The Kindred, Part 1/Transcript

Episode Guide
SGA 4.18 "The Kindred Part 1" Episode Guide

Transcript
PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE ATLANTIS

Scenes from "Be All My Sins Remember'd Part 2" and "Missing" are shown.

END EXCERPTS

TEASER

EXT&mdash;NEW ATHOS, DAY

[The body of Kanaan lies on a funeral pyre. A heavily pregnant Teyla stands with the rest of her team, Colonel Carter, and some Athosians holding torches.]

CARTER I'm so sorry, Teyla. Kanaan was a good man. He would've made a wonderful father.

TEYLA I really thought I could save him.

SHEPPARD You did everything you could. That's all anybody can ask for.

CARTER He's at peace now.

[Teyla bows her head for several moments, and cries.]

TEYLA All right. I'm ready.

[The Athosians step forward with their torches. Teyla goes with them. She looks at Kanaan one last time, then takes one of the torches and lights the pyre. She steps back as the Athosians extend the fire. As Teyla watches, Kanaan sits up.]

KANAAN Teyla! Teyla!

TEYLA (horrified) He's still alive!

KANAAN (beseeching) Help me, Teyla, please! Please help me!

[Teyla starts forward, but Sheppard and Carter hold her back.]

TEYLA He's still alive! Let me go!

CARTER Teyla, it's too late!

KANAAN Help me, Teyla! Teyla! Teyla! Teylaaaa!

[The flames surround him, and Kanaan screams in agony.]

INT&mdash;TEYLA'S QUARTERS

[Teyla awakens in her bed. She looks around in surprise, breathing heavily.]

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Keller briefs Carter.]

KELLER As you know, for some time now, we've been tracking what appears to be a new sickness in the Pegasus Galaxy. We don't know exactly when or where it started, but so far, we've encountered it on seven different planets.

SHEPPARD Make that eight.

[Sheppard and McKay enter.]

SHEPPARD We just came back from 447. They got it, too.

KELLER Really? The same symptoms?

[McKay pauses by the medication table, wiping his hands with a solution.]

MCKAY Mmm. Starts with respiratory difficulty. Proceeds rapidly to fatal organ shut down&hellip;. (notices them all staring) Oh, it's, uh, disinfectant.

SHEPPARD We just came back from the bio-screen, Rodney. We were wearing a hazmat the whole time, too.

MCKAY Yes, well, it's better safe than sorry.

CARTER Do we have any idea how it's spread?

KELLER Well, that's the strange part. Most of these planets have no regular contact with each other. But a few of them do have regular contact with other neighboring planets that have been completely unaffected.

SHEPPARD So far.

CARTER How bad is this going to get?

KELLER If I had to make a projection, I'd base it on the evidence from M1R-992. There have been no new cases there for some time, which would seem to indicate the sickness has run its course.

CARTER And&hellip;?

KELLER It killed thirty percent of the population. If those numbers bear out on the rest of these planets, we're looking at a death toll of about 200,000. That's assuming it doesn't spread out any further.

[Everyone exchanges concerned looks.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS MESS HALL

[Teyla drinks from a mug, looking distracted. McKay comes up behind her. He has a small white box wrapped in blue ribbon, which he holds behind his back as he approaches her. She starts out of her reverie when he arrives.]

TEYLA Rodney! Has Doctor Keller made any progress with her investigation?

MCKAY Unfortunately, not, no. But she-she's still working on it.

[Teyla notices McKay awkwardly holding his hands behind his back.]

TEYLA What are you&hellip;hiding?

MCKAY I um, well, I-I've been waiting for the right time to give this to you. Um, and what with everything that's been going on and all, I, uh&hellip;anyway. Here you go.

[He gives her the gift.]

TEYLA You didn't have to do this, Rodney.

MCKAY Well, think of it as a-as a, kind of a "pre-baby present". Back on Earth, there's this company that produces recordings specifically for the fetus. The thinking is that, by, listening to the works of, say a great composer while still in the womb, the baby will be born with a natural predisposition toward musical ability, or in this case&hellip;science.

[Teyla opens the box. It holds a MP-3 player and large earphones.]

MCKAY Yeah, I-I recorded some of my reflections on some of my more ground-breaking accomplishments and theories&hellip;uh, just a couple hours worth.

[Teyla smiles.]

TEYLA You should not have gone to so much trouble.

MCKAY (pleased) Oh, it was no trouble at all.

TEYLA Mmm.

[Teyla packs the gift back into the box, already looking distracted once again.]

MCKAY Something wrong?

TEYLA Uh&hellip;I was debating whether or not to tell anyone.

MCKAY Oh! Tell anyone what?

[He sits across from her.]

TEYLA I believe I had a vision last night.

MCKAY (nonplussed) A&hellip;vision?

TEYLA I saw Kanaan, the father of my son. I believe that he was trying to&hellip;send me a message, that he's alive. And that I must not abandon the search for him and the rest of my people.

