Sinclair and Garibaldi await the arrival of a ship bearing the body of Branmer, the Minbari general who led the attack on the Line. Branmer died on a diplomatic mission and his ship is enroute home, stopping along the way to let people pay their respects. The ship -- a Minbari cruiser, the same kind that Sinclair fought on the Line -- arrives through the jumpgate.

On the zocalo, Ivanova is taking a break. Talia Winters arrives and sits across the bar from her. Meanwhile, a girl in scruffy clothing steals a piece of jewelry from a vendor. She's spotted, and runs away, then collapses on the floor, unconscious. Talia and Ivanova rush to her side. "She's a telepath," Talia says.

The Minbari ship approaches the station. Scans indicate that it's flying with gun ports open -- armed for a fight. The captain refuses to explain, but Delenn arrives at the command center in time to explain that it's simply a way of honoring a great military leader.

In medlab, Dr. Franklin reports that the girl appears normal except for unusually high EEG readings. Talia explains that she was a latent telepath whose powers suddenly activated -- probably due to the onset of puberty -- and her mind was unable to cope with the sudden inrush of foreign thoughts. Talia offers to notify the Psi-Corps so they can send a representative, but Ivanova objects.

Franklin examines the girl.

A procession bearing Branmer's casket comes aboard. Neroon, Branmer's second in command, greets Sinclair and Delenn. Ivanova and Garibaldi lead him away to the area they've prepared for the viewing of Branmer's body. Delenn comments to Sinclair that such a viewing is very unusual, but that the Star Riders, Branmer's clan, insisted on it. She seems disturbed.

The funeral procession.

Ivanova arrives in medlab just as the girl awakens. As she gains consciousness, she's nearly overwhelmed by the thoughts of the other people nearby, but Talia teaches her how to block them out. According to Talia, who couldn't help picking up the girl's thoughts, her name is Alisa Belden, and both of her parents are dead. Ivanova and Talia argue about who has jurisdiction over Alisa; Ivanova vows that Alisa won't leave the station if she can help it.

Neroon won't allow Garibaldi's men to guard Branmer's body until the viewing ceremony. He insists on Minbari guards. He baits Sinclair about the Line, but Delenn defuses the conversation.

Neroon makes his demand.

The ceremony proceeds normally until the casket is opened. Branmer's body is nowhere to be seen.

Sinclair orders Garibaldi to begin an investigation. Neroon threatens to go to war over the issue, claiming that the last incident involving a Minbari leader, the death of Dukhat (which Garibaldi counters was a tragic accident) was the cause of the last war. He's rebuffed by Delenn, who says that no one clan has the right to dictate Minbari policy.

After Neroon and Delenn leave, Ivanova tells Sinclair about Alisa. Sinclair says he'll stand behind whatever decision Ivanova makes.

Later, Sinclair visits Delenn in her quarters. As she adds pieces to her crystal sculpture, Delenn tells Sinclair that Branmer was originally a high priest of the religious caste. When the holy war against Earth began, Branmer felt an obligation to go to battle. He felt the Minbari cause was just, but obeyed the surrender order when it came. Another warleader, Sineval, committed suicide rather than obey the order, and many among the military caste greatly resent the surrender. Sinclair notes that Neroon is one of them; he seems to be spoiling for a rematch.

Discussing Neroon.

In medlab, Alisa is trying on new clothes, courtesy of the Psi Corps, while Talia tells her that the Corps will take good care of her once she joins. Ivanova arrives and counters with the story of the Corps' treatment of her mother.

Neroon intercepts Garibaldi in a corridor. The investigation is meeting with no success so far. An aide rushes up, clutching a piece of Branmer's burial robe. He says it was found outside the quarters of the pak'ma'ra -- carrion eaters.

Garibaldi and Neroon interrogate one of the pak'ma'ra, who claims ignorance about the disappearance of Branmer's body. Convinced that the alien is hiding something, Garibaldi orders all the pak'ma'ra to have their stomachs pumped.

