Ghost in the Machine/Transcript

Episode Guide
SGA 5.05 "Ghost In The Machine" Episode Guide

Transcript
TEASER

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[A puddle jumper flies away from a planet.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Sheppard's team sits inside. They all look unsettled.]

RONON What the hell was that thing?

TEYLA It just appeared out of nowhere.

MCKAY And that shriek scared the crap out of me.

SHEPPARD Some kind of a&hellip;flying monkey?

MCKAY A flying monkey? What is this? The planet of Oz?

TEYLA To me, it appeared to be leaping, rather than flying.

RONON That was one hell of a leap.

SHEPPARD Well, I said it looked like a monkey. You know, hair, arms, legs&mdash;

MCKAY And a beak.

SHEPPARD It didn't have a beak.

MCKAY Well, here I uploaded it. There.

[McKay shows a picture on his tablet computer of a blurry spot of darkness against light.]

SHEPPARD (sarcastic) Oh. You know, that really clears things up.

MCKAY Well, what do you expect? It was trying to kill me!

RONON What the hell is that thing?

SHEPPARD Well, let's send a team of biologists down there; let them figure it out. It might be a good place for an Alpha Site.

TEYLA The planet did seem suitable&mdash;good climate, abundant food and water, excellent choice for an off-world base.

MCKAY Aside from the flying monkeys.

SHEPPARD All right, we're coming into range, Rodney&hellip;

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The space Stargate activates.]

EXT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[A surge seems to roll throughout the ship. An alarm beeps insistently.]

SHEPPARD (concerned) Rodney?

MCKAY Whoa. Serious power spike. That's strange.

TEYLA What's wrong?

MCKAY I don't know. These readings are all screwy.

[More power overloads happen.]

SHEPPARD I just lost steering.

MCKAY Really?

SHEPPARD The drive pods won't retract.

RONON Do something!

MCKAY (frustrated) I could if I knew what the problem was.

SHEPPARD Rodney&hellip;

MCKAY J-j-just hang on, hang on.

SHEPPARD But if those pods don't retract&hellip;

MCKAY I know, I know! J-just give me a second.

SHEPPARD We don't have a second.

[An arc surges across the ship.]

RONON What the hell?

[The power goes off in the ship.]

MCKAY (worried) We just lost power.

SHEPPARD All right, you better hold on.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The jumper drifts, off-center from the Stargate, striking its side. Both the jumper and the Stargate drift, thrown off-course by the impact. The Stargate's thrusters push it back into its proper position as the jumper continues to tumble out of control.]

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The jumper continues to tumble in an unstable orbit above the planet.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY Okay, good. Good! I was wrong. We still have power; it's just not getting to any of the primary systems&hellip;or the secondary systems, either.

SHEPPARD Why not?

MCKAY I don't know. It's some kind of interference. I'm getting, uh, spikes all over the place. I mean, it's completely haywire. Thank god the inertial dampeners weren't affected.

SHEPPARD Well, not yet.

[Another electrical arc runs over Sheppard's system, barely missing him.]

SHEPPARD Jeez! What the hell is that?

MCKAY That's displacement current. High voltage. Do not let it hit you!

SHEPPARD (sarcastic) Oh, you think?

TEYLA Perhaps it's something we picked up on the planet.

MCKAY That is doubtful, okay? There was nothing technological, I mean, Ancient or other on that planet. It was totally primordial. I didn't detect anything unusual in the planet's magnetosphere. Look, it-it's got to be some kind of a-of a glitch in the jumper's capacitors. Just give me a second, I'll figure out how to&hellip;Oh, no.

[McKay stares at his computer in horror.]

RONON (impatient) What?

MCKAY Hitting the 'gate decreased our speed which means we're in decaying orbit. If we don't get power back, we're going to burn up in the atmosphere.

SHEPPARD All right, so try to get the DHD working. We can dial the 'gate and radio for help.

MCKAY Well, I-I'll try but the radio communications were affected as well.

[A quiet humming of a system powering up can be heard. Sheppard and McKay both look at their displays.]

SHEPPARD The drive pods are powering up.

MCKAY But only one of them, and it wasn't anything I did. I mean, it just came back online.

RONON (skeptical) By itself?

SHEPPARD It doesn't make any difference. Keep working on that DHD. I'm going to try to get us back in range.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The puddle jumper, powered only by one drive pod, heads back towards the Stargate.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

MCKAY Okay, I got bad news, and I got good news.

SHEPPARD What is it?

MCKAY There's a slim to no chance of getting the DHD working. That system is completely out of whack. It's going to take some incredibly intricate rerouting of the power to&mdash;

SHEPPARD Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's the good news?

MCKAY That&hellip;was the good news. The bad news, is we lost life support.

RONON So no air.

MCKAY (weakly) Right. That-that's&hellip;why it's bad.

SHEPPARD All right, we're back in range. Just, keep working on the DHD. This may be our last shot.

[Another surge happens in the cargo bay behind the team. Immediately afterwards, all the power comes back on in the ship. McKay frantically reaches for his computer.]

TEYLA What just happened?

MCKAY I don't know, but we're back online.

SHEPPARD DHD?

MCKAY Everything. We got propulsion, life support, you name it.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The jumper, now using both drive pods, closes in on the active Stargate.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

SHEPPARD (into radio) Atlantis, this is Sheppard. We're coming in for approach, but our systems are a little whacked. If we're not there in about ten seconds, send a jumper for us.

CHUCK (over radio) Copy that, Colonel.

SHEPPARD (to team) You better brace yourselves again.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The jumper does not slow down, coasting into the active wormhole.]

WORMHOLE EFFECT

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Sheppard and Woolsey head down a staircase and along a corridor.]

WOOLSEY Any of the other jumpers reporting trouble?

SHEPPARD No, probably an isolated incident. But McKay and Zelenka are checking into it. We should probably ground the jumpers 'till we know what the problem is, though.

WOOLSEY All right. But the planet&hellip;suitable for an Alpha Site?

SHEPPARD Yeah, perfect. Well, except for the monkey-like creature flying around, but I think we can handle that.

WOOLSEY "Monkey?"

SHEPPARD Yeah, McKay's got some photos. He'll show 'em to you.

[Sheppard parts ways, heading down a side corridor.]

