A Spider in the Web
Encyclopedia
"A Spider in the Web" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction
television series Babylon 5
.
, Taro Isogi, is on Babylon 5 to conduct negotiations with various large corporations on making reforms on Mars colony. His negotiations have caught the eye of the Earth Alliance Senate, who fear he is negotiating financing to conduct a new Mars rebellion. At the same time, a mysterious group operating out of the San Diego Wastelands also sets a plan into motion, starting with a cargo container opening on Babylon 5, and a figure stepping out.
After an initial negotiation session, Talia and Taro are approached in a corridor by Abel Horn, who yells "Free Mars!" and electrocutes Taro. When he goes to attack Talia, she scans his mind, picking up memories of him in a fighter exploding while attacking an Earth Alliance
cruiser. After the scan, Horn moves on, seemingly oblivious. Talia is interviewed by Captain Sheridan
, who attempts to understand the images. Talia explains that she has scanned numerous members of the Free Mars movement, who she describes as violent fanatics with a hatred for Earth. Talia believes that this person is different, as there was no emotion of any kind in his mind, and there is more going on than people realize.
A short time later, Abel Horn uses a StellarCom station giving it a seeming invalid code, only for the screen to change to one shown at the mysterious group's headquarters. He reveals phase one is complete, and downloads his record of the encounter with Isogi. "Control" identifies Winters and, deeming her a potential threat to the mission, orders Horn to eliminate her before proceeding to phase two.
In the course of his investigation, Sheridan learns that Isogi's plan was create a free and independent Mars, without bloodshed, and beneficial to all parties. Amanda Carter, a Mars government official who Isogi was negotiating with, speculates that both the Earth Alliance Senate and the Mars Conglomerate would want him dead. Garibaldi
also informs him that there would be no way for the killer to get his electrocution weapon on to the station undetected unless he had special help.
Horn soon corners Talia on a walk way, kills her security escort and prepares to kill her the same way he did Isogi. Before he can strike, Talia again picks up the images in his head, and is able to escape while he is distracted. For a brief time he appears to be normal, wondering what "they" did to him, before returning to a rigid state (revealing that some method of brainwashing
may be at work). Talia again seeks out Sheridan and tries to explain what she saw in her attacker's head, this time in a bit more detail. Based on Talia's description, Garibaldi is able to identify Horn who was a leader of revolutionary group Free Mars. However, according to EarthForce records Horn was killed in an encounter with an EarthForce warship in orbit of the Martian moon Phobos
. Talia realizes that this is what she has been seeing and reveals that the images in Abel's head are actually of his death. Sheridan also recognizes Horn; he was responsible for a terrorist attack in which friends of he and his wife Anna were killed.
Horn seeks out Amanda Carter, who he calls "Commander", revealing that he was rescued from the wreckage of his craft and fixed up by a "snake head doc". He claims to have come to Babylon 5 once he learned she would be there, but also claims he has no memory of killing Isogi. He tries to blackmail Carter to get himself smuggled back to Mars, in exchange for keeping her involvement in Free Mars secret. After a brief breakdown to his normal persona, Horn returns to his altered state and attacks her.
Sheridan recalls details of a project codenamed Lazarus, an Earth Force cyber-experiment from the 2230s which sounds similar to what Talia described regarding Horn. Further research, using the computer, reveals that it involved using subjects on the verge of death and hard-wiring their brain with a computer intelligence
. Telepaths would focus the mind of the subject on the moment of death, shutting out all other conscious thought, with the computer taking complete control over the body. He speculates that Horn is the result of this project, and that Talia's mind scans are causing problems with his programming.
Carter, at Horn's insistence, contacts Talia and requests they continue the negotiations Isogi had begun. Talia travels to Carter's quarters for a meeting, and is attacked by Horn when she arrives, who wants to know what he has become. Talia again scans his mind, seeing his death, and then recovery by human doctors and a Psi Cop. He takes Talia hostage upon the arrival of Sheridan and Garibaldi (with Zack Allan
in the background in his first series appearance), but is almost persuaded to give up before his programming regains control. After being wounded Horn initiates a self-destruct, blowing himself up, eliminating all of Sheridan's evidence.
