The Wisdom of Zathras

• Chapter One. Babylon Squared.
  1. "Not the One. NOT the One."
  2. "The One is hurt. Must find. Zathras must find. Help."
  3. "Great war. Terrible war. Much killings. Everyone fighting. A great darkness. It is the end of everything. Zathras warn, but no, no one listen to poor Zathras, no. Great war. But, great hope of peace. Need place. Place to gather, to fight to organize...to help save galaxy on the side of light. So they tell me. Must have. Or it is the end of all. The One leads us. The One tells us to go, we go. We live for The One. We would die for The One. We pull this place through time to save us all."
  4. "It is The One."
  5. "Zathras fixed--Take! Hurry!"
  6. "...time stabilizer. Help survive when make next time jump."
  7. "Leave me. You must listen to Zathras. You have a destiny. Go. Please. Go for Zathras."
  8. "You must leave now. Finished we are. There is no more time. Leave or be trapped here forever!"
• Chapter Two. War Without End, Part One.
  1. Zathras used to being beast of burden. Zathras have sad life, probably have sad death, but at least there is symmetry
  2. ...this wrong tool. Never use this.
• Chapter Three. War Without End, Part Two.
  1. "The One leads us. The One tells us to go, we go."
  2. "Zathras knew... you would not leave him. Zathras trusts... the One."
  3. "All Minbari belief is around three. Three castes -- worker, warrior, religious. Three languages. Light, Dark, and Grey. The Nine of the Grey Council -- three times three. All is three... As you are three. As you are one... As you are the One." He turns to Sinclair. "You are the One Who Was." He turns to Delenn. "You are the One Who Is." He indicates Sheridan. "You are the One Who Will Be." He again refers to them in turn. "You are the beginning of the story, and the middle of the story, and the end of the story that creates the next great story. In your heart, you know what Zathras says is true. Go now. Zathras' place is with the One Who Was. We have... a destiny."
  4. "Good. Good. Zathras knew you would come. This way."
• Chapter Four. Conflicts of Interest.
  1. Ivanova said unto Zathras, "Excuse me, I need to see Draal." And he replied, "Oh, Draal is very busy! Have had four ground quakes on other side of planet. Damage to weather control system, to great machine."
  2. Then Ivanova recognized him, "Zathras!" "Yes?" he replied. "What the hell are you doing here?" asked Ivanova.
  3. Zathras began to teach, saying, "Zathras work here. Zathras were born here. You work up there, Zathras work down here. You dress like that, Zathras dress like this."
  4. "That's not--" interrupted Ivanova.
  5. "Just covering all possibilities. Zathras does not want you being confused. Bye." And Zathras began to depart.
  6. Ivanova followed after him, "Hey! Wait a minute! You are not supposed to be here. We left you a thousand years in the past."
  7. "No!" answered Zathras, "We have never met before. But Zathras very pleased to be meeting you."
  8. Ivanova insisted, "No, we have met." Zathras explained,"No. Oh. No, noo. No no. You did not meet Zathras. You met Zathras."
  9. "Let's try this again." Ivanova said, and Zathras replied, "As you wish."
  10. And she began telling the last great story, "Zathras came with us to Babylon 4." "Yes," said Zathras.
  11. "Zathras stayed in the past with Valen," continued Ivanova. "Yes," answered Zathras.
  12. "You are Zathras," said Ivanova. Again, Zathras answered, "Yes." Then Ivanova concluded, "Therefore, you went into the past"
  13. Then he began to explain all things to her plainly, "No, that was not Zathras, that was Zathras. There are 10 of us, all of family Zathras, each one named Zathras. Slight differences in how you pronounce. Zathraas, Zathras, Zathras.. You are seeing now?"
  14. "There are ten of you?" asked Ivanova. And he replied, "Yes! Well, nine now." "And Zathras?" she asked.
  15. "Zathras gone!" said Zathras, "Zathras warned Zathras, but Zathras never listened to Zathras. Zathras was quiet one in family. SO! What can Zathras be doing for you?"
  16. And so it happened, that Zathras said, "Everyone always coming to Zathras with problems. Great responsibilities. But Zathras does not mind. Zathras trained in crisis management."
  17. Then Ivanova spoke, "That's great, lets--" But Zathras continued his discourse, teaching many things,
  18. "But only Zathras have no-one to talk to. No-one manages poor Zathras, you see. So Zathras talks to dirt. Sometimes talks to walls, or talks to ceilings. But dirt is closer. Dirt is used, through everyone walking on it. Just like Zathras, but we've come to like it. It is our role. It is our destiny in the universe. So, you see, sometimes dirt has insects in it. And Zathras likes insects. Not so good for conversation, but much protein for diet. Ha! Zathras fix now, this way."