WOOLSEY (calling after him) Did you say "flying"?

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[McKay and Zelenka have diagnostic equipment hooked up to the jumper. McKay looks puzzled. Sheppard enters.]

SHEPPARD So, how's it going, boys? Did you get it fixed?

ZELENKA There's nothing to fix.

SHEPPARD What?

MCKAY We ran a battery of tests. The jumper's in perfect condition.

SHEPPARD How come the systems are all screwy?

MCKAY You got me.

ZELENKA We couldn't recreate any of the "so-called" anomalies.

MCKAY (annoyed) Hey, Sammy Skeptic, he saw it too! As did Ronon and Teyla. All of our primary systems went down.

ZELENKA (patronizing) That's okay, I believe you.

MCKAY I don't think you do.

ZELENKA It's just that I think that maybe, the problem may have been caused by something that you unwittingly&hellip;

MCKAY (protesting) I didn't do anything, "wittingly" or "un-"!

SHEPPARD (backing away) Okay, okay, there's nothing wrong with the jumper?

MCKAY Well, not anymore.

[Sheppard leaves. Zelenka starts to follow.]

ZELENKA (muttering to himself) I don't think there ever was anything&mdash;

MCKAY (piqued) Okay, enough.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS TRANSPORTER

[Woolsey reaches an elevator and opens the door. It opens. Woolsey is distracted by reading his tablet computer and barely pays attention as he presses the button to head to the control room and the doors close. He does notice when the system seems to fritz, closing the panel to the directional controls. However, he hears the door behind him open a second later, so he walks out, still looking at his computer.]

EXT&mdash;EAST PIER BALCONY

[Woolsey walks straight out onto a balcony only noticing where he is when he walks into the balcony wall with a thud. He turns around, but the transporter doors shut in his face. He tries to get them to open, but the motion sensor does not work.]

WOOLSEY Aw, please. (keying radio) Control room? This is Richard Woolsey. I took a wrong turn in a transporter and ended up&hellip; (looking around) &hellip;I have no idea where I am. But now the transporter door won't open. Can you locate me and open it, please&hellip;? Hello&hellip;?

[Woolsey is alone in the deserted area.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Sheppard walks along a corridor. The power flickers, and Sheppard pauses.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Rodney?

MCKAY (over radio) Go ahead.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Are you, uh, messing around with the power again? The lights are flickering.

INT&mdash;MCKAY'S LAB

[McKay works on his computer.]

MCKAY Yeah, I'm getting reports from all over the place.

[The power goes on and off.]

MCKAY (into radio) Hello?

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[An electrical surge arcs across the corridor inches in front of Sheppard. He pauses his stride for a moment, then starts moving faster through the corridor.]

SHEPPARD (concerned) Rodney&hellip;?

INT&mdash;MCKAY'S LAB

[Zelenka enters.]

ZELENKA Have you noticed the&mdash;

MCKAY Yes.

ZELENKA Well, do you have any&mdash;

MCKAY Not yet.

ZELENKA Localized?

MCKAY No. Got power disruptions all over the city.

ZELENKA Oh. ZPM?

MCKAY Still online, plenty of power. It's just suddenly become, um&hellip;

[The power completely shuts down, then turns back on.]

MCKAY (ruefully) &hellip;unstable.

ZELENKA Sounds not unlike what you said happened in the puddle jumper.

MCKAY (snappish) Yes, remarkably not unlike it.

[Zelenka heads to a computer station.]

ZELENKA Well, perhaps the anomaly spread to the city's systems?

MCKAY That's impossible. I disabled the network connection between the jumper and Atlantis before we even came through the 'gate.

[The computers shut down.]

ZELENKA Oh, so&hellip;coincidence then?

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Sheppard arrives. McKay and Zelenka are already working there.]

SHEPPARD There you are, I tried to radio you.

MCKAY (distracted) Yeah, well, communications are down.

SHEPPARD Yeah, obviously. What's up?

[McKay moves to another machine.]

MCKAY We're working on it.

SHEPPARD Well, I just almost got zapped by a bolt of lightning!

[McKay and Zelenka look up, alert.]

MCKAY (worried) What? Displacement current? Here?

SHEPPARD Yeah, right there in the corridor. Just like the one we had in the jumper.

ZELENKA So&hellip;not a coincidence.

[An alarm beeps.]

CHUCK We just lost power to the Stargate.

MCKAY (astonished) What?!

SHEPPARD Well, maybe, a-a virus uploaded itself or something&hellip;

MCKAY No, no, no. I disabled the jumper's network connection for this very reason. There is no way the anomaly jumped to the city's systems!

[An unmanned computer terminal explodes, causing everyone to wince and duck. The computer monitor is blackened and smoking.]

SHEPPARD You'd better figure it out, because whatever was in that jumper is now in the city.

[A stunned McKay gets back to work.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, NIGHT

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Woolsey arrives. Everyone is bustling at work. Sheppard is there.]

SHEPPARD Where have you been?

WOOLSEY On the other side of the city. Transporter malfunctioned and sent me to the East Pier. I had to walk all the way back.

[He sits in a nearby chair, takes off his shoes, and begins to massage his pained feet.]

MCKAY We've got power disruptions all over the city. Nearly every system's affected.

SHEPPARD We think whatever's wrong with the jumper has infected Atlantis.

MCKAY (more cautious) It's one of several possibilities we're looking into.

ZELENKA (surprised) Several?

MCKAY It's a possibility, all right? The point is, we have no idea what's going on here.

WOOLSEY (drily) I was almost hit by a bolt of lightning!

SHEPPARD Yeah? Join the club.

MCKAY Look, the energy builds up in one area, and then discharges in a-in a high-voltage displacement current. Very erratic. Very lethal.

WOOLSEY I tried to radio you.

ZELENKA Yeah, well communications are also down.

SHEPPARD (blithely) So's the Stargate.

WOOLSEY (alarmed) We can't dial Earth?

MCKAY (impatient) Look, don't worry, all right? I will figure it out. I just gotta&hellip;run a few diagnostics, narrow down things&hellip;

[The lights go off. The generator, then falls silent. Woolsey stands.]

