The Lost Tribe/Transcript

Episode Guide
SGA 5.11 "The Lost Tribe Part 2" Episode Guide

Transcript
PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE ATLANTIS

[Excerpts from 5.10 "First Contact" are shown.]

END EXCERPTS

TEASER

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Teyla steps out of a transporter.]

TEYLA Move quickly! We have to get everyone to the lower levels of the tower to make sure that everyone will be&mdash;

[An explosion rocks the corridor.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS TOWER

[The Gate Room area of the tower explodes, blowing out the windows. Smoke curls through the broken windows.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[The power goes out. People hurry, speaking in scared mutterings.]

TEYLA (into radio, worried) Colonel Sheppard, are you all right? John?!

[Marie approaches Teyla.]

MARIE Teyla, how many were up there?

TEYLA Two.

MARIE I'll go get my people.

[Marie races off.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[The only light is from sunlight in the broken window and flashlights carried by Teyla and the search and rescue team. The area is scorched and blackened; the Stargate is gone.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Debris still falls and sparks fly across short circuits. The room is unrecognizable.]

TEYLA John?! They were right here when I left them.

MARIE If the explosion was hot enough, there might not be anything left for us to find.

[In the distance can be heard a weak groan.]

TEYLA Did you hear that?

[Marie nods. The groan is louder and seems to be coming from Woolsey's office.]

INT&mdash;WOOLSEY'S OFFICE

[Sheppard has bodily covered Zelenka as they both lie prone on the floor. Shards of glass cover the room, including Sheppard. Teyla and Marie rush in with the team.]

TEYLA John!

SHEPPARD (groaning, confused) We need to take cover.

[Marie and Teyla help him up.]

TEYLA Are you all right?

SHEPPARD Huhn?

TEYLA (louder) Are you all right?

SHEPPARD My ears&hellip;I think I got some glass in my back.

TEYLA Marie&hellip;

[Marie leads the stiff Sheppard away. Teyla crouches down by Zelenka, who's starting to move.]

ZELENKA We lost the Stargate. We lost the control room. That's bad.

TEYLA But we did not lose you. That's good.

[Teyla nods to another member of the rescue team.]

TEYLA (smiling) Okay.

[The man helps Teyla lead Zelenka away.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus floats near Todd's hive ship.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Woolsey sits propped against a bulkhead, unconscious. Todd sits in the commander's chair. Kenny enters.]

KENNY All the troops you've requested have beamed on board.

TODD Have them round up the rest of the humans and confine them to one of the hangar bays.

[Another Wraith nods and does as Todd bids, leading a troop of soldier Wraith out.]

TODD Inform our hive to wait for us here. And under no circumstances are they to activate their hyperdrive. Is that understood?

KENNY Yes. Where are we going?

TODD Atlantis.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Power is on in this area. Marie picks several small shards of glass out of Sheppard's back with forceps. Sheppard grunts in pain. Teyla approaches.]

SHEPPARD (to Teyla) I need you to get Banks and her team to set up an auxiliary control room below the damaged areas.

TEYLA (nodding) They've already begun. How are you?

SHEPPARD Ach! Well, I'm alive. You know, that's good for now.

TEYLA I still do not understand what happened.

SHEPPARD The 'gate blew up.

TEYLA (drily) That much I surmised. But why?

SHEPPARD (shaking his head) I don't know. Where the hell's McKay when you need him, huh?

EXT&mdash;ANCIENT FACILITY, DAY

[The center of the facility is lit up in a blue glow from the active Attero device.]

INT&mdash;ANCIENT SEALED ROOM

[Daniel sits, leaning against a wall in their latest makeshift prison cell. McKay paces nervously in front of him.]

MCKAY All right, so the device creates a very specific subspace "turbulence" that makes it impossible for the Wraith to operate their hyperdrives.

DANIEL (resigned) You said that already.

MCKAY But there's a side-effect.

DANIEL Yes, the unforeseen one that Janus mentions.

MCKAY Yeah, well, it's certainly not "seen" here, because there's no Stargate on this planet.

DANIEL (aggravated) What's the point, Rodney?

MCKAY Look, although the subspace turbulence only affects the Wraith's hyperdrive systems, it creates a very dangerous type of radiation that, uh, well&hellip;that messes with the basic operation of the Stargates.

DANIEL (alert) Stargates? What, as in all of them?

MCKAY Well, all of the Stargates in the Pegasus network, yes.

DANIEL And when you say "messes with," you mean what?

MCKAY Look, when dialed, power will build up inside the 'gate until it overloads.

[Daniel stands.]

DANIEL So, you're saying that as long as this Janus device is running, every time someone dials a 'gate in the entire galaxy&hellip;

MCKAY It'll explode. I mean, millions of people will die if we don't shut that thing down.

[They exchange very worried looks.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus flies through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Woolsey awakens to find Todd hovering over him.]

TODD Good timing, Mister Woolsey.

[A Wraith soldier drags him to his feet.]

WOOLSEY (with bravado) Look, I don't know what it is you think we've done, but I assure you&mdash;

TODD (to Kenny) Take us out of hyperspace.

KENNY We haven't arrived in Atlantis yet.

WOOLSEY (shocked) Atlantis?

TODD We're within communications range. We don't want to get too close. Take us out. (to Woolsey) I was hoping you'd be awake for this.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM

[Zelenka and Banks's team have set up computers on tables and are bringing in more equipment. Power is restored to this area. Sheppard and Teyla enter.]

SHEPPARD Well, are we up and running?

BANKS Yes, sir. We've routed all the city's main controls into this room.

SHEPPARD At least we're not blind anymore.

ZELENKA No, but we're severely crippled. And without the 'gate or the ability to reach the Daedalus, we have no way of getting to M6H-987 or rescuing Rodney and Doctor Jackson.

TEYLA What should we do?

SHEPPARD (loudly) Five bucks to anybody who can figure out how to contact the Daedalus.

[Banks sits at her laptop. It blinks an alert.]

BANKS Uh, Colonel Sheppard?

SHEPPARD You got an idea, Banks?

BANKS Well, no, but I am being hailed by the Daedalus on subspace. Does that count?

SHEPPARD (surprised) Technically, that's not your idea, but good enough. Put 'em on screen.

[He and Teyla move to the communications monitor. Sheppard taps Banks on the shoulder as he passes.]