[McKay struggles not to look skeptical.]

MCKAY And-and this was while you were sleeping?

TEYLA (sighing) You think it was a dream.

MCKAY Well, I&hellip;uh.

TEYLA (insistently) I believe it was more than that. It did not feel like a dream.

[McKay doesn't know where to look. His discomfort is obvious.]

TEYLA I knew you would doubt me. I should not have said anything.

MCKAY Hey, I've been cocooned inside an alien spacecraft, I've had another person living inside of me, I've encountered not one, but two different versions of myself. So who am I to judge, huh? If you say it was a vision, then I believe it was a vision.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[McKay walks with Sheppard down a corridor.]

MCKAY I seriously doubt it was a vision.

SHEPPARD She's had them before.

MCKAY She's had remote contact with the Wraith, never another human. Besides, those Athosians have been missing for like, what, six months now? Do you really think they're still alive?

SHEPPARD What do you want me to do, Rodney? Tell her to give up hope?

MCKAY At some point, she may not have a choice.

[They part ways.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, NIGHT

INT&mdash;TEYLA'S QUARTERS

[Teyla sleeps in her bed. A bright light passes over her. She opens her eyes to find her whole bed is now in a forest.]

EXT&mdash;FOREST, DAY

[Teyla sits at the edge of her bed, looking around. From nothing, specks of light swirl until Kanaan appears before her.]

TEYLA Kanaan!

[She gets up and walks towards him.]

KANAAN Teyla?

[He looks at her, surprised to see her pregnant. She grins. Kanaan schools his expression to be more somber.]

KANAAN You must help us.

TEYLA How?

KANAAN Save us.

TEYLA Where are you? Where are our people?

[He pulls off a pendant from around his neck.]

KANAAN You bought me this.

TEYLA Yes.

KANAAN Do you remember where?

TEYLA The village of Croya. Is that where you are?

[Kanaan drops the pendant into her hand. Her fingers close over it.]

KANAAN Come find me.

INT&mdash;TEYLA'S QUARTERS

[Teyla awakens to find herself sitting up in bed in her quarters, her hand still outstretched as if clasping the pendant. She opens her hand as if expecting to see the pendant there, but her hand is empty.]

INT&mdash;CARTER'S OFFICE

[Sheppard briefs Carter.]

SHEPPARD She says the pendant in her vision is the same one she gave to Kanaan before he disappeared.

CARTER So what's the significance?

SHEPPARD Well, uh&hellip;I'm not sure.

CARTER Well, what does she want, exactly?

SHEPPARD Well, she bought it from some guy in a village on M2S-181. She wants to go back and check it out.

CARTER That's a peaceful trading settlement. I'd be very surprised if they had anything to do with the disappearance of the Athosians.

SHEPPARD That's what I said, but she still wants to go. She thinks that Kanaan is sending her a message, a clue.

CARTER And what do you think?

SHEPPARD It doesn't matter. It's Teyla, and we owe her one.

[Carter nods.]

CARTER Okay. But we're stretched pretty thin, dealing with this plague.

SHEPPARD I'll try to make it quick.

[He leaves her office.]

WORMHOLE EFFECT

EXT&mdash;M2S-181 FIELD, DAY

[Sheppard's team heads to the village.]

TEYLA I purchased the pendant from an artisan in Croya, the village we are about to visit. Among the Athosians, it's quite common to present such gifts as expressions of admiration and respect.

RONON (to McKay) Hey, maybe I'll pick you something up while we're there.

MCKAY Really?

RONON No.

SHEPPARD (to Teyla) All right, so we'll ask around, see if we can get some useful intel, but if you even begin to sense any danger&mdash;

TEYLA (interrupting) I'll make straight for the 'gate, leaving you to deal with it.

SHEPPARD (a bit surprised) All right, then.

EXT&mdash;VILLAGE OF CROYA, DAY

[Several merchants ply their wares. Teyla approaches a woman setting out her baskets in a booth.]

TEYLA Excuse me. I'm wondering if you can tell me what happened to the artisan who used to occupy this space? He specialized in handcrafted jewelry&mdash;bracelets, pendants, chains&hellip;?

WOMAN He's gone.

TEYLA Gone?

WOMAN During the sickness that took the village several weeks back. He and some forty others. I'm sorry, child. He's dead.

[Teyla looks stunned.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Carter enters, heading to Keller.]

CARTER Hey, I hear you have something.

KELLER Yeah. I found out what's making these people sick, and it's something we've encountered before.

[She leads Carter to a monitor showing a display of molecules.]

KELLER It's a unique protein originally created by the inhabitants of a planet called Hoff. It was designed to interfere with the Wraith's feeding mechanism, making them immune to the process.

CARTER It also killed the feeding Wraith and half the people who took it.

KELLER That's right.

CARTER So this isn't some contagion that spreads naturally.

KELLER No. This is mass murder.

[Carter sighs.]