SHEPPARD Well, that can't be good.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, NIGHT

[There is no power on throughout the city.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WOOLSEY (nervously) Okay, okay, we, uh&hellip;we need to organize some teams. Fan out through the city. Keep everyone calm until we figure out exactly what the&mdash;

[The computer terminal in front of Woolsey suddenly comes to life. It is the only thing with power.]

MCKAY (startled) Hey. The laptop just booted up.

[He comes over to the station.]

SHEPPARD It's probably just the battery.

MCKAY No, no, no. It's drawing power from the system.

WOOLSEY So everything's out except your computer?

MCKAY (annoyed) I am as confused as you are.

[The computer starts showing random series of letters, separated by ellipses. Sheppard, Woolsey, McKay, and Zelenka lean closer.]

WOOLSEY What is that?

SHEPPARD Looks like some kind of a code?

MCKAY Maybe.

ZELENKA It could be a message.

[The gibberish on the screen changes into one intelligible word: "help."]

WOOLSEY Help?

[McKay types into the computer: "Who are you?" New letters on the screen eventually form into the words: "Elizabeth Weir". Everyone stands, exchanging stunned looks.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, NIGHT

[The lights are still out throughout the city.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WOOLSEY Doctor Weir? But she's dead.

SHEPPARD So we've been told.

WOOLSEY (to McKay) Perhaps&hellip;you should answer her.

[He nods his head to the screen. McKay, still looking stunned, snaps out of some of his fugue at this news.]

MCKAY Right.

[McKay types: Where are you?]

[The response, after some struggle: computer]

WOOLSEY (confused) In the computer? How can she be in the computer?

[Response: difficult&hellip;current condition.]

[McKay types: What happened to you?]

[Response: subspace difficult control trying to&mdash;]

[The power returns to the city, the lights turning on.]

[McKay types: Did you do that?]

[Only gibberish is typed in response.]

[McKay types: Are you still there?]

[Response: help me.]

INT&mdash;ANCIENT LAB

[Zelenka and other scientists hook up naquadah reactors and work on an Atlantis panel.]

ZELENKA (into radio) All right. Rodney? Rodney, come in&hellip;Rodney, can you hear me?

MCKAY (over radio) Go ahead.

ZELENKA (into radio) I've completed the patch. Go ahead and try it&hellip;whenever you're ready.

INT&mdash;MCKAY'S LAB

[McKay works on his computer. The rest of his team and Woolsey stand nearby.]

MCKAY Okay&hellip;fingers crossed.

SHEPPARD What are you doing?

MCKAY Well, whatever this entity is, it's completely overwhelming the city's systems. It-it's spread out, like, uh, dozens of fragmented programs that are fouling up power management, communications, you name it. Now, I've managed to merge them, to, uh, patch them together into one incredibly large program that will A) hopefully render our systems slightly more stable, and, uh, B) allow us to better communicate with whoever or&hellip; whatever it is that's claiming to be Doctor Weir.

WOOLSEY Isn't merging all these programs potentially dangerous?

MCKAY Well, hell yeah. But it's no more dangerous than allowing this thing to continue wreaking havoc on the city's systems.

SHEPPARD Or&hellip;getting zapped by bolts of lightning.

[McKay starts typing on his keyboard.]

MCKAY Okay, so, let me see if I can synthesize a voice to communicate with. Elizabeth&mdash;if I make the proper calibrations&mdash;she should be able to hear us too.

[He moves to another computer and types more. A panel beeps.]

MCKAY Now&hellip;Elizabeth?

[The computer lets out a very deep, synthesized voice.]

SYNTHESIZED VOICE Rodney?

SHEPPARD Is it just me, or does, uh, "Elizabeth" sound a little different?

[McKay is already typing at his computer again.]

MCKAY (annoyed) I'm on it. I'm on it.

[He finishes his work and turns back to the main computer.]

MCKAY Are you Elizabeth Weir?

[The voice is still deep, but much improved from before, with a feminine tone.]

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE Yes, Rodney. It's me.

MCKAY It's the best I can do.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE I'm sorry to cause all this trouble. Who's there with you? Is-is John Sheppard there?

SHEPPARD (hoarse) Hi.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE It's so good to hear your voice again.

SHEPPARD We, uh&hellip;thought you were&hellip;dead.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE I suppose I am. My&hellip;my physical body, anyway, but&hellip;my consciousness is still intact.

SHEPPARD (nervous) Right. So, uh, what happened?

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE All right, so&hellip;you remember the day I ordered you to leave me behind?

FLASHBACK

[Scenes from 4.02 "Lifeline" are shown.]

INT&mdash;ASURAS CITY CORRIDOR

[Weir is some distance from Ronon and Sheppard. Replicators start firing at the pair, forcing them to fall back.]

RONON Come on!

SHEPPARD Elizabeth?!

WEIR GO!

[Replicators surround Weir as Sheppard and Ronon retreat.]

END FLASHBACK

SHEPPARD Yeah&hellip;yeah, I remember.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE Well, after that, the Replicators took me to a lab&hellip;

FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;ASURAS LAB

[From Weir's point of view, Replicators stand over Weir as surgical lights shine down on her. Nanites start flowing upward from Weir's body.]

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE (continuing, voiceover) The nanites in my body were unleashed and allowed to replicate. I joined the population, but even in my new form, my original consciousness was still there. I-I was still me. I tried to hide it, but a few of the others could sense it. They were remnants of Niam's old group.

INT&mdash;ASURAS CORRIDOR

[From Weir's point of view, she walks down a corridor. A few of the Replicators study her shrewdly as she walks by.]

END FLASHBACK

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE I believe you encountered some of their handiwork&mdash;replicator-built human versions of me and your team?

SHEPPARD (warily) Hmm. You heard about that, did you?

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE Only after they were killed.

MCKAY Now, the other you, the&mdash;human one? She thought you'd been destroyed.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE That's what the leaders of our group wanted her to believe. They kept us apart deliberately for&hellip;security reasons.

WOOLSEY This is all very interesting, I'm sure. But none of it explains how you've come to be a disembodied voice in our computer system.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE (sounding incredulous) Is that&hellip;Richard Woolsey?

WOOLSEY (nonplussed) Um, yes. Ahem, it is. I'm the&hellip;uh&hellip;the new&hellip;

SHEPPARD (impatient) The new you.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE I see.