SHEPPARD Don't worry, I'll pay you later.

[They wait for screen to stop being static.]

SHEPPARD (into videocom) Daedalus! It's good to, uh&mdash;

[The image clears. They are shocked to find Todd on the screen.]

TODD Colonel Sheppard.

SHEPPARD What the hell's going on? Where's Caldwell?

TODD I'm afraid I had to relieve him and his crew of duty.

SHEPPARD (low, to Zelenka) How close are they?

ZELENKA (low, to Sheppard) Not close enough to go by jumper, if that's what you're thinking.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[The conversation switches between the Daedalus bridge and Atlantis.]

TODD Don't worry. I'm more than willing to return this ship and its crew to you.

SHEPPARD (suspicious) In exchange for what?

TODD You've activated the Attero Device. I need you to shut it down and give me its location immediately.

SHEPPARD I don't know what you're talking about!

TODD It was very clever of you, luring me and my ship out into the open so you could see for yourself if it worked.

SHEPPARD If what worked?

TODD I have to admit, in a way I'm impressed. I was there ten thousand years ago when the Ancients first tried to use it, but they didn't have the stomach to leave it on once they realized how many of their precious Stargates it would destroy&hellip;how many humans it would kill.

ZELENKA (low, to Sheppard) Sounds like something Janus would've worked on.

TODD Give me the location of the Attero device, and once I have destroyed it I will return this crew to you!

SHEPPARD Look, it's not what you think. We have nothing to do with this!

TODD Every minute that goes by without you telling me where this device is, I will kill a member of your expedition.

[A Wraith soldier pulls Woolsey into view of the video camera. Teyla and Sheppard gasp.]

ZELENKA Oh&hellip;

[Todd puts his arm around Woolsey in a falsely familiar pose. Woolsey looks nauseous and frightened.]

TODD Your time starts now.

SHEPPARD Give us a second.

[Sheppard gives a signal to Banks, and the monitor on the Daedalus reads "transmission suspended."]

WOOLSEY I don't think this should count toward the minute. I-I mean, he didn't say "no"&hellip;yet.

[Todd slowly turns to Woolsey and growls.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM

SHEPPARD What are the odds that&mdash;that&hellip;what's this thing called?

TEYLA Uh&hellip;Attero device?

SHEPPARD What are the odds that this thing was at the other end of the subspace link that Rodney opened when he went to that lab?

ZELENKA M6H-987? I'd say it's very likely. It's also very likely that's where he and Dr. Jackson were taken.

TEYLA It must be a weapon that Janus developed during the Wraith war.

SHEPPARD A weapon to blow up Stargates?

ZELENKA I doubt that was its original design. It doesn't seem like an effective strategy.

SHEPPARD So, a nasty side effect. That's probably why they stopped production.

TEYLA Whatever the aliens took from the lab allowed them to reactivate it again.

SHEPPARD Whatever it is, Todd seems pretty keen to stop it&mdash;enough to risk taking the Daedalus.

ZELENKA Yes, but we can't give him the address. If he gets it, he'll destroy everything in his path, including Rodney and Doctor Jackson.

[Sheppard rubs his chin and sighs.]

TEYLA (heaving a sigh) John, we don't have a choice. Our shield was able to take the brunt of the explosion, but if this is happening on other worlds, it could kill millions.

SHEPPARD (waving to Banks) Put him back on.

[The video link is reestablished and the conversation again switches between the bridge of the ship and Atlantis.]

WOOLSEY (relieved) Oh, thank God.

SHEPPARD We're not the ones behind this.

TODD Very well.

[Todd turns to Woolsey. A soldier holds him in place as he raises his hand to feed.]

SHEPPARD W-w-wait! Wait! I said we're not the ones behind this, but we may have what you need.

TEYLA Atlantis was attacked yesterday by a race we have not encountered before. It stole a piece of Ancient technology. We believe this could be a component to this&hellip;Attero device.

[Todd's hand slowly moves to Woolsey's chest, where it clutches his lapel. Woolsey watches the proceedings with alarm.]

SHEPPARD We managed to track them. Swing by here, pick me up, I will take you there myself.

TODD And give you the chance to take out my hyperdrive with one of your drones? I think not.

[Todd straightens his hand as if to feed.]

SHEPPARD Why would I do that? Right now, you're one of the few people in the galaxy with a ship capable of dealing with this problem.

[Todd again embraces Woolsey in this falsely companionable manner.]

TODD And I intend to keep it that way. John Sheppard, transmit the coordinates, or I will feed on Mister Woolsey before your eyes!

[Sheppard gives Todd a shrewd look. Not taking his eyes off Todd, he turns his head towards Banks.]

SHEPPARD (tightly) Do it.

[One of the Daedalus consoles blinks.]

KENNY We have it.

TODD We'll be in touch.

[The link is severed. Teyla, Sheppard, and Zelenka exchange concerned looks.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus enters hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS CORRIDOR

[Ronon tries to force the doors open with his bare hands. Keller watches with her arms crossed as he groans.]

KELLER You really think that's going to work?

RONON (groaning) You got a better idea?

KELLER We're on a spaceship. Those doors are designed to be airtight. That means something as tiny as air can't even get through. How do you think you will?

RONON Yeah, well, I'm a lot bigger than air.

KELLER Yeah&hellip;that's kinda my point.

[Ronon strains again, and this time his efforts are rewarded. The door opens. He turns back to Keller.]

RONON (triumphant) See?

[Keller's eyes widen in alarm as she spots the two Wraith in the corridor beyond.]

KELLER Ronon!

[She crouches as Ronon ducks and spins, shooting the two soldiers.]

RONON You okay?

KELLER (shaken) Yeah.

RONON All right, come on.

KELLER Wait. Wh-what's our plan? Where are we going?

RONON We're going to get to an access ladder. We head down two floors to the engineering rooms, then we cripple the ship.

KELLER (surprised) You&hellip;know how to do all that?

RONON Yeah, don't you?

KELLER Not really.

RONON Watch and learn.

[He leads the way.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM

BANKS Hyperspace window opening.

SHEPPARD Think Todd changed his mind?

ZELENKA He might have realized just how crippled we are.

BANKS We're being hailed.

SHEPPARD Put it up.

[A woman appears on the video screen.]

KATANA My name is Katana Labrea. I'm a Traveler. Larrin sent me.