When discussing the images she pulled from Horn's mind with Sheridan and Garibaldi, Talia does not inform them of the Psi Cop's presence. Sheridan also reveals that he is an avid collector of information of black projects and secret organizations. He says that he has been tracking a rogue agency within EarthGov for six years named Bureau 13. He blames them for Horn's programming, but knows he cannot prove anything. He states his desire to kill this "spider in the web".
In her quarters, Talia scans through the listing of Psi Cops looking to identify the one from Horn's memories, and discovers that she is officially listed as dead. Meanwhile, the same Psi Cop is shown in the Bureau 13's headquarters in San Diego receiving news of Horn's partial failure.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
.
Synopsis
An old friend of Talia WintersTalia Winters
Talia Winters is a fictional character appearing on the science fiction television show Babylon 5 during its first and second seasons. She was portrayed by actress Andrea Thompson....
, Taro Isogi, is on Babylon 5 to conduct negotiations with various large corporations on making reforms on Mars colony. His negotiations have caught the eye of the Earth Alliance Senate, who fear he is negotiating financing to conduct a new Mars rebellion. At the same time, a mysterious group operating out of the San Diego Wastelands also sets a plan into motion, starting with a cargo container opening on Babylon 5, and a figure stepping out.
After an initial negotiation session, Talia and Taro are approached in a corridor by Abel Horn, who yells "Free Mars!" and electrocutes Taro. When he goes to attack Talia, she scans his mind, picking up memories of him in a fighter exploding while attacking an Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
cruiser. After the scan, Horn moves on, seemingly oblivious. Talia is interviewed by Captain Sheridan
John Sheridan (Babylon 5)
John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
, who attempts to understand the images. Talia explains that she has scanned numerous members of the Free Mars movement, who she describes as violent fanatics with a hatred for Earth. Talia believes that this person is different, as there was no emotion of any kind in his mind, and there is more going on than people realize.
A short time later, Abel Horn uses a StellarCom station giving it a seeming invalid code, only for the screen to change to one shown at the mysterious group's headquarters. He reveals phase one is complete, and downloads his record of the encounter with Isogi. "Control" identifies Winters and, deeming her a potential threat to the mission, orders Horn to eliminate her before proceeding to phase two.
In the course of his investigation, Sheridan learns that Isogi's plan was create a free and independent Mars, without bloodshed, and beneficial to all parties. Amanda Carter, a Mars government official who Isogi was negotiating with, speculates that both the Earth Alliance Senate and the Mars Conglomerate would want him dead. Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
also informs him that there would be no way for the killer to get his electrocution weapon on to the station undetected unless he had special help.
Horn soon corners Talia on a walk way, kills her security escort and prepares to kill her the same way he did Isogi. Before he can strike, Talia again picks up the images in his head, and is able to escape while he is distracted. For a brief time he appears to be normal, wondering what "they" did to him, before returning to a rigid state (revealing that some method of brainwashing
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
may be at work). Talia again seeks out Sheridan and tries to explain what she saw in her attacker's head, this time in a bit more detail. Based on Talia's description, Garibaldi is able to identify Horn who was a leader of revolutionary group Free Mars. However, according to EarthForce records Horn was killed in an encounter with an EarthForce warship in orbit of the Martian moon Phobos
Phobos (moon)
Phobos is the larger and closer of the two natural satellites of Mars. Both moons were discovered in 1877. With a mean radius of , Phobos is 7.24 times as massive as Deimos...
. Talia realizes that this is what she has been seeing and reveals that the images in Abel's head are actually of his death. Sheridan also recognizes Horn; he was responsible for a terrorist attack in which friends of he and his wife Anna were killed.