SHEPPARD So what&mdash;what-what happened? How did you&hellip;end up&hellip;in there?

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE We were on the run. Oberoth and the others were hunting us down for our heretical beliefs. It was only a matter of time before we'd be captured and destroyed&mdash;unless something miraculous happened, and something did.

FLASHBACK

[Scene from 4.11 "Be All My Sins Remembered"]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Asteroids make up the debris field where Asuras/M7R-227 once sat. One Aurora-class vessel floats amongst the debris.]

INT&mdash;BRIDGE, REPLICATOR SHIP

REPLICATOR WOMAN Our intel was correct. The planet has been completely destroyed.

REPLICATOR MAN Can you detect any trace Replicator cells?

REPLICATOR WOMAN Negative. They've been completely wiped out.

[Weir sits in the captain's chair.]

WEIR Good. We can finally get to work without having to look over our shoulders. It's time to begin.

END FLASHBACK

SHEPPARD Uh, well, that wasn't a miracle. That was us. We&hellip;destroyed the Replicator home-world.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE I know, and we owe you a debt of gratitude, because it allowed us to pursue our goal in peace.

TEYLA You mean ascension.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE Exactly, Teyla.

FLASHBACK

EXT&mdash;ALIEN PLANET, NIGHT

[An Aurora-class vessel is parked in a forest clearing on a world.]

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE (voiceover) We found a suitable planet and began our work. I did what I could to help them. I tried to lead them in meditation, to teach them how to "release their burden." But it was difficult.

[In the forest, the Asuran Replicators sit cross-legged around a campfire, trying to meditate.]

END FLASHBACK

MCKAY Let me guess, you ran into the small hiccup with the fact that you're all machines?!

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE Yes.

MCKAY Well, as much as I'd like to say we didn't see that coming, we, you know, did.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE One of our group, Koracen, argued that it was a mistake to try and run away from our technological origin&mdash;that we should embrace it, and find a technological solution.

FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;SCIENCE LAB

[Koracen paces a lab, speaking to several Replicators.]

KORACEN We know that a Replicator mind can be digitized and transferred from one body to another, but I've discovered a way that will allow us to exist indefinitely as fields of energy, effectively uploading ourselves into subspace where we'll be free to move about the galaxy unencumbered by physical existence.

REPLICATOR WOMAN TWO What would happen to our bodies?

KORACEN The nanite bonds holding them together would be separated.

REPLICATOR WOMAN TWO You mean they'll be destroyed.

KORACEN Yes, but we'll no longer need them.

REPLICATOR WOMAN Koracen, if this doesn't work&hellip;?

KORACEN It will work. You told us that ascension is achieved when the physical body is transformed into pure energy. I can make that happen for us. And once in subspace, nothing can prevent us from continuing on to the next plane of existence. (to young looking Replicator woman on table) Are you ready?

[The woman nods and lies down on a lab table. Koracen goes to a panel and presses some controls. An electrical arc surges, and the woman's nanites break apart, leaving her remains a bunch of dust.]

KORACEN It's done.

END FLASHBACK

MCKAY Machine ascension?

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE Except it didn't work. There was no next step, no "ascension" in any meaningful sense of the word. We've been stuck in subspace ever since.

TEYLA What is it like?

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE Oh&hellip;constant motion and&hellip;deafening noise. It-it's like the worst migraine you could possibly imagine.

MCKAY I don't know. I've had some pretty horrendous migraines in my time&mdash;

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE (cutting him off) We started searching the galaxy, looking for a way to regain any kind of physical form. We came across a few other technologically advanced societies.

MCKAY Really? In-in this galaxy?

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE You'd be surprised how many more are out there, keeping themselves hidden from the Wraith. We occupied various computer systems, even Wraith tech for a short while.

SHEPPARD Wraith tech, really?

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE It was extremely unpleasant. In fact, no matter where we looked, we couldn't find any technology that would allow us to exist as anything even remotely like what we were before.

MCKAY Which is why you came here. You knew that Atlantis's computers were big enough and powerful enough to house your entire program.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE The others were growing increasingly frustrated and bitter. I broke away from them, and started looking for you on my own. I searched the galaxy for months; then I detected your puddle jumper and connected with it.

RONON (drily) Nearly killing us in the process.

SYNTHESIZED WEIR VOICE I'm sorry for that. My current condition is&hellip;extremely volatile, difficult to control, especially during the initial moments trying to interface with new tech. But I didn't know where else to turn. You're the only friends I have.

[Everyone exchanges troubled looks.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, NIGHT

[The city's power is now on.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS BALCONY, NIGHT

[Sheppard's team and Woolsey stand on a balcony, talking over the situation.]

RONON If you ask me, it's a trick, someone just pretending to be Doctor Weir.

MCKAY But what if it is her? Look, we still have the Ancient machine I used to build Fran. I can easily build another Replicator to house&mdash;

WOOLSEY (interrupting) No!

MCKAY (desperately) I'd put in fail-safes, a kill switch! Look, what I'm saying is that with all of the advancements I've been able to make&mdash;

WOOLSEY (interrupting) With all due respect to the advancements you've made, one thing remains constant: Replicators are far too powerful to even think about trusting them. They've been the scourge of two galaxies! You know better than anyone how difficult it was to get rid of them.

TEYLA Then what should we do with her?

MCKAY Well, she can't stay where she is. She's frying the city's computers.

SHEPPARD Well, maybe we can upload her, or it, or&hellip;whatever this thing is into a virtual reality like we did with Ava.

MCKAY That could work, but it wouldn't be easy, especially if she doesn't want to go.

SHEPPARD Well, talk to her.

[Zelenka rushes out onto the balcony.]

ZELENKA Rodney, we just detected anomalous energy levels in the South Pier lab.

MCKAY (realizing) The Replicator machine!

RONON She's building herself a body.

MCKAY She must've found it in the database.

WOOLSEY Shut down power to that room.

[They hurry back inside.]

ZELENKA I-I've tried. I've also tried to radio down there, but communications are offline.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS SOUTH PIER CORRIDOR

[They approach the Replicator building lab. The lights continuously flicker on and off. Marines are already at the sealed door, trying to open it.]

SHEPPARD (to marine) What's going on?

MARINE Door slammed shut. Can't get it open.

MCKAY Okay, move.

