July, 1996
     Warning: the below story fragment *DOES* spoil things that go on in 
the episode Point of No Return. If you have not see the episode, DO NOT 
READ THE STORY. 
     Okay, this one is something I wrote just because I wanted to 'see' 
what happened when the core group 'talked' to Zack. It *obviously* would 
not have worked in the actual episode, because it would have removed the 
worry about 'is he or isn't he' when Zack talked to the NightWatch liaison. 
Mainly I wrote this for my own satisfaction, but figured I'd share it. 
          --Galenn
uvalpha@ix.netcom.com
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"Missing Scene" from Point of No Return
by Galenn
 
     Sergeant Zack Allan walked down the corridor to his quarters, feeling 
pretty good that he'd actually managed to escape injury in the ugly riot 
that had broken out in the Zocalo. That is, he felt pretty good until his 
thoughts returned to the cause of that riot, and the reason he had skirted 
the edges of the whole fight, unwilling to jump in on either side. He was 
acting chief of station security, and *should* have tried to stop the 
violence, but what he'd seen from his fellow security officers had scared 
him. They hadn't been trying to subdue anyone, or stop the violence -- 
instead they had been happily beating the crap out of *anyone* in their 
way...
     He slid his access card into the lock on his quarters, and stopped 
short as the door slid aside. Sitting on his sofa was Commander Susan 
Ivanova, giving him a look he never wanted to be on the receiving end of 
again. Behind her was the real security chief, his boss Michael Garibaldi, 
and to one side stood G'Kar. Zack wanted desperately to back away, let the 
door close, and forget he'd ever seen the gloomy trio. However, when he 
paused there was suddenly someone tall, standing right behind him. The hair 
on the back of his neck stood up as station commander Captain Sheridan 
merely said, "Get in."
     He swallowed nervously, stepped into his quarters. As Sheridan quickly 
followed and locked the door behind him, the only coherent thought he could 
form in his mind was, _Oh shit -- I'm dead._
     However, in the back of his mind, a tiny voice said, _C'mon, Zack, 
look at em -- if you didn't think they were up to something before, now 
you've got proof. What if the NightWatch folks are *right*?_
     Sheridan said, "Officer Allan, please have a seat," but Zack ignored 
him. Instead he walked carefully around G'Kar, studiously ignoring the red 
gaze, and stopped in front of Garibaldi.
     "Chief, what's goin' on? Do you know how this *looks*? Do you know 
what they're saying about this kind of thing?" His voice grew louder with 
each question until he was nearly yelling in Garibaldi's face.
     All Garibaldi did, however, was nod in the direction of the sofa and 
say, "Siddown, Zack. Just be quiet for a coupla minutes and *listen* to us. 
Then you can yell if you want to."
     Zack stared at Garibaldi for a moment, then shook his head and walked 
back around to sit on the sofa -- as far away from Ivanova as possible. 
"This is crazy."
     "No," Garibaldi said sharply, "what's goin' on out *there* is crazy, 
Zack. Doesn't it bother you just a little that NightWatch has been 
authorized to invade peoples' privacy just because someone says something 
they don't like?" He leaned over the back of the sofa and grabbed at the 
armband Zack wore, then asked, "Does this scrap of fabric authorize you to 
be the thought police? Someone says something you don't like and you lock 
them up? Just for having different *opinions*?!"
     "It's not like that -- they're worried about people... They . . ." He 
took a deep breath and tried again, "People are threatening the stability 
of Earth Alliance -- trying to overthrow the President -- that's *treason*, 
Chief."
     "Yeah, well, lemme tell you something about that great President of 
ours, Zack," Garibaldi said. He was practically in Zack's face now, 
carrying on as if the others weren't even there, and when Ivanova looked to 
Sheridan about perhaps halting the tirade, Sheridan shook his head 'no' and 
mouthed, "Wait to see how he does."
     Garibaldi continued, "Is overthrowing a President who's come to power 
*by* committing treason really treason, or justice, Zack?"
     "You don't know that, Chief. Those are just rumours and destabilizing 
propaganda someone leaked to ISN..."
     Garibaldi laughed, and Ivanova looked over at G'Kar, then Sheridan, 
who shook his head again. After all, Zack was Garibaldi's employee -- he 
did have the best chance to get through. If he didn't, the others would 
step in...
     "Boy, they've got you brainwashed," Garibaldi muttered. "Just rumours, 
eh Zack? *Just* rumours? You know *why* I haven't trusted you completely? 