SHEPPARD Well, is everything all right?

KATANA No. As a matter of fact, it's not. Larrin was hoping you could tell us why the Stargates are blowing up.

INT&mdash;ANCIENT SEALED ROOM

[McKay studies the panels on the wall, trying to figure out how to open one. The door to the room opens and one of the armored aliens walks in. He points at Daniel.]

ALIEN You. Come with me.

[Daniel points at himself, surprised.]

DANIEL Me? Why?

[The alien unholsters his stunner. Daniel and McKay immediately raise their hands in surrender, McKay stepping in the line of fire.]

DANIEL Hey!

MCKAY Whoa! We'll both go! No need for that.

ALIEN No.

MCKAY (weakly) Well&hellip;I guess it&hellip;just must be your turn to use the fitness room.

DANIEL Right.

[Daniel walks past McKay, keeping his arms raised.]

MCKAY (worried) Good luck.

DANIEL (with false brightness) You too.

[He steps out of the room at gunpoint.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM

[Katana has joined the Lantians.]

KATANA It was the first colony we'd built on the surface of a planet in a hundred generations, and it was leveled in an instant. I was in orbit when it happened. We could see the explosion from space. I've never witnessed anything that powerful.

ZELENKA Mmm. The 'gates are made of naquadah, and when they become unstable, the size of the explosion is unimaginable.

KATANA We lost three thousand people and two ships, including our Ancient vessel. Larrin would've come herself, but&hellip;

SHEPPARD No, I'm sure she's got her hands full. Look, these aliens or whoever they are, they have two of our people hostage. They need to be stopped. We have coordinates but&hellip;we have no ship.

KATANA Then I guess I got here just in time.

SHEPPARD That's what I wanted to hear. Zelenka, you're with me.

[He, Katana, and Zelenka start to leave.]

TEYLA (protesting) John&hellip;!

SHEPPARD Teyla, I need you to stay here, all right? The second Todd's done, there's nothing stopping him from turning that ship around and making a run at Atlantis. I need someone I trust to stay in charge here.

[Teyla nods.]

TEYLA Good luck.

[They leave. Teyla looks worried and frustrated.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus flies through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS ENGINEERING

[The door to engineering opens. Before the Wraith in the room can react, Ronon shoots them both. He enters. Keller follows, closing the door behind them and pressing buttons on the panel.]

KELLER I locked the door.

RONON This won't take long.

KELLER So what do we do? Bring up the main control systems and disable them one by one?

RONON That's one way to go.

KELLER Well, you'd have to lock them out of the mainframe though. Otherwise they could just turn them back on again. Do you have&hellip;some sort of a pass-code to make sure they're locked out once and for all?

[Ronon opens up a panel under one of the consoles.]

RONON Nope.

KELLER Well, then what are you thinking?

[Ronon looks at Keller and shoots the panel he's just opened behind him.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus drops out of hyperspace and comes to a dead stop.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KENNY We just dropped out of hyperspace.

TODD I see that, yes. Why?

KENNY I'm not sure. The computer seems to think it's due to battle damage.

TODD Get our troops down to the engineering room. Someone's sabotaging this ship!

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS ENGINEERING

[Ronon continues moving around the room, opening crystal trays and shooting them.]

KELLER Wh-wh-what are you doing?!

RONON Disabling the ship.

KELLER You can't just blast away at vital systems like that!

[Ronon casually shoots another tray.]

KELLER What if you take out the life support system?!

RONON Don't worry, the life support system's that tray. (he points to a tray under the one he just shot to pieces) At least, I'm pretty sure it is.

KELLER (stammering) Okay, we're out of hyperspace. That's enough. C'mon.

[Keller opens the door. Ronon shoots one final tray as Keller winces. They leave.]

EXT&mdash;ANCIENT FACILITY, DAY

INT&mdash;ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

[Daniel is shoved into the room by his guard. The head alien stands before the console.]

HEAD ALIEN You wish to speak to me.

DANIEL You're the leader&hellip;? You need to shut this device down immediately.

[The head alien turns to face Daniel.]

HEAD ALIEN No, I do not.

DANIEL Okay, look, I-I understand wanting to destroy the Wraith. I do. But, uh, this&hellip;isn't the way.

HEAD ALIEN I disagree.

DANIEL Okay, I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but this device has a serious side effect. It makes Stargates explode when they're activated.

HEAD ALIEN We do not use the Stargates.

DANIEL (nonplussed) Okay&hellip;but lots of other people do.

HEAD ALIEN They are of no concern to us.

DANIEL (biting his lip) So you're just going to let them die, millions of people across the galaxy&hellip;You're no better than the Wraith.

HEAD ALIEN Perhaps. But we have little choice.

DANIEL Why?

HEAD ALIEN Our planet is dying. It can no longer sustain us. For the first time in countless generations, we must venture out into this galaxy again&mdash;a galaxy controlled by the Wraith. If we do not destroy them, they will destroy us. This is the way it must be.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Katana's Traveler ship flies through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP CORRIDOR

[Katana walks with Sheppard and Zelenka.]

SHEPPARD The Wraith are ahead of us. As soon as they get to that planet, they're gonna open up with everything they've got. Trust me, they ain't going to be worried about collateral damage.

ZELENKA The only chance we have to save our friends is to get there first.

[Katana pauses by a bulkhead door.]

KATANA You want speed? You've come to the right place.

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP ENGINEERING

[Katana opens the door. The room is a mess of cables and greasy machinery. They step inside.]

ZELENKA (dubious) This is your engineering room?

KATANA That's right. It may not look like much, but trust me, we can outrun most anything in the Traveler's fleet. Mila?

[An adolescent appears from behind them.]

MILA Hey!

KATANA This is Colonel Sheppard and Doctor Zelenka. They're from Atlantis. Mila's our chief engineer.

[Mila passes them and grabs a tool from a cushion before heading to another part of the room.]

ZELENKA (to Katana) She can't be more than sixteen years old.

KATANA Fifteen, actually. She's been working on ships since she was four. (to Mila) We need to get where we're going as fast as possible. I want you to do whatever you can to maximize hyperdrive output.

MILA No problem.

SHEPPARD You know, uh, Zelenka knows a thing or two about hyperdrives himself. I'm sure he'd be happy to give you a hand. (to Zelenka) Who knows? Maybe you'll learn a thing or two.