[McKay pushes the marine out of the way and starts to work on the panel.]

SHEPPARD Go get some backup, some heavy arms, and, uh, cover every corridor out of here. Get some C-4, we're gonna have to blast this door.

[The marine leaves.]

MCKAY Nope, this panel is toast.

[He closes the panel door. The power suddenly stops flickering, maintaining a steady on position.]

WOOLSEY Is there another door we can access?

[The door opens from the inside. Sheppard and Ronon raise their weapons in alarm as everyone looks startled. Weir, inside a replicator body identical to McKay's Fran Replicator, stands before them.]

WEIR Hello.

INT&mdash;ANCIENT LAB

[The Fran-looking Weir, Sheppard's team, Woolsey, Zelenka, and marines are in the lab. McKay is checking the Replicator building machine.]

WEIR Listen to me. I'm Elizabeth Weir.

MCKAY Obviously, she was in a hurry. She just used the previous Replicator template that was already in the machine&hellip;which was Fran.

WEIR (to Sheppard) John, I'm not a threat to you.

SHEPPARD Well, whatever you are, I'd say building a Replicator body is a pretty big threat.

TEYLA Elizabeth Weir would never do such a thing.

[McKay walks away from the controls.]

MCKAY Okay, the machine is deactivated! Removed the control crystal, which means no one will be building any more Replicators.

WEIR Believe me, I was just as concerned about doing this as you. But the adjustments Rodney's made to this technology eliminate any danger. I can't replicate. And since my consciousness is controlling this body, I truly believe&mdash;

WOOLSEY Your consciousness? No offense, but I'm not completely sold on your being who you say you are.

RONON (menacingly) That makes two of us.

WEIR I understand your skepticism, but I am Elizabeth Weir. I wish there was some way I could prove it to you.

WOOLSEY That'll be difficult. Any personal information or memories could've easily been mined from Doctor Weir's consciousness when the Replicators captured her.

WEIR I know. At least let me start by offering something of value.

SHEPPARD Let's hear it.

WEIR The technical specs of several of the systems we've inhabited since our transformation, including Wraith tech. I've already uploaded them to your computer.

MCKAY (startled) Oh&hellip;really? Well, that's&hellip;great.

WEIR All I ask is that you give me a chance to earn your trust. I would never, ever do anything to harm any of you&hellip;or Atlantis.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAWN

INT&mdash;WOOLSEY'S OFFICE

[McKay briefs Woolsey and Sheppard.]

MCKAY Well the good news is that now she's downloaded herself into the Replicator's body, she's not screwing up Atlantis's computers. The power's stable, the 'gate's working, and communications are back online.

SHEPPARD Are you sure she can't replicate on her own?

MCKAY Positive. I mean, she instituted every safeguard. We move her to a secure location, and I think we'll be able to&mdash;

WOOLSEY Wait a minute! You're not suggesting I entertain the notion of keeping her here?

MCKAY Oh, I'm just saying that if we keep her under constant guard, it'll minimize any threat she poses&mdash;if she even poses a threat. And it'll give us more time to study her.

[Woolsey stands and approaches McKay.]

WOOLSEY That thing in there is a Replicator. There are far too many ways this can go wrong, even if she's kept under constant guard!

MCKAY Everyone doubted the first Fran I built, and she turned out to be perfectly safe and perfectly reliable.

WOOLSEY That's right. You built Fran. You created her consciousness. Now, as much as you want to believe this new "Fran" is indeed "Doctor Weir", we cannot be certain of that. For all we know, it could be Oberoth inside that body.

SHEPPARD That's creepy.

MCKAY (upset) What if it is Doctor Weir? Look, this is my fault. I'm the one who reactivated the nanites in Elizabeth. True, to save her, but&hellip;look, I'm the one who created this mess. I think I should be the one to, you know, fix it. I owe it to Elizabeth.

WOOLSEY I'm sorry, but it's too dangerous. I say we stick with our original plan&mdash;upload her consciousness into a virtual reality. Let her prove herself there, where she can't do any damage.

[Distraught, McKay leaves.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS ISOLATION ROOM

[Weir sits on a bench. Teyla stands across from her. Marines guard the door.]

WEIR A child? Oh Teyla&hellip;

[Weir stands and starts to approach. The marines straighten and cock their weapons. Weir steps back and clears her throat, sitting.]

WEIR I'm so happy for you. Uh, is it a boy, or&hellip;

TEYLA Boy.

WEIR What's his name?

TEYLA Torren John Emmagan.

WEIR Torren, for your father. And, uh, John&hellip;Colonel Sheppard?

TEYLA Yes.

WEIR Wait, you're not saying that John Sheppard is&mdash;

TEYLA No. No&hellip;the father is Athosian.

[She sits in a bench across from Weir.]

WEIR Let me guess&hellip;Kanaan.

TEYLA Yes! How did you&hellip;?

WEIR Every time you spoke of him, this "friend", there was always a sparkle in your eyes.

[Teyla starts, looking troubled.]

WEIR So is the baby here with you in Atlantis?

TEYLA (after a second's pause) No. He is with his father, off-world.

[Weir looks down, as if sensing Teyla's distrust. Sheppard enters.]

SHEPPARD Sorry to interrupt.

TEYLA No, it's all right. We were just finishing.

[Teyla stands and leaves.]

SHEPPARD Uh&hellip;sorry about all this.

WEIR It's okay. I understand. Amazing news about Teyla.

SHEPPARD Yeah&hellip;yeah. Um, look&hellip;we all want to believe you are who you say you are.

WEIR I understand. You&hellip;have to be cautious. But it really is me, John. You just have to give me time. You'll see that&hellip;

[Weir's voice drifts off, and she looks troubled.]

WEIR Oh, no.

SHEPPARD What's wrong?

[Weir stands. The marines alert again, but Sheppard waves them down.]

WEIR They've found me.

SHEPPARD Who?

WEIR The other Replicators. They're on their way to Atlantis.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[Woolsey joins Sheppard and McKay at a console.]

WOOLSEY How many are coming?

SHEPPARD Eight of them.

MCKAY And we saw what kind of damage one can do.

WOOLSEY Should we pull the ZPM?

MCKAY That's a last resort. We're not there yet. Meanwhile, I'll need it to effect any potential countermeasures I can come up with.