EXT&mdash;CROYA VILLAGE, DAY

[Teyla speaks with a villager, who shakes her head. Sheppard approaches as the villager walks away.]

SHEPPARD I think we're done here.

TEYLA Not yet.

SHEPPARD I've given this place the twice-over. Nobody knows anything.

TEYLA Well, perhaps someone does and has not seen fit to come forward yet. I was guided here. By showing me the pendant, Kanaan was telling me to come to this village.

SHEPPARD Look, you're going through a tough time. You want answers, that's understandable, but you might want to consider it's clouding your judgment&hellip;just a little.

TEYLA (piqued) What are you questioning, John? My interpretation of the vision or the vision itself?

SHEPPARD (sternly) We've been here long enough. If there was something for us to find, we would've found it by now.

[Teyla sighs as Sheppard turns away.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Rodney, Ronon, we're heading out.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

[Keller briefs Carter, McKay, and Sheppard.]

MCKAY Are you sure it's the same protein?

KELLER I ran a side-by-side comparison. It was almost an exact match.

CARTER Almost?

KELLER We're dealing with a new and improved version. The Hoffan drug killed fifty percent of the test subjects, and this one only kills thirty percent.

SHEPPARD Yeah, it's still thirty percent too many.

MCKAY How do the populations of eight different planets get inoculated with a drug and not even know about it.

KELLER It's possible it was administered through their food and water supply. We're running some tests.

[McKay looks startled.]

CARTER So who's behind this?

KELLER Well, maybe the Hoffans have resumed distribution of the drug, but on a much larger scale.

MCKAY They haven't been doing much of anything lately. When the Wraith discovered what they were up to, the whole civilization was wiped out.

SHEPPARD Well, maybe a few of them survived, and they're planning a little payback.

CARTER The random nature of this drug's distribution is clear and calculated. It's obviously intended to throw the Wraith completely off balance. They have no way of knowing which of their food sources have become infected.

MCKAY So it's just a matter of time before they become hungry and cranky. Well, I mean, I know I would.

CARTER We need to go back to Hoff. Search what's still standing, see if we can shed some light on the situation before another planet's targeted.

SHEPPARD Let's go, Rodney.

[Sheppard leaves. McKay reluctantly follows.]

INT&mdash;TEYLA'S QUARTERS

[Teyla sits meditating.]

EXT&mdash;FOREST, DAY

[Kanaan appears before her.]

KANAAN Teyla&hellip;

TEYLA Kanaan. Where are you?

KANAAN I don't know.

TEYLA Who took you?

KANAAN I don't know.

TEYLA How can I find you?

KANAAN You already know where to go to uncover the answers.

TEYLA The village.

KANAAN But you stopped looking.

TEYLA I went. I found nothing.

KANAAN You were close. Please, Teyla. Our time is growing short. We need you.

[He holds out his hand to her. She reaches out to grasp it.]

TEYLA Kanaan.

INT&mdash;TEYLA'S QUARTERS

[Teyla gasps as she opens her eyes, her hand still outstretched.]

INT&mdash;CARTER'S OFFICE

[Carter and Teyla head into her office.]

CARTER And you weren't sleeping?

TEYLA I was in a meditative state, but I was most definitely awake. There can be no doubt. This is real.

[Carter gestures for Teyla to sit in lounge chairs to the side of her desk..]

CARTER But you've already been to the planet.

TEYLA We missed something. I am certain of it.

CARTER I want to believe you, Teyla, but I'm a scientist. I'm trained to think critically.

TEYLA There is a possible explanation. Kanaan has the gift, the same ability that I do.

CARTER The Wraith DNA.

TEYLA Yes. Among my people, the gift is considered useful, but it also sets one apart. It can be difficult. Kanaan was the only one who could truly understand what it felt like.

CARTER It brought you together.

TEYLA It is something we have shared since childhood.

CARTER But have you ever communicated this way before?

TEYLA No.

[Carter sighs and shakes her head doubtfully.]

TEYLA I know what this looks like, Colonel. And I know what everyone is thinking: "she sees what she she wants to see; she believes what she wants to believe." But I assure you, that is not the case.

[Teyla and Carter study each other.]

CARTER All right. When Colonel Sheppard gets back from Hoff, we'll&mdash;

TEYLA I cannot wait. Kanaan said their time is running short. I must leave immediately.

CARTER I see.

[She pauses, and they stare at each other again.]

TEYLA I do not need your permission, Colonel. Unless you intend to restrain me&hellip;

CARTER (into radio) Major Lorne, come in.

[Teyla looks very concerned by Carter's response.]

LORNE (over radio) Go ahead, Colonel.

CARTER (into radio) Assemble your team. You'll be escorting Teyla back to M2S-181.

[Teyla sighs with relief.]

LORNE (over radio) Understood.

[Carter and Teyla stand.]

CARTER (to Teyla) I'm not letting you go back there alone.

TEYLA Thank you, Colonel.

