User:Aladdin Sane/B5-AS-notes/Divided Loyalties (sandbox)

"Divided Loyalties" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.

Plot summary
This is the summary of the episode.

Teaser – Universe Today
Ambassador Delenn and Captain Sheridan exchange familiar pleasantries and insightful information at the Universe Today newspaper machine. On Mars, a dying man delivers a data crystal to a Ranger.

Act I – Lyta Alexander
Sheridan and Chief Garibaldi discuss meeting with telepath Talia Winters to bring her in to the command staff's "conspiracy of light". At breakfast Winters and Commander Susan Ivanova chat, and Ivanova invites Winters to spend the night in her quarters.[*] An unidentified and damaged ship arrives at the station. Garibaldi recognizes the injured passenger, telepath Lyta Alexander. The backstory from The Gathering involving Alexander and Kosh Naranek is recounted. Alexander awakens in MedLab and demands to see Sheridan and the staff. She accuses "one of [the (Babylon 5) staff]" of being a traitor.

Act II – Sleeper spies
Alexander meets with the staff. She recounts escaping from the Psi Corps to Mars, and attempting to reach "Vorlon space". She describes intercepting information about a secret Psi Corps "sleeper program" to submerge an alternate personality in a spy. She states a password sent telepathically can awaken the "sleeper" personality. She states the code name for the sleeper spy is "Control". She claims to have the password. She proposes "probing" the staff by sending the password. She opines that the "sleeper" will react to her as a "threat", and requests not to be alone with any staff. Ivanova rejects being probed.

Sheridan discusses metaphorically being kicked in the "butt" with Delenn. Delenn holds Sheridan's hand. They refer to each other as "Captain" and "Ambassador".

Garibaldi reports the results of his investigation of Alexander to Sheridan. He opines that she is "telling the truth".

That evening, in Ivanova's quarters, Ivanova and Winters speak intimately to each other. They speak of Alexander. They speak of trust. They are dressed in comfortable lingerie. Their hair is down. Winters reaches for Ivanova.

Garibaldi requests of Zack Allan a cell move for Alexander.

Winters awakens in Ivanova's bed, reaches for her, but she is gone.

As guards escort Alexander between cells, lighting is lost, and a gloved hand is seen firing a PPG, multiple times. Alexander takes a downed guards' PPG and flees.

Act III – Ivanova's secret
Sheridan, Ivanova, and Garibaldi discuss Alexander's "escape". Sheridan opines that the proposed probe should be performed. Ivanova objects.

Alexander contacts Delenn, who negotiates Alexander's return to meet with the staff.

Winters meets Ivanova at her quarters, and retrieves her things. They speak of the previous night. Winters offers her support to Ivanova.

Ivanova, in Sheridan's quarters, admits to Sheridan she is "a latent telepath".

Act IV – Mind probe
Still in his quarters, Sheridan recalls part of his dream, "Do you know who I am?" to Ivanova.

In Sheridan's office, Alexander probes the staff, including David Corwin, Allan and others, except Ivanova.

Garibaldi, after dis-arming, is probed, and feigns a reaction, exclaiming, "Gotcha!"

Alexander suggests probing Ivanova, causing divisiveness among the staff. Garibaldi suggests singing "Kumbaya". Ivanova agrees to the probe. After being initially blocked, Alexander declares Ivanova "clean". Ivanova expresses her displeasure. Winters enters the office, is probed by Alexander, and is exposed as the sleeper agent, "Control". "Control" exclaims, "The Corps is mother, the Corps is father," and threatens Alexander's life.

Tag – A Kosh connection?
Sheridan, Dr. Franklin and Garibaldi discuss the security lapse and strategic repercussions. Sheridan describes the situation as "an old-fashioned Mexican standoff". Garibaldi recalls Winters' complaint about Kosh, "...terror. For the future."

Ivanova confronts "Control". "Control" refers to Ivanova as "the romantic". She states, "The program is complete" and Talia [Winters] no longer exists. "Control" describes manipulating Ivanova to get "closer to [her]". She describes her sarcastically as "my good and dear friend". Ivanova accepts that the relationship has ended and leaves.

Alexander visits Kosh in his quarters and affirms her silence as to his secret. Kosh says nothing. He shows himself to her. The sound of flapping angels' wings is heard.

Arc significance

 * Completes the connotative relationship arc between Ivanova and Winters started in "Midnight on the Firing Line"[*]. The denotative reference to the relationship is made in season three episode 11, "Ceremonies of Light and Dark" which aired on 8 April 1996.
 * Lyta Alexander returns to the show.
 * Talia Winters is exposed as a Psi Corps sleeper agent and leaves the show.
 * Cmdr. Ivanova reveals that she is a latent telepath.