WOOLSEY How soon will they get here?

SHEPPARD Minutes, if that.

WOOLSEY Is there anything we can do to protect the city? Can you put up some kind of firewall?

MCKAY A firewall won't work; you can't block them. They just pop in and out of subspace. They're here, they're there. It's impossible to predict. (inspired) &hellip;I could write program that immediately quarantines any anomalous behavior in the system, like an anti-virus software. It's going to take some time though.

WOOLSEY Do what you can.

[Woolsey and Sheppard leave McKay.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[Woolsey and Sheppard walk down the stairwell.]

WOOLSEY Keep Fran&hellip;Doctor Weir&hellip;whoever she is under guard. We won't upload her to the VR just yet. We may need her help dealing with them.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS ISOLATION ROOM

[As Weir paces, Sheppard storms into the room.]

SHEPPARD You set us up.

WEIR No! I honestly believed I had broken away without them being able to track me.

SHEPPARD Tell them to stay away from Atlantis!

WEIR I'll try, but it'll get easier as they get closer. Look, I'm sure they don't intend to hurt anyone.

SHEPPARD Well, you tell them to keep moving. Go someplace else. It might go a little&mdash;

[The lights flicker.]

MCKAY (over radio) Sheppard!?

SHEPPARD (into radio) Go ahead, Rodney.

MCKAY (over radio, breaking up) &hellip;arrived&hellip;wasn't able&hellip;program the system&hellip;.

SHEPPARD (over radio) Rodney?

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

MCKAY (shouting into radio) Their combined force is completely overwhelming the main power grid. Sheppard?

WOOLSEY They're here!

MCKAY All eight of them slamming the city's computers!

WOOLSEY What about the anti-virus program?

MCKAY I didn't have time to finish it. Look, it probably wouldn't have worked anyway. (into radio) Radek, I need you to pull the ZPM and power down all essential naquadah generators. Radek? (to others) Communications are down again!

INT&mdash;ZPM ROOM

[Zelenka is working on the ZPM chambers as the power flickers and city shakes.]

ZELENKA (into radio) Rodney! Rodney, I'm trying to divert power, but it-it's become far too unstable. Perhaps now we should pull the ZPM. Rodney?

[He gets a loud burst of static in his ear and pulls the radio piece out.]

ZELENKA Cursing in Czech.

[A generator sparks behind a science tech in the room. Zelenka waves him to leave.]

ZELENKA Let-let's go. Pull the ZPM. Shut down all the power except for the main power.

[The scientist starts to comply, but a burst of electrical arc shoots through the air, hitting him right in the chest.]

ZELENKA Hey!

[He hurries over and checks the scientist's pulse.]

ZELENKA (horrified) Oh, god. He's dead.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Sheppard and Ronon lead Weir in. Teyla has joined the rest of her team and Woolsey already.]

WOOLSEY We've established contact with the Replicator known as Koracen. He claims to speak on the others' behalf.

WEIR (into radio) Koracen, it's Elizabeth Weir.

[Koracen's voice sounds distorted and deep over the computer.]

DISEMBODIED KORACEN VOICE Elizabeth? We were worried about you.

WEIR Listen to me, you need to leave this place; you're causing a lot of harm.

DISEMBODIED KORACEN VOICE We will leave, but first we wish to be given bodies as you have.

WOOLSEY We've already told you&mdash;that's out of the question.

DISEMBODIED KORACEN VOICE And yet, Elizabeth has been given one.

WOOLSEY It wasn't our choice. And we're not planning on letting her keep it.

[Weir shoots Woolsey a look.]

DISEMBODIED KORACEN VOICE We do not wish to harm anyone.

SHEPPARD One of our guys is already dead, so you can save your "we come in peace" crap!

WEIR Koracen, please! Just leave the city and let me negotiate with them. I'm sure we can figure out some way to help you.

DISEMBODIED KORACEN VOICE The way to help us is by replacing the control crystal in the Ancient machine so that we may build Replicator bodies. That is what you will do.

WOOLSEY And if we don't?

[The voice synthesizer shuts down on its own.]

WEIR Koracen?

[An alarm blares. McKay hurries to its source.]

MCKAY Not good, not good!

CHUCK Aw, 'gate's down again!

MCKAY We're losing control of the city. They just shut the jumper bay doors!

SHEPPARD They're trying to keep us from leaving.

[He looks at Weir, who looks worried and won't meet his eyes.]

WOOLSEY Can't you override it?

MCKAY I'm locked out!

[Another alarm beeps. McKay looks at another monitor.]

MCKAY Oh, no. They just engaged the ZPM. Energy levels are rising rapidly.

WOOLSEY Why? What are they doing?

MCKAY They're sinking the city!

WOOLSEY (to Chuck) Raise the shield.

CHUCK They've disabled it.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

[The city creaks and rumbles as it slowly lowers into the sea.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WOOLSEY Any ideas?

MCKAY No, we're going down. Water's already cresting the lower decks of the outer piers. It's going to breach the city corridors any second now.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

[The outskirts of the city are underwater, and the city continues to sink.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Two expedition members struggle in the water as they try and reach safety and manually seal the doors shut. They just get electrical shocks for their troubles.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Woolsey paces, thinking. Determined, he turns to Weir.]

WOOLSEY I want you to send them a message from me.

WEIR (shaking her head) I've been trying to communicate with them. Telling them to stop. They won't listen to me.

WOOLSEY That's not what I want to tell them.

[The others exchange surprised looks.]

MCKAY It's not?

WOOLSEY Tell them&hellip;to go ahead. Sink the city. Destroy their only chance of ever regaining any kind of physical form. You've searched the entire galaxy. You know the Replicator home-world was destroyed. The only place remaining with the technology you need to achieve your goals&hellip;is right here. So go ahead, destroy it. Stay trapped in limbo forever.

[Sheppard looks puzzled, then watches Woolsey with respect as he faces Weir. She looks at the others but finds no support. She closes her eyes and concentrates.]

MCKAY (studying display) Level one of the south pier is completely underwater.

WEIR They won't stop.

WOOLSEY Fine. Then we'll all die together.

[Woolsey steps away, once his back is turned to Weir, he shoots a brief worried look at Sheppard, but without backing down. Sheppard and Weir look at each other. A computer beeps.]