CARTER Call me Sam.

TEYLA Thank you, Sam.

EXT&mdash;HOFF, DAY

[The city consists of bombed out buildings.]

INT&mdash;HOFF LIBRARY

[McKay looks around scattered papers and debris.]

SHEPPARD (over radio) Rodney, come in.

MCKAY (into radio) Go ahead.

SHEPPARD (over radio) Did you find anything?

MCKAY (into radio Just a bunch of junk, you?

EXT&mdash;HOFF STREET, DAY

[Sheppard patrols a street.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Nothing. The Wraith did a pretty good number on this place.

MCKAY (over radio) Yeah, this is more than just random destruction. This place used to be the repository of all Hoffan knowledge.

INT&mdash;HOFF LIBRARY

MCKAY (continuing, into radio) I'd say a lot of it's just missing.

[There is a clatter from behind McKay.]

MCKAY Who's there?

[The rest of the Sheppard and McKay conversation takes place between their respective locations.]

SHEPPARD Rodney, what's going on?

MCKAY I thought I heard something.

SHEPPARD Relax. Probably just rats.

MCKAY (worried) Rats?

[McKay warily approaches the area where he heard the sound.]

MCKAY Okay, if there's someone in here, you better come out.

[There's another clatter.]

MCKAY I'm not kidding!

[He heads down what used to be a row of book stacks. He peers in, seeing movement. Suddenly several children come out from where they're hiding and make a run for it.]

MCKAY Hey! Whoa! Hey!

[The children get by him before he can do anything. He sighs, then spots one boy running from another row of book stacks.]

MCKAY Hey!

[McKay heads him off. The boy stares at him, petrified.]

MCKAY Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hang on. I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanna ask you a couple of questions. Now, who are you? What are you doing here?

[The boy looks around, still frightened.]

MCKAY Okay, maybe you can help me. I'm looking for medical stuff: books, files, equipment&hellip;

BOY I don't know anything about that. By the time we got here, most of the good stuff was already gone. We're just picking through what's left.

MCKAY (keying radio) Sheppard!

[The boy takes advantage of McKay's distraction and escapes.]

MCKAY Whoa!

[He sighs and rolls his eyes as the boy disappears around the corner.]

MCKAY (into radio) Looks like we're not the only ones here.

[The conversation switches between McKay's and Sheppard's locations.]

SHEPPARD What do you got?

MCKAY A bunch of kids going through what's left of the place.

SHEPPARD Scavengers. You think they got a hold of what we're looking for?

MCKAY Nah, Hoffan research wouldn't have meant anything to them.

SHEPPARD All right, then, if not them, then who was it?

MCKAY I don't know. One thing's for sure, whoever has it knew exactly what they were looking for.

EXT&mdash;CROYA, DAY

[Lorne and his team walk with Teyla through the village.]

LORNE Hmm&hellip;Kind of reminds me of the flea markets they used to have back home. Every Sunday, stroll down to the Bay area, find pretty much anything you wanted&hellip;and a lot of things you didn't.

[He looks at a merchant putting out a particularly ugly lamp. Teyla gets distracted by a merchant selling jewelry to a man.]

LORNE What is it?

[Teyla does not respond. She unsheathes her knife and heads to the merchant. Lorne follows.]

LORNE Teyla?

[Teyla reaches the vendor's stall.]

TEYLA (to customer) Leave!

[The customer takes one look at Teyla's fierce expression and the knife she wields and takes off. Teyla immediately holds her blade to the startled merchant's neck.]

TEYLA I will ask you once, and you will answer me truthfully. Where did you get this pendant?

MERCHANT From a trader. If you like it that much, it's yours with my blessings.

[Teyla snatches the pendant and steps back. She looks at it. It is the same stone pendant with a marking that she saw in her vision.]

LORNE You recognize it?

TEYLA It belonged to Kanaan. (to merchant) What else did you acquire from this trader?

[The merchant purses his lips, but reaches back and sets out a wooden box. Teyla opens it and starts rummaging through it.]

MERCHANT You know, I don't want to be difficult here, but I did acquire that merchandise for a price. And while I really don't mind gifting you with an item, from a purely business standpoint, it really doesn't make sense for me to part with my stock&mdash;

[Teyla ignores the merchant and turns to Lorne.]

TEYLA This necklace belonged to Belara. It was a gift from her parents to mark her coming of age. And this ring&mdash;belonged to Halling.

[The merchant rolls his eyes.]

LORNE The trader you say you got these things from, when's the last time you saw him?

MERCHANT Several days ago, but he comes through here quite regularly. In fact, it's more than likely he may pay me a visit today. It would be my pleasure to make you the proper introductions.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Sheppard, McKay, and Ronon arrive in the control room. Carter is there.]

CARTER Anything?

SHEPPARD No. The place was cleared out.

[McKay notices the monitor display.]

MCKAY Is that what I think it is?

CARTER It's getting to be a familiar sight.