[He slaps a dubious Zelenka on the back as he and Katana leave. Zelenka moves forward, dodging sparking cables.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus floats in open space.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS ENGINEERING

[Soldier Wraith drag out the downed Wraith. Kenny and Todd study the damage.]

KENNY The damage is significant.

TODD Begin repairs. Every second the Attero device is active, we risk losing more and more of our alliance. (keys intercom) It has come to my attention that someone from the original crew has eluded capture&hellip;

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS CORRIDOR

[Keller and Ronon walk down the corridor.]

TODD (continuing over intercom) &hellip;Your freedom has become a nuisance. Turn yourself in immediately, or we will begin killing off your friends, one-by-one.

[Ronon looks amused. Keller looks frightened. She grabs his arm and they stop and face each other.]

TODD (continuing over intercom) You have three minutes to comply.

RONON He's bluffing.

KELLER No, he's not.

[She walks determinedly towards an elevator.]

RONON Where are you going?

KELLER I'm turning myself in.

RONON No, you're not.

[Keller turns back as the elevator opens.]

KELLER He's gonna start killing people.

RONON He's going to kill you.

[Keller doesn't seem to have considered this possibility.]

KELLER Well, I hope not.

RONON We need to get armed, free these people, and take this ship back.

KELLER Exactly. I turn myself in, and he'll think he's got us all. It buys you the time you need to do what you've got to do.

RONON No. No, I'm not letting you do it.

KELLER Ronon, listen to me&mdash;

RONON Jennifer, no.

[They face each other down in a silent test of wills. Keller looks away in capitulation.]

KELLER Okay. You're right.

RONON Okay. Come on.

[Ronon leads the way. As soon as he turns his back, Keller races into the elevator.]

RONON We're almost there anyways.

[He turns as he hears the door shut. He glowers and growls angrily as he unholsters his gun.]

INT&mdash;ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

DANIEL (furious) We're talking about the deaths of millions of people. How can you be so callous? And what is it you're so afraid of? Why-why-why are you still in your battle armor? I can't hurt you. I know you're not human, and you're definitely not Wraith. And if you were an Ancient, you wouldn't have needed our help to activate the device, so&hellip;what are you?

[The head alien turns away from Daniel. The armor retracts in the back. The alien inside steps out of the suit, which seals shut. The small alien steps into the light. Daniel is shocked to find himself looking at an Asgard.]

DANIEL You're Asgard.

ASGARD You've encountered our kind before?

DANIEL No, not just encountered. I've&hellip;I've worked with them. Even called a few of them my friends.

ASGARD Indeed.

DANIEL Of course, the Asgard I knew were a&hellip;noble race who actually helped the human population in my galaxy.

ASGARD And where are they now?

DANIEL (sorrowful) Dead.

ASGARD Hmm.

DANIEL But that had nothing to do with us.

ASGARD Are you certain?

DANIEL They were clones. Copies of copies of copies, going back generations, and they suffered irreversible genetic degradation as a result. But&hellip;you probably already know that.

ASGARD Of course, because we are clones as well, subject to the same law of diminishing returns. And yet&hellip;we are still very much alive.

DANIEL So, what? You-you solved the problem?

ASGARD Not entirely. But once we were able to conduct our research without interference, we made significant progress.

DANIEL (realizing) Research on humans&hellip;because our physiology is similar to what yours used to be.

ASGARD (impressed) Precisely.

DANIEL I take that back, I have met an Asgard like you before. His name was Loki. And he was experimenting on humans too, until he was caught and brought to justice by the Asgard High Council.

ASGARD Because they did not believe the ends justified the means.

DANIEL That's right.

ASGARD And look where it got them.

[Daniel appears shocked by the coldness of the reasoning.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Traveler ship flies through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP ENGINEERING

[Sheppard enters.]

SHEPPARD Well how's it coming?

ZELENKA Well, uh&hellip;

[A fire starts on a panel next to Mila. Zelenka and Sheppard look worried, but Mila stamps it out with her bare hands.]

MILA (dismissively) It does that sometimes. Don't let it bother you.

[Zelenka guides Sheppard away from Mila so they can speak privately.]

ZELENKA Listen, what we are doing here is not safe.

SHEPPARD What else is new?

ZELENKA She is pushing the ship well past its boundaries.

SHEPPARD That's kind of what we asked for, no? If we don't get Rodney and Daniel back before Todd gets there, they're goners!

ZELENKA This is the crudest hyperdrive system I have ever encountered. It is cobbled together from mismatching components.

SHEPPARD She's got to be pretty smart to put a hyperdrive together with mismatched parts.

ZELENKA She's going to burn it up. Once we drop out hyperspace, there's a high possibility we won't be able to engage the drive again.

SHEPPARD (dismissively) Let's worry about that when we get there?

[An alarm starts to emit a high pitched rapid beeping.]

ZELENKA What was that? What?

[Mila reaches over and shuts off the alarm.]

MILA (unconcerned) Just a radiation warning. The detector's a little oversensitive. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Zelenka looks to Sheppard expectantly. Sheppard winces.]

SHEPPARD I've gotta get back to the bridge. I'll leave you to it.

[He leaves Zelenka muttering under his breath.]

INT&mdash;ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

ASGARD We came to this galaxy during the war. With both the Wraith and the Ancients occupied, we were free to conduct our experiments. Unfortunately, the hostilities came to an end sooner than we thought, and with an unexpected result.

DANIEL (shrewdly) You were betting on the Ancients. They may have tried to shut you down, but at least they wouldn't&hellip;exterminate you.

ASGARD The Wraith do not tolerate the presence of advanced technologies other than their own. Before we knew what was happening, we were under attack. We lost our intergalactic ships in the first battle, and we did not have the resources to build more.

DANIEL So how did you survive?

ASGARD We had no choice but to abandon our settlements and retreat to a place where the Wraith could not look for us&mdash;a planet with a toxic atmosphere.

DANIEL Oh. That&hellip;sounds nice&hellip;

ASGARD It was tolerable at first. We were able to survive using simple breathing apparatus. But over the eons, the environment has grown so harsh that not even our armored exoskeletons can protect us now.

DANIEL So you ventured back into the galaxy, and that's&hellip;when you came across this place.

ASGARD We knew it was built by the Ancients, and why. But we were unable to activate it&hellip;until you came along.