MCKAY They're powering down the ZPM. The city's stabilizing.

[Sheppard becomes less tense. Woolsey breathes a sigh of relief and bows his head. He turns back to Weir.]

WOOLSEY All right. Now we can negotiate.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS DAY

INT&mdash;WOOLSEY'S OFFICE

[Weir talks with Sheppard, McKay and Woolsey in the office. Security guards wait outside.]

WEIR I have a proposal. I've already communicated it to the others and convinced them to agree to it.

WOOLSEY Let's hear it.

WEIR Human bodies, nanite manufactured, but consisting of flesh and blood&mdash;like the other Elizabeth Weir you once encountered.

MCKAY Uh, we don't have that kind of technology here.

WEIR But we do. If you give us temporary Replicator bodies and a lab to work in, we can assemble them ourselves.

MCKAY What, you'll transfer your consciousness from the Replicator body to the human body?

WEIR Exactly. As human beings, we would be every bit as vulnerable as anyone else. We would eat, sleep, get sick&hellip;and die&hellip;preferably of old age.

SHEPPARD And what about ascension? I'm assuming that's still on the agenda?

WEIR It is.

MCKAY Wait a second, um, building humans&hellip;that's going to take time, isn't it? I mean, first you have to create the technology to do it. We're talking nanites&hellip;I mean, organically assembling each body inside out, starting at the molecular level. Well, then, you have to create the machine to transfer the consciousness. That's going to take god knows how long!

WEIR Replicators, as you know, work very fast. No need for breaks, or food, or sleep.

SHEPPARD It's worth thinking about.

MCKAY He may be right. I mean, if only to regain control of the city. While they're in our computer systems, Atlantis is in serious trouble.

WOOLSEY If we do this, I want severe restrictions placed on their capabilities&mdash;no replicating, no shape shifting&mdash;

MCKAY The basic model. You got it. I mean, no bells, no whistles. They'll be able to affect some minor repairs, but that's about it.

WEIR Seal off the lab. Put a force field around it. Do whatever you need to do to feel safe. But I've already convinced the others that this is their only option. They won't give you any trouble. You have my word.

[Woolsey studies her.]

WOOLSEY Do it.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS ISOLATION LAB

[Weir steps into a science lab. McKay stands in an observation room watching through a window.]

MCKAY (into radio) Okay. Initializing force field.

[A force field powers up, surrounding the room.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Woolsey and Sheppard walk down a corridor.]

WOOLSEY Are your teams in place?

SHEPPARD Around the clock watch.

WOOLSEY Good.

SHEPPARD Once these&hellip;human bodies are made, and they're downloaded into them&hellip;what happens then?

WOOLSEY Well seeing as they'll be just like any other human beings, I see no reason not to let them go. They could become valuable allies.

SHEPPARD (stopping short) What if one of them decides to stay?

WOOLSEY Let's cross one bridge at a time. All right?

INT&mdash;ISOLATION LAB OBSERVATION ROOM

[Woolsey enters. McKay is at the terminal. Ronon stands watching the window.]

WOOLSEY How's it going?

MCKAY Almost done. They're just, uh, finishing up the last one.

INT&mdash;ISOLATION SCIENCE LAB

[The Fran-looking Weir stands at the table. Around her are half a dozen male and female Replicators. On the table one last male Replicator, Koracen, is being formed. The process completed, he sits up. Ronon, McKay, and Woolsey watch from the window.]

WOOLSEY (drily) That was fast.

MCKAY Well, actually creating Replicators is fairly simple&hellip;

INT&mdash;ISOLATION LAB OBSERVATION ROOM

[McKay and Woolsey move back to the computer terminal and watch the progress on the monitor. Ronon remains at the window.]

MCKAY (continuing) Comparatively speaking. Humans? Not so much.

WOOLSEY Well, the sooner they get it done, the better. And once the last transfer is complete, I want those Replicator bodies destroyed&hellip; (pausing) They certainly don't waste any time, do they?

MCKAY No, they don't. There's no breaks, no chit-chat, no social interaction whatsoever. Just the&hellip;perfect working environment.

[McKay smiles, impressed.]

WOOLSEY Ronon, you don't have to stay there the whole time, you know.

RONON I'm good.

MCKAY (with ironic air) Talk, talk, talk, that's all he does. You just can't shut him up.

WOOLSEY Keep me apprized.

LATER

[McKay is asleep by his computer. Ronon still keeps watch. Koracen looks up from his work, staring at the monitor. He turns to Ronon at the same instant all the lights go off. Ronon is instantly on the move to the door, tapping the sleeping McKay on the shoulder while on his way.]

RONON McKay! Power's out!

MCKAY (instantly alert) What the&mdash;force field!

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Ronon moves swiftly through the darkened corridor to reach the isolation science lab's door, his gun at ready. Before he even reaches the door, Koracen tries to surprise him from behind. Ronon raises his gun, but Koracen pushes him, throwing Ronon lengthwise several feet down the hallway, where he slams into the wall. Koracen heads down that path. Two guards try to gun Koracen down, but he moves to fast. Ronon struggles to get up, but has been injured from the impact. He collapses to the floor with a pained cry.]

RONON Oh!

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, NIGHT

[The city has no lights.]

INT&mdash;ISOLATION SCIENCE LAB

[Marines hold raised weapons on the remaining Replicators. Sheppard and Teyla arrive. McKay is already there.]

SHEPPARD What happened?

MCKAY One of the Replicators escaped&mdash;Koracen, the leader? He must've written some hidden program that was timed to kill power as soon as they were downloaded into Replicator bodies. It disabled the forcefield, they were able to pry open the doors.

[Sheppard scans the faces of the prisoners. Weir is not among them.]

SHEPPARD Where is she?

REPLICATOR WOMAN TWO She went after Koracen.

MARINE Three teams in pursuit. We've lost all radio contact.

SHEPPARD (to Ronon) Go join 'em. (to McKay) Go up to the control room. Try and get the power restored.

[His team and some marines leave.]

MARINE What do we do with them?

SHEPPARD Shoot 'em. Keep shooting. They'll go down eventually.

FEMALE REPLICATOR TWO Wait! We knew nothing of Koracen's plan. If we were a part of it, we would not be standing here right now. Please? We're complying with your wishes.