RONON What is it?

CARTER Wraith subspace tracking device. It's our old friend.

MCKAY Todd.

CARTER Maybe he wants to talk, and maybe he just wants to lead us into an ambush. There is always that possibility.

SHEPPARD Well, there's only one way to find out.

[Sheppard and Ronon head out.]

MCKAY (whining) Aw, come on, we just got back.

CARTER Sorry, Rodney.

MCKAY (pouting) I haven't even had lunch yet.

[He follows the others.]

CARTER (to Chuck) Dial it.

EXT&mdash;CROYA, DAY

[The jewelry merchant sees his dealer approaching and catches Lorne's eye as the dealer approaches. Lorne saunters over as the dealer takes items out of a satchel.]

DEALER Got some real nice merchandise for you today, my friend. Real nice.

LORNE Hey there. How you doing? You mind telling me where you got this stuff?

[The dealer looks between Lorne and the merchant. He sneers, then makes a run for it. He runs through the village, abruptly stopped by running into a large branch. He falls unconscious to the ground as Teyla steps from concealment, still wielding the branch.]

INT&mdash;ABANDONED HOME, DAY

[The dealer is tied to a chair. Water is poured on him, shocking him back to consciousness. Lorne looms over him.]

LORNE Wake up! Look, we need to know where you got this merchandise?

[The dealer looks at Lorne's team surrounding him.]

DEALER I do trade so much, it's often hard to keep track of it all.

LORNE Oh yeah? Well according to the merchant you do business with here, the stuff you've been bringing in lately has been a helluva lot nicer than your usual crap.

DEALER He said that?

LORNE Yeah, he said that.

DEALER Well, there's no accounting for taste. I can't give up my sources. They're trade secrets.

LORNE (in intimidating tone) I don't give a damn about your trade secrets. We want to know where you got this stuff.

DEALER And if I don't tell you, what are you going to do? I recognize those uniforms, I've heard the stories. People from Atlantis, do-gooders of the galaxy. You wouldn't hurt me.

[Teyla steps out of the shadows.]

TEYLA I'm wearing no uniform.

DEALER A pregnant woman, Very intimidating.

[Teyla calmly stands over him and pushes him in the chest with her stick. He falls onto his back.]

TEYLA I will inform the villagers that you are a Wraith worshipper, and let them mete out their own justice. Let's go.

[Lorne and Teyla start to leave.]

DEALER Wait! Wait.

[They turn back.]

DEALER I got it at an off-world dumping ground.

LORNE Dumping ground? For what?

DEALER Corpses mostly. Loose ends that need to be disappeared. Occasionally they may still have some valuables on them&mdash;valuables they obviously have no use for!

LORNE This merchandise&hellip;you removed it from the dead?

LORNE No! Not that merchandise. The last time I was back on the planet, I spotted what I thought was a fresh grave, a potential new opportunity. But when I dug it up, instead of finding a body, I found a box containing those items. I suppose somebody was just trying to get rid of them. It was odd to me at first, but I wasn't just about to&mdash;

TEYLA You will take us to this world. You will show us where you found them.

DEALER Of course. Whatever you say.

LORNE (to his team) Get him up.

EXT&mdash;WRAITH OUTPOST, DAY

INT&mdash;WRAITH OUTPOST

[Sheppard, Ronon, and McKay spread out within shouting distance and investigate the outpost.]

RONON Sheppard. We got something.

[Sheppard and McKay join Ronon, who enters a room where two dead Wraith guards lie.]

RONON Well, they're dead. But there's no marks on them.

TODD That's because they were poisoned.

[They turn and raise their weapons as Todd comes into view.]

TODD And I suspect you already know how.

EXT&mdash;M2S-181 FIELD, DAY

[Teyla, Lorne's team, and the dealer head to the Stargate. Lorne is in front with Teyla.]

LORNE The first thing we do when we get back to the 'gate is radio back to Atlantis. Let them know where we're going, okay?

[Teyla nods her agreement. Behind them, the dealer looks around nervously, as if expecting something.]

LORNE Listen, Teyla, I know you're looking for answers to what happened to your people, but I'm thinking, maybe it's better if you let us check it out, okay?

TEYLA Major&hellip;

LORNE Look, just let us scout ahead, all right?

[Teyla swiftly turns as an engine whines overhead.]

LORNE What is that&hellip;? Dart!

[The dart swoops. Everyone spreads out away from his path except for the dealer, who grabs Teyla and forces her into the path of the culling beam. The dart flies away before any of Lorne's team can get a shot.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH OUTPOST

[The team have lowered their weapons, but are still wary.]

SHEPPARD Well, let me guess&hellip;something they ate?

TODD (carefully) Many of my fellow Wraith have fallen victim to this attack on our food supply.

SHEPPARD Yeah, it's a shame, but it's not really our problem.