DANIEL Look, I-I'm sorry&hellip;.that you were trapped on a poisonous planet for the last ten thousand years. I really am. I'm sure it was awful. But that doesn't justify what you're doing.

ASGARD My people are dying. The fact that, as you tell us, our brothers are already gone, only reinforces the need. If we do not do this, our whole civilization, a hundred thousand years of history, will be wiped out forever. I cannot allow that to happen.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Guards frogmarch Keller onto the bridge.]

TODD Doctor Keller? You're the saboteur?

KELLER (stiffly) That's right.

TODD Where is your weapon?

KELLER (stammering) My weapon?

TODD Yes. The one you used to destroy the crystal trays.

KELLER I ditched it. You really think I'd want it ending up in your hands?

TODD Ah, it's foolish of you to see me as the enemy.

KELLER Really? Why is that?

TODD I'm on a mission from your&hellip;"Colonel Sheppard."

KELLER I seriously doubt that.

TODD (sighing) It is a long story, but he has requested that we&hellip;neutralize a very dangerous target.

KELLER Then why did you take over the ship? Why'd you attack our crew?

TODD As I said, it is a long story. The mission, however, is time sensitive, and you have handed us a major setback. Hyperdrive, weapons, shields&mdash;they are all down.

KELLER (unsympathetic) That's a real shame.

[Todd menaces closer.]

TODD It is. Considering that hundreds of thousands of humans could die because of it. I would think that will weigh heavily on you in the future.

KELLER What are you talking about?

[Todd studies her. Kenny, sitting at one of the consoles looks up.]

KENNY Hyperdrive's coming back up!

TODD And weapons?

KENNY Irreparably damaged. They're no good to us anymore.

[Todd tempers his frustration.]

KELLER I guess you won't be able to finish the mission, then.

TODD (thoughtfully) Oh&hellip;we'll find a way. (to Kenny) Get us back into hyperspace&hellip;and get her down with the others.

[The soldier Wraith drag Keller away.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus enters hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;ANCIENT SEALED ROOM

[An alien manhandles Daniel into the room, tossing him onto the floor, before resealing the room.]

MCKAY (stunned) You okay? I thought you were a goner!

[Daniel gets up, putting his fallen glasses back onto his face.]

DANIEL I'm all right.

MCKAY I mean, they need me. You're kinda expendable. I just figured that&mdash;

DANIEL (interrupting) Yeah, I-I got what you meant by "goner", thank you.

MCKAY Well, what did they want?

[Daniel sighs and adjusts his rumpled clothing.]

DANIEL Uh, to talk, actually.

MCKAY Oh. How'd that go?

DANIEL They're Asgard.

MCKAY (stunned) For real?

DANIEL Yeah, a faction that broke off from the guys we knew thousands of years ago. They're&hellip;the ones inside the suits.

MCKAY I did not see that one coming.

DANIEL Apparently no fans of the Wraith, either.

MCKAY Okay, are they going to shut off the device?

DANIEL Um&hellip;no.

MCKAY Then I don't care. I mean, as long as that thing is on, then millions of people could die. Besides, I think I've figured a way out of here.

DANIEL (brightening) Really?

[Daniel follows McKay over to one of the wall panels.]

MCKAY This is an Ancient facility, and Rodney McKay knows a thing or two about Ancient facilities.

[Daniel leans against the wall as McKay pries open the panel.]

DANIEL (drily) You know, it has been clinically proven that referring to yourself in the third person is a sign of mental instability, right?

MCKAY Eh, mentally unstable like a fox! Okay, so here's the plan. I blow the fire-monitoring fuse. The system suddenly goes dead. It assumes there could be a fire, detects life signs inside the room, it unlocks the doors for safety.

[McKay short circuits some wires. Sparks fly. Daniel leans away from the sparks.]

MCKAY And&hellip;ach!

[The door opens.]

DANIEL Good job.

MCKAY (pleased) Huh. It's a good thing they brought you back when they did, because, you know, I just assumed you were dead, and I was going to leave.

DANIEL Lucky me.

MCKAY Yeah. You're welcome.

DANIEL So&hellip;what do we do now?

MCKAY We've got to shut down the device.

DANIEL How do we do that?

MCKAY (stammering) We'll just&hellip;we'll improvise.

[McKay heads out.]

DANIEL (enthusiastic) Right.

[Daniel follows.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS CORRIDOR

[Wraith soldiers lead Keller down the hall. Ronon swings down from where he's hanging from a beam on the ceiling, firing his blaster and downing both guards. He drops to the floor. Keller stares in shock, but grabs the rifle he offers to her. She shoots blindly at approaching guards, downing two. Ronon shoots others. The way is clear.]

RONON Todd didn't kill you.

KELLER (shaken) No, but you almost got me killed. I've never fired one of these outside of the range before.

RONON You did great.

[He leads the way down the corridor. They reach the door to the hangar bay and open it. The Daedalus crew and Woolsey are inside.]

WOOLSEY Ronon, good work.

RONON It's not over yet. There's an armory down the hall. We need everyone we can. We're taking this ship back.

INT&mdash;ANCIENT LAB CORRIDOR

[McKay and Daniel wander down the hallway.]

MCKAY Okay, we need to get the device control room.

DANIEL It'll be crawling with soldiers.

MCKAY Well, then, we need to create a diversion.

DANIEL I'm all ears.

MCKAY Okay, uh, we go to the, uh, power relay station; we create a massive explosion.

DANIEL I never got how that made a good diversion.

MCKAY What?

DANIEL You want to clear the device control room of bad guys, right?

MCKAY Yes.

DANIEL So, why would you assume if there was a massive explosion, people would go running towards it.

MCKAY Well, I would.

DANIEL I rest my case.

MCKAY Oh, I'm sorry. You know, I'm a good person. I would want to save people from the fire, maybe figure out what was going on?

DANIEL Well, I, au contraire, would order more guards to protect the one room I thought whoever was blowing things up probably wants to get to.

[Daniel continues moving while McKay stops to consider this. He quickly follows.]

MCKAY Explosion diversions are the very cornerstones of diversions.

DANIEL You don't have any better ideas.

MCKAY I don't have any better ideas, yes.

[They reach a dead end of the corridor. A door opens up with two alien suits in the doorway. McKay and Daniel freeze. McKay raises his hands.]