SHEPPARD (grimly, to Marine) Nothing gets through that door. If they move an inch&hellip;shoot 'em.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Sheppard heads down a corridor, weapon at ready. At the end of one, he sees Koracen turning a corner. Sheppard races to catch up.]

SHEPPARD Hold on!

[Koracen stops and raises his hands.]

SHEPPARD You just couldn't wait for those human bodies, could you?

KORACEN The human body is frail, weak. Every second, that much closer to dying.

SHEPPARD Yeah, and this whole ascension thing&mdash;you're just giving up on that, huh?

KORACEN Not at all. I'm certain there's another way. With this body, I'll have plenty of time to discover it.

[He rushes at Sheppard. Sheppard shoots, striking Koracen in the chest several times, but the Replicator doesn't go down. He pushes Sheppard to the floor, sliding him down the hall several feet. Koracen heads down a side corridor. Sheppard gets to his feat and pursues.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Zelenka enters. McKay and Woolsey are among the staff already there.]

ZELENKA Any luck?

MCKAY They've shut just about everything down. Power's cut to most of the critical systems.

WOOLSEY Except for the DHD and the 'gate. They're obviously going to try to dial out.

MCKAY Now, I've managed to gain remote access to the mainframe. I'm, uh, creating a workaround to allow the resumption of naquadah power to the central tower's primary systems. It's minimal, to be sure, but, uh, from there, at least, we'll be able to&mdash;

ZELENKA (interrupting) Overwrite the Replicator program and restart the remaining systems.

MCKAY Exactly.

WOOLSEY Just hurry. We need power back now.

[He leaves. Zelenka leans over McKay's station.]

ZELENKA Okay, is there anything you want me to do?

MCKAY Yes, for starters you could&hellip;um&hellip;stay out of my way?

[Zelenka nervously steps back.]

ZELENKA Oh, yes. Okay, sorry, fine.

[McKay starts typing. Zelenka makes frustrated sighing sounds.]

MCKAY Uh&hellip;and be quiet.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Sheppard spots a Replicator on stairs. He raises his weapon.]

SHEPPARD Stop!

[It is Weir. She comes back down the staircase.]

WEIR (sternly) John, stay back. Let me handle this.

SHEPPARD Haven't you done enough already?

WEIR I'm trying to help you!

SHEPPARD By what? Escaping?

WEIR I didn't know that Koracen would do this!

KORACEN Of course she knew!

[Koracen appears at the other end of the hall, behind Sheppard. Sheppard shifts his weapon to aim at the new threat. He points his sidearm at Weir.]

KORACEN Elizabeth has been a willing participant in our goals from the very beginning. It was her idea to come here in the first place.

SHEPPARD (suspiciously) You said you broke off from them, that they couldn't track you&hellip;?

[Weir looks upset, and guilty.]

KORACEN (sneering) Track her? She was the one who alerted us when the time was right to come. We were only following her commands.

WEIR John, listen to me. I had to bring them here. It was our only chance, our only way out. I didn't know that Koracen would cause this kind of trouble. I didn't think that anyone would get hurt.

SHEPPARD What did you think we were going to do? Just give you a bunch of Replicator bodies and send you on your way?

WEIR I truly believed that we were no threat to you.

SHEPPARD You may still think you're Elizabeth, but you're not.

[Weir hangs her head. The power comes back down. Koracen takes advantage of the distraction to attack Sheppard, knocking him into the wall. Sheppard collapses in a heap, stunned, and dropping his weapons. Before Koracen can do more, Weir attacks Koracen, pinning him to the wall and sticking her hand in his head while Sheppard looks on in shock. She pulls her hand back, and Koracen disintegrates into nanites.]

INT&mdash;WOOLSEY'S OFFICE

[Guards wait outside as Weir talks to McKay, Woolsey, and Sheppard.]

WOOLSEY If you'd like to resume your work, I've decided to allow it.

MCKAY We would re-engage the force field, of course.

SHEPPARD Beef up security.

WEIR It's too risky.

[The others look surprised.]

WEIR I thought that bringing the others here would be safe. I was wrong. I can no longer guarantee there won't be any more trouble from them&hellip;or even myself.

SHEPPARD All right, um&hellip;what do you want to do?

WEIR (to McKay) I remember, after you reactivated the nanite cells inside me, I said this was a bad idea. So much has gone wrong since then. But I think I know how I can finally set things right.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Weir, the female Replicators, Woolsey, and Sheppard's team stand around the dialing computer.]

WOOLSEY Go ahead.

[Female Replicator Two dials a gate address. The wormhole activates. The Replicators leave with their escort, Sheppard's team and Woolsey following.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[The group walks down the stairs.]

MCKAY If you need anything else for your work, let us know.

WEIR Thanks, Rodney.

WOOLSEY Once again, you have to promise to stay put until you're finished constructing the human bodies. No leaving your home-world, no communication with any other civilization except Atlantis.

WEIR You have my word. Good luck with your command, Richard. It's&hellip;comforting to know Atlantis is in capable hands.

[Woolsey quirks a sad smile.]

WOOLSEY Thank you.

WEIR (to others) Shall we?

[The Replicators hesitate at the Stargate, still wary. Weir gives them a reassuring smile.]

WEIR It's okay. I'll go first.

[She walks to the Stargate. At its edge, Weir turns back, looking at Sheppard. He can't quite meet her eyes. She smiles as if in understanding and turns, walking into the wormhole. There is a pause while the other Replicators appear to listen for some unheard signal. Finally&hellip;]

FEMALE REPLICATOR TWO It's safe.

[The other Replicators walk into the Stargate.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The female Replicator and the others come through the wormhole to find themselves exposed to outer space. Weir already floats there. They slowly shut down.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[The wormhole disengages.]

WOOLSEY You're sure the DHD reconfiguration worked?

MCKAY (sadly) Yes. They were sent to a space gate. I guess that answers the question as to whether it was really Elizabeth.

[He walks away. The others follow. Sheppard remains standing, staring at the Stargate.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Weir floats in space, looking wistful as the cold of space shuts down her nanite cells.]

FADE OUT'

END CREDITS

Transcribed for Solutions by Aurora Novarum, August 2008.

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