TODD From what we have been able to surmise, this blow against us has been delivered at great cost to human lives, something you would've made your problem in the past&hellip;Unless, of course, you're responsible for the dispersal of this plague. In which case, you may well consider the human lives sacrificed&hellip;acceptable losses?

SHEPPARD Actually, when we were putting a list together of most likely suspects, you were at the top. What better way to stick it to your competition?

[Todd chuckles.]

TODD Effective, yes, and admittedly creative. But the truth is, all of the existing Wraith factions have been adversely affected by this. Our food supply has been so randomly tainted, we have no way of knowing if our next meal will be our last.

SHEPPARD All right, times are tough. Doesn't explain why you called us here.

TODD I brought you here, because I need your help. I am aware you had a hand in helping the Hoffans refine this drug. I require whatever research you possess in order that I may synthesize a cure for my hive, and my hive alone.

SHEPPARD That's not going to happen.

TODD You always say that, but you always come around.

SHEPPARD Yeah, well, this is different. You know, we're still a little upset over the whole, uh, "Earth conquest" thing.

TODD (protesting) I had no part in that.

MCKAY Actually, in an indirect way you did. The Wraith who led the attack was able to access the Midway Station with information that you stole on your last visit to Atlantis.

TODD Information he stole from me in turn! So in a way, we were both victims. But let's save our commiserations for another time. I have a proposal.

[The team looks skeptical.]

SHEPPARD Let's hear it.

TODD In exchange for this information, I will give you the identity of the individual responsible for disbursing this poison, and killing both Wraith and human alike.

RONON Huh. A couple minutes ago, you thought we did it.

TODD There are only two parties who possess the resources and capabilities to launch such an attack. If you are not responsible, then, by process of elimination, there can be only one.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[A Wraith hive ship' flies through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;BRIG, HIVE SHIP

[Teyla waits alone in a cell. Michael approaches. Teyla's eyes widen in alarm.]

TEYLA Michael..?

INT&mdash;CARTER'S OFFICE

[Sheppard, McKay, Ronon, and Keller brief Carter.]

MCKAY Well, according to Todd, every Wraith faction has been hit, which makes it extremely unlikely that any of them are responsible.

SHEPPARD When we told him we weren't the guys behind it, he said there can be only one other.

CARTER And you think you know who he's talking about?

[Sheppard nods.]

SHEPPARD Michael.

KELLER The Wraith Doctor Beckett converted into a human?

MCKAY Well, temporarily converted. Eventually, he became kind of a&hellip;human-Wraith hybrid.

SHEPPARD The other Wraith didn't want anything to do with him, so he's been kind of holding a little bit of a grudge ever since.

MCKAY He's not a big fan of humans either. No, for him, the Hoffan drug is the perfect weapon.

CARTER Still, this is just speculation. I mean, do we have any proof?

MCKAY Well, not really, but even if we did, we'd have no way of finding him.

SHEPPARD We can go back to Todd, see if he's got something more than a name.

KELLER Well, wait, you're not seriously thinking of&hellip;giving him our research on the Hoffan protein?

MCKAY Well, why not?

KELLER Because! We'd effectively be giving the Wraith the means to reproduce the drug and potentially infect and kill millions.

MCKAY Theoretically, yes. But practically, it really wouldn't be in their best interest to poison their own food supply, regardless of whether our research helped them come up with an antidote or not. No, I think the more likely scenario is that they find an antidote that works as a short-term solution to the existing threat. Then they work on weaponizing the protein. You know, coming up with a more effective delivery system, one that cuts out the middle-man, in this case the human victims? No, what we're doing? Is giving them the means to kill each other off.

[While McKay has been speaking, the others exchange nervous looks.]

SHEPPARD So, when you, uh&hellip;put it that way, giving them our research could be a good thing.

CHUCK (over intercom) Incoming wormhole.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[Carter and the other greet Lorne's team, noting the absence of Teyla.]

CARTER Major, where's Teyla?

[Lorne looks downcast.]

INT&mdash;BRIG, HIVE SHIP

TEYLA (biting down panic) Why am I here? What do you want? Answer me!

MICHAEL I'm disappointed. I was expecting a little more gratitude, after everything I went through to arrange this "family reunion."

TEYLA Reunion? My people&hellip;you took them?

[Michael tilts his head in a gesture of assent.]

TEYLA Where are they?! What have you done with them.

MICHAEL They're alive and well, and working with me toward the common goal we all share.

TEYLA What are you talking about?

MICHAEL The extermination of the Wraith. I'm building an army that will soon replace them as the dominant race in this galaxy.

TEYLA An army of monsters.

MICHAEL I'll admit, my early attempts were a little&hellip;crude, but that's all changed now. I've refined the retrovirus to create the perfect balance&mdash;ability well beyond any normal human, but without the one weakness that will be the downfall of the Wraith.

[Michael raises his right hand, his feeding hand. It looks like a human limb, with no Wraith mutation.]

MICHAEL The need to feed.

TEYLA It was you. You're the one responsible for spreading the Hoffan drug.