MCKAY Oh my god, please don't kill me. You need me!

DANIEL Rodney&hellip;?

MCKAY Us, us. You need us. Look, the device needs constant care. I mean, uh, true, I'm the only one that knows how to work it, but uh&hellip;what am I talking about killing for? You're not a violent race. I mean, you-you may have stunned us&hellip;

[While McKay babbles, Daniel studies the suits, realizing there is no movement and it appears to be a closet.]

DANIEL Rodney!

MCKAY (continuing) &hellip;more than we would've liked. But who's to say we didn't deserve it, right?

DANIEL (sighing) They're just suits.

MCKAY Yes, suits&mdash;suits that house one of the smartest races that ever evolved! I mean, the Asgard! I've always been a big fan of the Asgards. Some of my best friends are Asgards&mdash;

DANIEL (talking insistently over McKay) They're empty suits!

[He waves his hand in front of the helmets.]

DANIEL See?

MCKAY (abashed) Yeah. I know. I was, uh&hellip;

DANIEL You were?

MCKAY (sheepish) Yeah, it's not important.

DANIEL (nodding) You know, from what I could tell, the inside of the suits form around whoever's in them.

MCKAY One size fits all&hellip;

[They share inspired looks and move closer.]

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

[Sheppard sits in the pilot's chair. Katana adjusts her radio and settles in the commander's chair.]

KATANA You sure you have all that figured out?

SHEPPARD You know, I've flown birds a lot harder to manage than this one. I'm surprised Larrin didn't say anything.

[Katana shoots him a shrewd look.]

KATANA Larrin's never brought you up before today.

SHEPPARD Really? Never, huh?

KATANA (smirking) Nope.

[Sheppard appears nonplussed by this news.]

KATANA (loudly) We're about to come out of hyperspace. Everyone, get ready.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Travelers' ship drops out of hyperspace and heads toward the planet with the Ancient facility.]

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP ENGINEERING

[Sparks fly through the room. Zelenka and Mila peek around a corner.]

ZELENKA See! I knew this would happen. We burned it out.

MILA (shrugging) We got here though, didn't we?

[She moves to make repairs.]

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD Any sign of the Daedalus?

KATANA No. Looks like we beat them.

SHEPPARD That's the first good news I've had all day.

KATANA Wait&hellip;I've got two ships closing in. Shields up. Fire at will. Evasive maneuvers might be good.

SHEPPARD I'm on it.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The two rogue Asgard ships engage the Travelers' vessel in a firefight. It loops around and returns fire.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Ronon throws a flash-bang into the room. After it explodes, Ronon and a team of the crew enter with weapons drawn. There are no Wraith there.]

RONON Clear.

[Woolsey, Keller, Marks, and other crew lower their own weapons and enter.]

RONON How come we haven't run into any of them yet?

KELLER I've got a bad feeling about this.

WOOLSEY (to Marks) Do a life signs scan. Find out where they are.

[Marks complies. His schematic shows a large grouping inside the Wraith ship parked in the 302 bay.]

MARKS I have a mass of life-signs in the second 302 bay.

RONON They fell back to the their ship. It's still in the bay.

WOOLSEY Why would they do that?

KELLER They saw we'd armed up? Didn't want to risk a fight?

RONON That doesn't sound like Todd. I'm going to check it out.

[He heads out.]

WOOLSEY Take us out of hyperspace.

[Marks types some commands. A menu announcement flashes on the monitor reading "Access Denied" and beeps.]

WOOLSEY What is it?

MARKS They locked us out of flight controls.

WOOLSEY (concerned) Can you get us back in?

MARKS Not quickly.

KELLER (worried) What's he got planned?

INT&mdash;ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

[Daniel and McKay, both wearing full alien armor, enter and shoot the three armored Asgards in the room. The pair take off their helmets.]

DANIEL Okay, how long to get the device shut down?

MCKAY Five minutes.

[They move to the console.]

MCKAY All right, you look watch the&hellip;aw, come on!

DANIEL What? What now?

MCKAY Well, something must have spooked them.

DANIEL Why?

MCKAY Well, aside from encrypting access to this workstation&hellip;?

DANIEL (dismissive) Yeah, but you can break that.

MCKAY Yeah, in a heartbeat. But as they very well know, you can't operate this machine without the control key. Look, the thing they stole from Janus's lab to begin with&hellip;

DANIEL (looking around, sighing) They've taken it.

EXT&mdash;ANCIENT LAB FACILITY

[The third Asgard ship lifts off from the facility's docking bay.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Travelers' ship and rogue Asgard ship continue to engage in close quarters battle, rotating around each other and firing belly-to-belly. Finally the Asgard vessel is destroyed.]

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD One down, one to go.

KATANA I'm picking up a third ship headed right for us.

SHEPPARD (sarcastic) Wonderful.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Traveler ship heads towards the third vessel, firing. The other ship returns fire, then opens up a hyperspace window between the two vessels and flies into it just before the Traveler ship reaches it.]

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

[Sparks continue to fly on the bridge from damage.]

KATANA (breathless) That was close. It flew into hyperspace.

SHEPPARD What?

KATANA Hold on&hellip;I've got another window opening.

SHEPPARD They're coming right back at us! What kind of messed up battle technique is that?

KATANA It's quite a bit out, nowhere near the planet yet. Wait&hellip;it's the Daedalus!

SHEPPARD Contact them! We're gonna need the help.

[Woolsey and the Daedalus bridge crew appear on the video screen.]

WOOLSEY (on vidcom) Colonel Sheppard?

SHEPPARD Surprised to see all you guys.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[The conversation continues between both ships' bridges.]

WOOLSEY Same here.

SHEPPARD Look, I'm on a Trav&mdash; (sparks interrupt him) I'm on a Travelers' ship. We've engaged the enemy. Have you gotten the Daedalus back? Because we're gonna need the help.

WOOLSEY Todd let us take her back without so much as a fight. But he's locked us out of the controls and retreated to one of the 302 bays.

SHEPPARD Why the hell would he do that? He needs that place destroyed more than anyone.

[An alarm beeps on Marks's console.]

MARKS Mister Woolsey, sir?

WOOLSEY What is it, Marks?

MARKS Sir, the second we came out of hyperspace, a preprogrammed subroutine kicked in.

WOOLSEY Meaning?

MARKS Our main scanners located a facility on the planet and immediately locked the guidance system into it.