C'mon, Zack, *think* for a minute! New Year's last year I found jammers set 
to EarthForce 1's Gold Channel frequency in cargo a man *lost his life* to 
tell me about. When I tried to get a warning to Commander Sinclair, my own 
second *shot me in the back*."
     "I know that, Chief," Zack said uncomfortably, wondering if Garibaldi 
was going to blow a blood vessel.
     "Well, *you* put two and two together! EarthForce 1 blew up after 
President Santiago's speech was jammed -- communications couldn't get 
through. If it had been an accident, why the hell did Jack shoot me? It's 
more than obvious he was trying to cover something up..."
     Zack frowned for a moment, thinking it over, then said, "But we don't 
know that Clark had anything to do with that..."
     Garibaldi glared daggers at his aide and took a deep breath, at which 
point Sheridan stepped in calmly and Ivanova and G'Kar relaxed slightly. 
"Actually, we do," he said quietly. "You remember Clark's conveniently 
timed illness? He got off EarthForce 1 at Mars, and it blew up at Io."
     "Yes, Sir, I know," Zack said uncomfortably, beginning to see where 
this was heading and why they seemed to know so much about the leaked 
material. Now what the hell was he supposed to do?
     He studied Sheridan's expression, noticing that the normally boyish 
smile was gone, the captain's face now very grim. Sheridan took a deep 
breath, and for just an instant Zack thought he saw resignation flash in 
the hazel eyes, then he said, "Last year we ran into Clark's personal
physician. We got *proof* that Clark was *not* ill when he left EarthForce 1."
     Zack frowned -- that sounded so familiar... Sudden realization hit 
him, and his eyes widened. "That Dr. Jacobs that they had us searching for! 
Are you -- I..." He paused and looked from face to face.
     Garibaldi was nodding, and when he met Ivanova's eyes, she said, "Yes, 
it's true. He had the medical records with him. Now you know why EarthForce 
intelligence wanted to find him so badly. Clark didn't want the information 
getting out."
     Zack shook his head and said, "I don't *believe* this!" He looked back 
at Garibaldi and asked, "Chief, are you sure about this? How do you know 
someone isn't setting you up?"
     "Zack, c'mon," Garibaldi said, "Even if someone was setting us up, 
there's obviously something to it, or Jack wouldn't have shot me. Clark is 
either connected to it, or is at the *very least* taking advantage of it."
     "Chief, if you're wrong, they're legitimately gonna be able to space 
you. Hell, if you're right, and Clark wins, they're still gonna space you. 
You're really serious about this thing, aren't you?"
     "Yeah, Zack, I am. We all are. And I know you've got some serious 
doubts about what NightWatch has been doing. Go with your gut feeling on 
this one, Zack," Garibaldi coaxed.
     Zack frowned, thinking hard. Finally he looked around his quarters 
again, studying each one of them. "Hell, Chief, I don't think I want to 
live in the kind of world where guys in armbands tell you who you can and 
can't like, and what you can and can't think." He glanced guiltily down at 
his own arm and said, "I thought I was helping -- I... they told me it was 
just to protect Earth, and I fell for it."
     Sheridan nodded and said, "That's the way groups like them operate: 
suck you in with the idea that you're just protecting your home, then 
slowly increase your level of involvement until it's very difficult to back 
out without becoming a target yourself."
     "Yeah, I finally figured that out," Zack grumbled. "So, what do you 
want me to do, Sir?"
     "First, I want to be sure you understand that this *will* be 
considered treason by the current administration. If things go badly and 
we're caught, there is very little chance any of us are long for this 
world." When Zack swallowed hard but nodded his understanding, Sheridan 
continued. "However, I also want to remind you that as members of 
EarthForce, we are oath-bound to defend EarthAlliance from enemies both 
external and internal. From everything we've seen, this definitely 
qualifies."
     Zack nodded and looked around the room again. Garibaldi's expression 
was neutral, but Ivanova's forehead was creased in a slight frown -- she 
looked like she was fighting a headache. G'Kar still stood to one side, 
patiently waiting. When Zack met his gaze the Narn smiled, and Zack 
wondered what part *he* played in this.
     Sheridan cleared his throat and Zack's attention snapped back to him. 
"Now, to that end we cannot allow NightWatch to retain control of the 
station --"
     "But Captain," Zack cut in, "we -- they were *ordered* to take 
control..."
     Sheridan smiled, and Zack wondered briefly if the man were cracking 
under the strain. However, Sheridan calmly explained, "Yes, NightWatch was 
ordered to take over -- by the Political Office," his smile broadened and 
he added, "Which just happens to be a civilian entity, *outside* the chain 
of command."