MICHAEL Consider it the opening salvo in a much broader assault.

TEYLA How were you able to discover the drug?

[Michael starts to walk away.]

TEYLA (calling after him) How were you able to refine it?

[Michael pauses and turns around.]

MICHAEL I had help.

[He smiles and walks away.]

TEYLA Wait! Where are my people?! Michael!

EXT&mdash;WRAITH OUTPOST, DAY

INT&mdash;WRAITH OUTPOST

[Two Wraith drones drag away a dead Wraith. They pause as Sheppard, McKay and Ronon aim guns at them. Todd enters.]

TODD Oh, don't mind them. They're just here to help with the clean-up.

[Sheppard nods, and the others lower their guns. The drones finish pulling the dead Wraith out.]

TODD I assume you've agreed to my terms?

SHEPPARD Not exactly.

TODD You do not wish to know who's responsible for these&hellip;unfortunate events?

MCKAY We already know. At least, we have a pretty good guess.

SHEPPARD We call him Michael. Don't ask why. He used to be a Wraith. Now he's a&hellip;I'm not sure what the hell he is.

TODD (smiling) I know the one of whom you speak, and I believe you are correct.

SHEPPARD Confirmation. Without us giving you anything. That's very generous.

TODD Obviously, there's more you want from me, or you would not have come.

RONON Maybe we just came to kill you.

[Todd's eyes widen.]

TODD Did you?

SHEPPARD Unfortunately, no.

[The Wraith huffs a laugh.]

TODD Well, there's always next time.

SHEPPARD Rodney?

MCKAY One of our people, Teyla, was taken by a dart today.

TODD I suppose she's already made some lucky Wraith a very tasty meal.

MCKAY This was no culling. She was targeted. Someone set a trap.

TODD And you suspect this&hellip;what do you call him? Michael?

SHEPPARD Well if not, the timing's a helluva coincidence. We need you to tap your intel sources, find something useful.

[McKay reaches behind him into his pack and pulls out a tablet computer.]

MCKAY This tablet has the address of an off-world relay station. If you leave a message for us, we'll get it. It also has our research on the Hoffan drug.

TODD Ah!

SHEPPARD Just enough to whet your appetite. You find something we can use, we'll give you the rest.

TODD (pleased) Well, I'll see what I can do.

[They part ways.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The hive ship flies through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;BRIG, HIVE SHIP

[Michael approaches Teyla's cell. He carries a bowl.]

MICHAEL I understand you're refusing to take food. It's not poisoned if that's what you're worried about.

[He eats some himself. Teyla merely glares at him.]

MICHAEL Take it. You need to keep up your strength.

[He holds the bowl out between the bars. Teyla knocks it away.]

TEYLA What do you care about my well-being?

MICHAEL I care a great deal. I may not be foolish enough to consider us friends, but we do have a history. And even though you've betrayed me repeatedly, you're still the only one, human or Wraith, who's ever come close to understanding what I've been through.

TEYLA Really?

MICHAEL We're not that different, Teyla. You're a human with Wraith DNA&mdash;a hybrid, just like me.

TEYLA I'm no murderer.

MICHAEL You kill to protect yourself and your own, so do I. Of course, circumstances require me to do it on a slightly larger scale, but the principle is still the same.

TEYLA You're insane.

[Michael seems sincerely hurt by her rejection.]

MICHAEL Spite me all you want, but don't do it at the expense of the child.

[Teyla looks frightened.]

TEYLA (fiercely) My child is of no concern to you.

MICHAEL On the contrary, I have great plans for him.

[Michael walks away, leaving Teyla even more nervous.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS MESS HALL

[Sheppard and Ronon watch McKay devour a huge tray of food. They exchange looks of distaste.]

RONON How can you eat right now?

MCKAY Are you kidding? This is the first decent meal I've had all day. Besides, it's not going to help Teyla at all starving ourselves. I'm just trying to, uh, keep my strength up. I suggest you two do the same.

[Ronon notices Sheppard fidgeting restlessly.]

RONON (to Sheppard) Hey, we'll find her.

SHEPPARD I've just got to do something.

[Carter approaches.]

CARTER Colonel&hellip;it looks like Todd came through for you.

MCKAY He did?

CARTER We just got a message from the relay station. Apparently there's a rumor going around amongst certain Wraith worshippers about one of our people being held captive. You've got the coordinates.

SHEPPARD All right, I'm going to need Lorne and his team.

CARTER (nodding) He's already volunteered. You'll 'gate to the nearest planet where the Daedalus is en route to pick you up.

SHEPPARD (to others) Let's go.

[McKay forlornly leaves his meal as he and Ronon follow.]

INT&mdash;BRIG, WRAITH SHIP

[Teyla does not even look up when someone comes to her cell again.]

TEYLA I told you, I'm not hungry.

[She turns to find Kanaan standing there.]

TEYLA Kanaan.