WOOLSEY It's taking us to the Attero device.

MARKS In a way&hellip;Sir, it's programmed a collision course.

[Woolsey and Keller exchange worried looks.]

KELLER That's how he's going to destroy the facility&hellip;by ramming us into it.

INT&mdash;ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

DANIEL Can't we just power down the entire facility?

MCKAY We can't do much more than turn the lights off and on without the component thing.

DANIEL Well, we have to do something.

MCKAY (inspired) Wait a second&hellip;these suits were designed to protect the wearer from harsh environments, right?

DANIEL Technically&hellip;yes.

MCKAY Then I have a really terrible idea.

[McKay looks to the shielded chamber. Daniel follows him.]

DANIEL Oh, no. No. You're not thinking what I think you're thinking. The radiation in there would be pretty extreme.

MCKAY Not to mention those electrical discharges look pretty unfriendly, but&hellip;Yeah, the antenna has a control crystal. If we can pull it manually&hellip;

DANIEL I'd say fifty-fifty we even get that far.

MCKAY I'd go thirty-seventy. But I don't have a better idea, and the suits&hellip;they should protect us.

[Daniel sighs.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KELLER We disabled the ship weapons.

WOOLSEY You did?

KELLER Well, Ronon did, yeah. They didn't have any other choice. Ramming the facility with the ship is the only sure-fire way to take it out.

WOOLSEY Killing all of us in the process.

KELLER I don't think that he's that worried about us.

MARKS They just depressurized the 302 bay.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Todd's ship launches out of the fighter bay and flies away. Daedalus continues its course to the planet.]

INT&mdash;ATTERO DEVICE CONTROL ROOM

MCKAY You ready?

DANIEL Let's just get this over with.

[They don their helmets.]

MCKAY You know, we both don't have to go in there.

DANIEL Well, when you get killed by one of those discharges, someone's going to have to finish the job, so&hellip;

[He shrugs.]

MCKAY (drily) Oh. Great pep talk. Thanks.

INT&mdash;ATTERO DEVICE SHIELDED CHAMBER

[The door to the chamber opens and McKay and Daniel step inside. McKay points to the lightening arcs flying randomly through the room.]

MCKAY I'm pretty sure we want to avoid those touching us.

DANIEL (nodding) Thanks, coach.

[From the inside of the helmet, Daniel can see the room through the visor as well as get read-outs on several items via a overlay display, including McKay's presence. They reach the device itself. McKay crouches and pulls open the panel underneath the device. He pauses, studying the crystals.]

DANIEL What are you waiting for?

[McKay studies his readouts of the crystals in his own helmet.]

MCKAY I have to pull the right one, or the antenna explodes.

DANIEL (with nervous impatience) Well, hurry up.

[Daniel moves closer to the device, using its pillar as a lightening rod to deflect the arcs from being attracted to him.]

DANIEL But get it right.

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD How long before the Daedalus hits the surface?

KATANA A minute, tops. How many people on board?

SHEPPARD A couple hundred. Look, I've got an idea, but you're gonna have to trust me.

KATANA All right.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Zelenka, Mila, I need you to open up the hyperdrive in thirty seconds. We're going to have to make a short jump.

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP ENGINEERING

ZELENKA Impossible.

MILA Not a problem.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KELLER You can do this, Marks.

WOOLSEY We're all counting on you.

MARKS (nervously) I've almost got it.

[The ship starts to shake and rumble. Keller looks out the view-screen.]

KELLER We're entering the atmosphere.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The ship's hull heats up immensely and pieces break off the ship as the unshielded vessel heads through the atmosphere bow first.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KELLER (worried) Marks&hellip;?

EXT&mdash;PLANET ATMOSPHERE

[The ship continues to break apart as it passes through he atmosphere. It flies through the sky, heading towards the bright light of the Attero device-lit facility. The Traveler ship flies in front of Daedalus and opens a hyperspace window. Both ships enter it.]

INT&mdash;ATTERO DEVICE CHAMBER

MCKAY (licking his lips) Okay&hellip;here goes nothing.

[McKay reaches for the right crystal. A lightning arc feeds back from the pillar and strikes Daniel, attracting more discharges to him. He's thrown off his feet and onto the floor.]

MCKAY Daniel!

[McKay pulls the crystal, powering down the machine. He turns towards the writhing Daniel.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The two ships exit hyperspace on the other side of the planet, a few loose pieces of Daedalus following them.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

WOOLSEY What just happened?

SHEPPARD (over vidcom) You're welcome?

WOOLSEY What did you do?

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD I just opened up a hyperspace window big enough for the both of us. We just traveled through the planet.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Keller and Woolsey sigh in relief. Marks's console makes a hum.]

MARKS (breathless) I got it! I'm back in. We've got control of the ship.

WOOLSEY And not a moment&hellip;too late.

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

KATANA They found us again.

SHEPPARD Give them everything you got.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Traveler ship engages in battle with the rogue Asgard vessel, destroying it.]

INT&mdash;ATTERO DEVICE CHAMBER

[McKay removes his helmet.]

MCKAY Okay. You're okay. You're okay.

[He helps Daniel remove his own helmet. Daniel groans in pain.]

DANIEL (groaning) Ow! Wrong again. Did you turn it off?

MCKAY I did&hellip;uh, we did&hellip;you did. Look, where does it hurt?

DANIEL (panting in pain) Everywhere. Uh&hellip;I don't suppose there's a hospital nearby.

MCKAY (forlorn) I'm-I'm pretty sure we're on our own.

DANIEL Good.

MCKAY Look, I mean, on the bright side, I mean, we're both gonna be dead of dehydration in like, five days, so you won't have to put up with me for much longer.

[Daniel gives a pained smile, his eyes glistening. It is more difficult for him to speak through the agony.]

DANIEL I'm, uh&hellip;I'm, uh, pretty busted up, Rodney. I don't&hellip;I don't think I'm going to make it that long.

MCKAY (emotional) Okay, um, I know it may not seem like it, but&hellip;I want you to know, I-I-I really res&mdash;

[The pair are beamed away.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS INFIRMARY

[Keller and staff are in the infirmary. McKay and Daniel are beamed there. McKay looks around.]

MCKAY Oh, thank god!

[Keller shoots him a worried but relieved look.]

KELLER I sure am glad to see you two.