The pak'ma'ra denies knowledge.

Na'Toth offers a deal to Alisa: a pampered life on the Narn homeworld in exchange for periodic tissue samples. Trying to get a glimpse of life on Narn, Alisa peers into Na'Toth's mind, and is repulsed; it's cold, alien. Franklin suggests that she take that into account while she considers the offer.

Na'Toth makes her offer.

Dr. Franklin reports to Garibaldi that analysis of the pak'ma'ras' stomach contents was negative; they hadn't dined on Minbari lately.

Neroon, furious that Garibaldi is wasting his time pumping alien stomachs, threatens to have his ship tear the station apart if Garibaldi can't solve the mystery.

Tests reveal that Alisa is at least a P10, which she jokes will probably make her worth more to the Narn. Ivanova warns Alisa against accepting the Narn offer, citing evidence that the Narn keep aliens as slaves and are likely to do so to Alisa once she's in their clutches. Talia once again suggests the Psi-Corps, provoking a heated argument with Ivanova; Alisa breaks in and says she wants to know all her options.

Ivanova takes Alisa to visit Delenn, who describes Minbari telepaths. Psi ability among the Minbari is considered a rare gift, and those who have it lead lives of public service, helping people who need their talents. In return, the Minbari people provide for all the psis' needs. While Delenn speaks, Alisa peers into her mind, and to her shock sees a vision of white-robed Minbari stunning the guards in front of Branmer's coffin, then opening the lid. Alisa flees Delenn's quarters; Delenn can clearly feel that she was being scanned. Alisa tells Ivanova that Delenn knows what happened to the body.

Discussing Minbari telepaths.

Sinclair enters his quarters to find them a shambles. He's attacked from behind by Neroon. The two of them scuffle; Neroon claims that he wanted to search the one place that would be strictly off-limits. But Garibaldi, arriving with Alisa in tow, claims he searched Sinclair's quarters with Delenn observing, and ushers Neroon away. Alisa tells Sinclair what she saw in Delenn's mind.

Delenn and an aide are packing something into a cargo container when Sinclair bursts into the cargo area. It's an urn, containing Branmer's ashes.

Delenn claims that she's honoring Branmer's wishes; he asked for a simple ceremony, and wouldn't want his body paraded around as a symbol of war. She had planned to pass the disappearance off as a miracle, a transformation of Branmer's body so that he could take his place among the gods. Now Sinclair and Garibaldi are in a difficult position, since they've promised to tell Neroon the results of their investigation. Delenn offers a compromise: Neroon will be told the truth, but she will tell him.

Neroon is furious when he learns what happened. He vows to lead a protest personally. Delenn stops him cold, claiming that if he contradicts her claim of transformation, the Star Riders will be destroyed, dishonored, by the Grey Council, whose opinion she claims to represent. She orders him to obey her, "just as you obeyed the order to end the war," and further to apologize to Sinclair.

Neroon does so, and is surprised when Sinclair offers to pay tribute to Branmer's courage and skill in a personal message to the Minbari people. "Perhaps there was some small wisdom in letting your people live," Neroon says. "We like to think so," replies Sinclair.

Neroon and Sinclair reconcile.

Sinclair and Delenn are talking in the stone garden when Alisa arrives and announces that she's going to live with the Minbari. Delenn claims that Alisa will help increase the understanding and communication between humans and Minbari. Sinclair agrees.

Alisa bids Ivanova and Talia an emotional farewell. Talia doesn't agree with her decision, but admits that Sinclair is right; Alisa's presence among the Minbari will benefit both peoples.

Sinclair meets up with Alisa on her way aboard the Minbari ship, and asks her if she saw anything else in Delenn's mind. Alisa responds that there was one other thing, a word, "chrysalis." "She shut down real fast when I touched that," Alisa says. She boards the cruiser, leaving Sinclair to ponder the significance of the word.

Synopsis by Steven Grimm

Last update: June 10, 2018