[She approaches the door, spotting that Kanaan is a hybrid like Michael. He looks at Teyla with no emotion.]

TEYLA What has he done to you? Kanaan, it's me, Teyla. I came for you, just like you asked.

MICHAEL Like I asked.

[Michael comes to stand next to Kanaan.]

MICHAEL I was the one in your visions. Appropriately disguised, of course.

TEYLA You're lying.

MICHAEL I reached ten thousand light years of space and touched your mind. There is more of a bond between us than you know. Once the child is born, the bond will grow even stronger. Enjoy your reunion.

[He leaves Teyla and Kanaan alone.]

TEYLA Kanaan, you must help me. You must help our child. Please, Kanaan.

KANAAN The child will serve the cause. Then, one day soon, the galaxy will be ours.

[He leaves Teyla to look on in horror.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Daedalus flies through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Sheppard's and Lorne's teams enter the bridge.]

SHEPPARD Colonel.

CALDWELL Sheppard.

FEMALE HELMSMAN Approaching target destination.

CALDWELL Drop us out.

FEMALE HELMSMAN Yes, sir.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Daedalus drops out of hyperspace above a planet with one moon.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[The Atlantis teams move into position to be beamed out.]

CALDWELL We're unable to get a lock on Teyla's subcutaneous transmitter.

MCKAY No surprise there. I'm sure Michael got rid of that.

SHEPPARD Guess we'll have to do things the hard way.

RONON Good. Let's do it.

[Caldwell nods, and the helmsman activates the Asgard beam.]

INT&mdash;LAB

[The teams beam into the lab, weapons at ready.]

SHEPPARD (to Lorne) All right, stay in touch.

LORNE Yes, sir. (to his team) Let's move out.

[Lorne's team moves in one direction, while Sheppard's goes in another.]

[Sheppard notices a locked door. They approach and warily start inside. Behind them, someone fires a stunner. They dodge out of the way and return fire. In the ensuing firefight, Ronon is able to stun the shooter, then Sheppard shoots him with his P-90.]

[Lorne's team stops to listen to the shooting and determine their next move; they are then fired upon as well. Lorne gives hand signals to his team, then moves into position to return fire.]

[Sheppard's team approaches the downed shooter, who's attempting to crawl away.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The hive ship drops out of orbit above the planet, braking to a halt when it spots Daedalus.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

FEMALE HELMSMAN Sir, I'm picking up another ship. It's a Wraith cruiser, sir.

CALDWELL Shields up.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Wraith ship shoots at Daedalus.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[The bridge is rocked by the blasts impacting the shields.]

CALDWELL Return fire! (into radio) Sheppard, this is Daedalus, we've been engaged by a Wraith cruiser!

SHEPPARD (over radio) How's it going?

CALDWELL (into radio) More than holding our own. Just thought you might want to pick up the pace.

INT&mdash;LAB

SHEPPARD Where's your boss?

[The shooter doesn't reply. Sheppard pushes him over and points his pistol at his chest.]

SHOOTER You're too early.

SHEPPARD And what the hell does that mean?

SHOOTER We're expecting him back. He's on his way with an important prisoner.

[Sheppard, Ronon, and McKay exchange concerned looks as they realize.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Daedalus, this is Sheppard, come in. Daedalus, do you read?

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[The conversation switches between the lab and the Daedalus.]

CALDWELL Sheppard, this is Daedalus.

SHEPPARD Do not destroy the enemy ship! I repeat, do not destroy the enemy ship, Teyla may be aboard! Did you hear me? Teyla may be on board!

CALDWELL We heard you. (to helmsman) Can you cripple it?

FEMALE HELMSMAN It's possible, sir. It's already sustained some heavy damage. Sir, the enemy is attempting a retreat.

CALDWELL Target the engines!

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus fires at the Wraith ship, but it takes evasive action and jumps into hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

FEMALE HELMSMAN I'm sorry, sir.

CALDWELL (into radio) Bad news, Sheppard. The cruiser made the jump to hyperspace. It's gone.

INT&mdash;LAB

[Sheppard, McKay, and Ronon exchange sorrowful looks.]

[Lorne and his men continue to exchange fire with another shooter. The enemy is downed by an energy blast from Ronon's gun. Lorne sees Sheppard's team and he waves his men to join them.]

LORNE Any sign of her, sir?

SHEPPARD She's not here.

LORNE Are you sure? That guard was protecting something.

[They look to the door at the end of the hall. Sheppard's trio takes point. Sheppard shoots the lock, and McKay unlatches the deadbolt and shifts to the side. They kick the door open, weapons at ready.]

[The three cannot believe their eyes. Carson Beckett sits on small cot at the end of the cell.]

BECKETT Finally. It's about bloody time. What took you so long?

[He stands and stares at the men.]

TO BE CONTINUED

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Transcribed for Solutions by Aurora Novarum, January 2009.

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--Michelle 05:25, 8 July 2009 (UTC)