MCKAY He's badly hurt.

[McKay moves out of the way of the staff, who with Keller begin to work on Daniel, helping get him on a bed. Woolsey approaches McKay.]

WOOLSEY That's a new look for you.

MCKAY Well, you know me. It's function over fashion.

WOOLSEY Is the device still active?

[McKay proudly holds up the crystal still in his hand.]

MCKAY Not without this. It's the facility's main control crystal.

WOOLSEY That's not good enough for me.

[McKay's smile falters as Woolsey keys his radio.]

WOOLSEY Colonel Sheppard, we have Doctors McKay and Jackson. Our weapons are not operational. Can you please see to it that we never have to deal with the Attero device again?

[McKay looks confused.]

KATANA (over radio) I'm locked onto its coordinates.

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD Opening fire.

EXT&mdash;ANCIENT FACILITY

[Weapons blasts shoot through the sky and strike the facility, destroying it completely.]

INT&mdash;TRAVELER SHIP BRIDGE

SHEPPARD (into radio) Leveled.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS INFIRMARY

WOOLSEY (smiling, into radio) Good. (to McKay) Let's go home.

MCKAY Well, you wanna&hellip;unzip me?

[He gestures to his suit.]

WOOLSEY (drily) I'll look for a can opener.

[He walks away leaving a flustered McKay standing there.]

MCKAY Well&hellip;

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, NIGHT

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Katana and Sheppard walk through a corridor.]

KATANA Zelenka has been a big help with ship repairs. We should have her ready to fly in no time.

SHEPPARD And then what?

KATANA Start a new settlement, I guess?

SHEPPARD Well, that's good to hear. You tell Larrin I'll help you with whatever you need.

KATANA (smiling) Thank you. We'll be in touch.

SHEPPARD Yeah, I'm sure you will be. Tell Larrin she doesn't need to wait for the next galactic emergency to drop by? I'm a lot more charming when my friends aren't about to die.

KATANA (grinning) That's not what Larrin said.

SHEPPARD See! She does talk about me!

KATANA (conceding) Every now and again.

SHEPPARD What does she say?

[Katana purses her lips and stays mum.]

SHEPPARD What, not even a hint?

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR, NEAR INFIRMARY

[Ronon intercepts Keller heading away from the infirmary.]

RONON Hey.

KELLER Hey.

RONON You all done for the day?

KELLER Uh, Doctor Cole's taking my shift. Yeah.

RONON Wanna get somethin' to eat?

KELLER (sighing and stammering) Um, listen, um, uh, I-I'm really glad you came on the mission. I mean, without you there, we'd probably all be dead.

[She chuckles half-heartedly. Ronon smiles.]

KELLER But&hellip;uh&hellip;I just want to be clear, because, um&hellip; (she sighs and shakes her head) I just want you to know, that, uh, I'm kind of&hellip;interested in somebody else.

RONON So?

KELLER (bemused) I just&hellip;didn't want you to get the wrong imp&mdash;

[Ronon shifts, frowning.]

RONON (interrupting) You didn't. I just, um, I wanted to get something to eat.

KELLER Okay&hellip;because I thought&hellip;?

RONON Yeah, well, you're wrong.

[Keller stares at him confused. Ronon keeps her gaze with a mild expression.]

KELLER Okay.

RONON Okay.

KELLER (smiling, embarrassed) Do you still want to go&mdash;

RONON Uh, no. I should-should probably&hellip;

[Keller's smile falters. There is an awkward silence.]

RONON (low voice) I should go.

[Ronon walks away.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Daniel lies in a bed, wearing hospital scrubs. He has a tray of food on his lap and his grimacing at the fruit cup he's attempting to eat. McKay arrives.]

MCKAY Hey.

DANIEL Hmm.

MCKAY How are ya?

DANIEL (wincing) Well, it hurts to eat this fruit cup.

MCKAY So don't eat the fruit cup, then.

DANIEL Thank you, Groucho.

[He sets the fruit cup aside.]

DANIEL Listen, not that I don't appreciate the visits, but shouldn't you be trying to figure out a way to keep the Asgards out of the shield again?

MCKAY One step ahead of you. It's not going to happen again.

DANIEL (pleased) Oh! Good.

MCKAY You don't think they'd-they'd make a run at us again?

DANIEL (sighing, considering) Well, I'm not sure, but we did ruin the one plan they had to feel free in this galaxy. They might hold a grudge.

MCKAY Well, let's&hellip;hope not.

DANIEL (disappointed) I don't think I'll be around to find out, though.

MCKAY Yeah, I heard. They're, um, sending you back to Earth.

DANIEL Yeah, I guess I need some major patching up and recovery, and Landry prefers that I do that there instead of here, so&hellip;

MCKAY Well, the Daedalus has already picked up a 'gate, uh, leftover from the old Gate Bridge, and, uh, my team is installing it as we speak, so we should have you home in, uh, no time at all.

DANIEL That's good. That is&hellip;good.

MCKAY Yes. So&hellip;

[There is an awkward silence, only broken by McKay making distracted popping sounds with his mouth.]

MCKAY Well, it's been, um&hellip;unique.

DANIEL Yes. Yes, it has. It sure has. But, I do want to say thank you for, uh&hellip;saying that you respected me when you thought I was about to die back there.

MCKAY (affronted) Excuse me? I said no such thing.

DANIEL Yeah, you did you were like, um: "um, I know it may not seem like it, but&hellip;I really respect you," and that means a great&hellip;deal to me.

[Daniel smiles.]

MCKAY I don't believe I ever finished that sentence.

[Daniel's smile falters.]

DANIEL How else would you have finished that sentence?

MCKAY (stammering) I would've said "regret." I would've said "I really regret you being here because none of this would've happened&hellip;otherwise."

[McKay shuffles uncomfortably.]

DANIEL (incredulous) So you can only give compliments to the dying?

MCKAY (flinching) It's something I'm working on.

[There is another brief, awkward silence. Daniel holds up his tray of food.]

DANIEL Do you want to try any of this?

MCKAY Ooh. Fries?

DANIEL Yeah, yeah. Go&mdash;dive right in. Take the-take the deal there.

[McKay munches on some fries. Daniel reaches to the nearby table and gestures for Rodney to eat as many fries as he likes.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Transcribed for Solutions by Aurora Novarum, October 2008.

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