     Zack pondered that for a moment, the implications finally filtering 
through around the same time Ivanova took up the reins. "As members of 
EarthForce, we must follow the orders of the officers appointed above us, 
and respect the chain of command. Because the order putting NightWatch in 
control came from outside that chain of command, it is *not* a lawful 
order. We are oath-bound to take command of the station back."
     Zack smiled as he realized there was a solution to the problem, but 
rapidly sobered again and said, "But, some of em aren't going to sit back 
and take it. Captain, they have you -- and you, Chief -- on their list of 
suspects. They'll come after you! And if you take that many security people 
off duty, you won't have enough to keep any kind of order on the station..."
     Sheridan smiled and nodded to G'Kar, who bowed slightly and said, 
"That is why I am here, Mr. Allan. Your captain did my people and I a great 
favour, and I am finally able to begin to repay him."
     Zack's eyes widened and he looked to Garibaldi, who grinned and 
nodded. Then the Narn continued, "Some of my people are on their way here 
currently, and are quite willing to pledge themselves to protecting this 
place."
     Again, Sheridan stepped in and said, "I need to ask one favour of you, 
Zack. The Narn will arrive at 03:00 hours. All we need you to do is let 
NightWatch know."
     "And they'll head down there to catch you, Captain," Zack protested. 
"What's that gonna accomplish?"
     "Don't worry, Zack," Garibaldi reassured, "All we need to do is get 
them into the bay, then we drop the pressure doors on em."
     Zack frowned and said, "I'll be trapped too, and they'll know I 
betrayed them..."
     "No," Garibaldi said, shaking his head, "We won't let that happen. You 
tell us when they're all in, and we'll drop the far door first. You'll have 
about three seconds before the other one drops. It's not a lot of time, but 
it should be enough to get out..."
     Zack eyed them dubiously, then looked at Sheridan and asked, "What're 
you gonna do with them once you've got them? They're -- they were my 
friends..."
     "And a lot of them are guilty of nothing more than bad judgement and 
caving in to peer pressure. Don't worry, Zack, I'm not about to do anything 
drastic to them," Sheridan assured him. "We just need to get them all in 
one place, where they'll be forced to *listen* to what we have to say."
     Zack let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding, and 
relaxed. "So, all you want me to do is tell them I heard you're bringing in 
a bunch of Narn to replace them, then when everyone's in the bay let you 
know and then make a break for it?"
     "That's it, Zack," Garibaldi said. "We'll handle the rest." He took a 
deep breath, met Zack's troubled gaze, and said, "You were upset because I 
hadn't trusted you enough to let you in on things, Zack. I hope you 
understand why it had to be that way until I knew where you stood." Zack 
nodded, and Garibaldi continued, "Well, we're letting you in on it now, 
Zack. We need your help, or NightWatch *will* take over."
     Zack nodded and said, "Okay, Chief, you can count on me. I'll do it."
     Sheridan smiled and said, "Thank you, Zack. You go ahead and let them 
know, and we'll get things ready."
     Zack nodded and stood, then paused to ask, "Captain, what happens if 
it doesn't work?"
     "It has to work, Zack," Sheridan answered. "I'm not going to let 
everything we've worked so hard for fall into the hands of a bunch of 
power-hungry fascists."
     "Yes, Sir," Zack said, hoping the captain's confidence in him and the 
plan was warranted. "I'd better be going, then..."
     He walked out of his quarters and headed for the security office-cum- 
NightWatch headquarters, hoping he could pull it off.
 
     The door slid closed behind Zack, and all eyes turned to Garibaldi. 
Ivanova asked, "Well, *can* we trust him?"
     Garibaldi shrugged and said, "I'm pretty sure we can -- I hope we can. 
He's been uncomfortable and pretty scared since NightWatch started 
tightening their noose. If you still trust my judgement, I think he'll do 
the right thing."
     "Well, we've got three hours before we find out," Sheridan said. "I 
suggest we finish anything that needs to be done, and try to get some rest 
before all hell breaks loose."
     G'Kar nodded sharply and said, "I will make certain my people are 
ready."
     Sheridan nodded in return and said, "Thank you."
     They left Zack's quarters and separated, each heading off to make 
their own arrangements.
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Babylon 5 is (c) 1996 - 2000 & Babylonian Productions. This "missing scene" 
is not intended to infringe on these copyrights. "Point of No Return 
Missing Scene" is (c) 1996 Galenn 
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