Horn seeks out Amanda Carter, who he calls "Commander", revealing that he was rescued from the wreckage of his craft and fixed up by a "snake head doc". He claims to have come to Babylon 5 once he learned she would be there, but also claims he has no memory of killing Isogi. He tries to blackmail Carter to get himself smuggled back to Mars, in exchange for keeping her involvement in Free Mars secret. After a brief breakdown to his normal persona, Horn returns to his altered state and attacks her.
Sheridan recalls details of a project codenamed Lazarus, an Earth Force cyber-experiment from the 2230s which sounds similar to what Talia described regarding Horn. Further research, using the computer, reveals that it involved using subjects on the verge of death and hard-wiring their brain with a computer intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
. Telepaths would focus the mind of the subject on the moment of death, shutting out all other conscious thought, with the computer taking complete control over the body. He speculates that Horn is the result of this project, and that Talia's mind scans are causing problems with his programming.
Carter, at Horn's insistence, contacts Talia and requests they continue the negotiations Isogi had begun. Talia travels to Carter's quarters for a meeting, and is attacked by Horn when she arrives, who wants to know what he has become. Talia again scans his mind, seeing his death, and then recovery by human doctors and a Psi Cop. He takes Talia hostage upon the arrival of Sheridan and Garibaldi (with Zack Allan
Zack Allan
Zack Allan is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jeff Conaway. He regularly appeared in the show from season 2 onwards. During the second and third seasons of the series he was a security officer on the Babylon 5 station...
in the background in his first series appearance), but is almost persuaded to give up before his programming regains control. After being wounded Horn initiates a self-destruct, blowing himself up, eliminating all of Sheridan's evidence.
When discussing the images she pulled from Horn's mind with Sheridan and Garibaldi, Talia does not inform them of the Psi Cop's presence. Sheridan also reveals that he is an avid collector of information of black projects and secret organizations. He says that he has been tracking a rogue agency within EarthGov for six years named Bureau 13. He blames them for Horn's programming, but knows he cannot prove anything. He states his desire to kill this "spider in the web".
In her quarters, Talia scans through the listing of Psi Cops looking to identify the one from Horn's memories, and discovers that she is officially listed as dead. Meanwhile, the same Psi Cop is shown in the Bureau 13's headquarters in San Diego receiving news of Horn's partial failure.
Arc significance
- First appearance of Security officer Zack AllanZack AllanZack Allan is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jeff Conaway. He regularly appeared in the show from season 2 onwards. During the second and third seasons of the series he was a security officer on the Babylon 5 station...
, who will become a regular in Season Three onward. - IvanovaSusan IvanovaSusan Ivanova is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Claudia Christian.-Character overview:...
describes Talia as "interesting" and a person you can trust, a far cry from her usual blanket negativity towards telepaths and Psi-Corps. This likely either hints at or foreshadows a change in their relationship. - Sheridan reveals his obsession with studying and eliminating clandestine groups operating within the Earth Alliance.
- First mention of "Control", which will play a part in Talia's character arc.
Production details
- "A Spider in the Web" was originally titled "A Trick of the Mind."
- The great-grandfather of the Martian negotiator Amanda Carter is named John Carter, a reference to the Edgar Rice BurroughsEdgar Rice BurroughsEdgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
character John Carter of MarsJohn Carter (character)John Carter is a fictional character, created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, who appears in the Barsoom series of novels. Though actually a Virginian from Earth and a visitor to Mars, he is often referred to as "John Carter of Mars" in reference to the general setting in which his deeds are recorded, in...
. - Since the series creatorJ. Michael StraczynskiJoseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
was later informed that "Bureau 13Bureau 13Bureau 13 is a fictional top-secret government agency featured in the role-playing game Bureau 13: Stalking the Night Fantastic which investigates and combats supernatural events...
" is the name of a pre-existing role-playing gameRole-playing gameA role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, the name was not used in the series again.