and explains the same. On a station this size how do they catch this person before someone gets hurt?
Cutscene: A gathering of lowlife's in the dark underbelly of the station, including the guy that Ethan beat up. Rathenn stands at the head of the room and looks them all over.
"Well done. The first stage of the operation is underway."
To be Continued...
