Alfred Bester (Babylon 5)

Alfred Bester is the name of a fictional character in the television series Babylon 5, played by Walter Koenig. The character was named in honor of science-fiction author Alfred Bester.

Bester is a senior Psi Corps agent who appears to be linked to the sinister alien race called The Shadows and the conspiracy which led to the seemingly accidental death of former Earth President Santiago.

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

The similarity of Bester's name to that of the science fiction writer is no coincidence. Psi powers were a recurring theme in the real Bester's work, and Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski named the character in his honor.

The birth, life and death of Alfred Bester is chronicled in the Psi Corps Trilogy by Gregory Keyes. In this, we learn that the fictional Alfred Bester was named after the real science fiction author, in the context of the Babylon 5 universe.

Bester initally agreed to work with Sheridan in the Shadow War. Eventually he turned against Sheridan, and subjected Michael Garabaldi to intense reprogramming. He then used Garabaldi as a sleeper agent to uncover a plot against the corps, and to also capture Sheridan. Eventually Garabaldi was released from his programming, but Bester still left blocks in that kept Garabaldi from killing him.

Following the telepath war, Alfred Bester was wanted for war crimes. He spent several years on the run before moving to Paris, France. He fell in love with a local businesswoman named Louise. But Michael Garabaldi eventually tracked him down. Bester was brought before the war crimes trial, and was tried in France for his crimes. He was sentenced to life in prison, and also sentenced to having his telepathic abilities taken away for the rest of his life. He spent over 10 years in a maximum security prison, and shortly after the death of John Sheridan, he died in 2281.