The Storm/Transcript

Episode Guide
The Storm

Transcript
TEASER

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

[A Puddle Jumper flies over the ocean.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[Sheppard and Teyla are on board, Sheppard flying.]

SHEPPARD I haven't been to the mainland in awhile. How's everybody settling in?

TEYLA Halling believes the first crops will have a good yield.

SHEPPARD They still miss home?

TEYLA There is still talk of returning, even though I've told them the Wraith have scorched Athos bare in revenge for our resistance.

SHEPPARD Well, maybe in time, this place will start to begin to feel like home.

[Teyla notices something ahead.]

TEYLA Do you see that?

[Sheppard sees it. A huge cloud formation to the right, on the horizon.]

SHEPPARD That can't be a storm. It stretches across the whole horizon.

TEYLA I have never seen something like that from so high.

SHEPPARD I've seen a lot of things from this altitude, but nothing like that. (into radio) Atlantis base, this is Jumper One. We're going to change our heading to investigate a storm.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR Major, this is Weir. We didn't copy that. You're breaking up.

SHEPPARD (over radio) I said there's a&hellip; &hellip;and it's headed right&hellip; &hellip;little weather forecasting.

WEIR Did he just say "weather forecasting?"

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

[The Puddle Jumper is flying above the storm, which has a huge, hurricane-like pattern.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

TEYLA Do all storms look like this from above?

SHEPPARD No. This must cover twenty percent of the planet.

TEYLA Is it headed towards the mainland?

SHEPPARD Tracking right toward the settlement.

TEYLA And after that?

SHEPPARD (worried) Straight to Atlantis.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS BRIEFING ROOM

[McKay briefs the team, Zelenka, and Weir.]

MCKAY This planet is basically the same size as Earth. Now, hurricanes on Earth never get as big as this bad boy because once they hit the shore, the brakes get put on. But without as much land mass to slow it down here, it's just gaining momentum.

ZELENKA Yeah, both of them are.

MCKAY Yes.

WEIR Both of them?

TEYLA We saw only one.

MCKAY It only looked like one. Now, according to the ancient database, every twenty or thirty years, the sea gets unseasonably warm. Now, that, for reasons too boring to get into, means that hurricanes are much more likely to occur.

ZELENKA Well, like El Nino the ocean is&mdash;

MCKAY (dismissively) Like I said, too boring to go into.

WEIR Focus.

MCKAY Look, basically, if you have a situation where there are a bunch of hurricanes out there, the likelihood of two colliding is greatly increased. That's what's happening.

ZELENKA It's more like a merger than a collision. They are intersecting and combining their power.

MCKAY And? It's headed right towards us.

WEIR You just said the Ancients experienced these storms every twenty to thirty years. Atlantis must have some sort of precautions put in place.

MCKAY In the past, the Ancients have been protected by the shield, or submerged deep enough in the water not be affected.

SHEPPARD Okay strike those options. What else have we got?

ZELENKA Nothing. It is a real threat; the high winds alone will wreak havoc.

SHEPPARD Come on, guys, I mean, this city's been around for a long time.

ZELENKA A storm surge is inevitable.

MCKAY Not to mention the fact that by moving over a land mass just before hitting us, the likelihood of tornadoes and electrical activity is greatly increased.

[Weir wipes her brow in dismay.]

SHEPPARD This is Atlantis. I mean, we've got to be able to handle that&hellip;Right?

MCKAY No.

WEIR Why not?

MCKAY The people who built this city knew they had a force field capable of holding back anything mother nature, or, for that matter, the Wraith could throw at them. Without that protection, Atlantis is remarkably fragile.

ZELENKA Even our conservative calculations project widespread structural damage.

MCKAY Flooding could sink the city entirely.

FORD How could something as big as Atlantis just sink?

SHEPPARD I'm sure the passengers on the Titanic were asking themselves the same question.

MCKAY Yes, well, let's not.

SHEPPARD So, what you're saying is if Teyla and I hadn't discovered this, we&mdash;

WEIR We would be in even bigger trouble. All right, what's the plan?

MCKAY By my calculations, we have just under twelve hours until the storm hits, so, uh&hellip; We plan to have a plan&hellip;

ZELENKA Yeah.

MCKAY By then.

[Weir is incredulous; everyone else concerned.]

INT&mdash;GATE CONTROL ROOM

[Weir and Sheppard enter, talking.]

WEIR We start investigating evacuation plans, both on the mainland, and off-world somewhere.

SHEPPARD You know McKay will come up with something. He's just setting himself up to be a hero.

WEIR Yeah, well, maybe Rodney is, but Dr. Zelenka, he seemed genuinely concerned.

SHEPPARD So, my orders are to come up with a friendly planet that wouldn't mind putting us up for the night.

WEIR Exactly. Take Ford, see what you can work out.

[He leaves; she sits at her desk and sighs, about to open her laptop.]

EXT&mdash;MAINLAND ON ATLANTIS PLANET, DAY

[Athosians are working to build tents using primitive tools; there is at least one Atlantis-built tent.] BECKETT (approaching Teyla, holding a rope and bag of supplies) I don't really have the right boots for this. I was just meant to come out here and inoculate some wee babies.

TEYLA We need all the hands we can spare before it comes. This storm could not only destroy our crops, our settlement could be washed away. If just a few of us were to remain&mdash;

BECKETT Crops can be replaced and homes rebuilt. People can't.

TEYLA Which is why we must do what we can now.

[She throws him a coil of rope.]

BECKETT Right.

EXT&mdash;WORMHOLE TRAVEL

INT&mdash;CONFERENCE ROOM ON MANARA

[Ford and Sheppard speak to the leader of the Manarians.]

SMEADON The entire population of Atlantis?

SHEPPARD At most, yes.

FORD Only for a day. Two at most.

SMEADON We are happy to trade with you for a share of our crops&hellip; But this.

SHEPPARD I know it's a lot to ask, but&hellip; I'm asking.

SMEADON What do you offer in return?

SHEPPARD I guess we'd owe you one.

SMEADON One what?

SHEPPARD A favor.

[Smeadon looks at one of his men in confusion.]

SHEPPARD Look, we're in trouble. If you're our friend, you'll help. If not, tell me now so I can ask somebody else.

SMEADON But who else would take in so many? I want something of value in return.

SHEPPARD Oh, you do, do you? You know, we can go find any uninhabited planet.

SMEADON (slyly) They're usually uninhabited for good reason, Major and you know that as well as I do, or you would not be here. Still, I'm sure you could find another world to take you in&hellip; You're just so short on time.

SHEPPARD One day you're going to run across a problem and you're going to need our help. Isn't that right, Lieutenant?

FORD Yes, sir. We've got lots of ships and weapons we can&hellip;help with.

[He puts his gun on the table.]

SMEADON You're telling me we can either be your friends or&mdash;

SHEPPARD I much prefer friends. That is of value to me.

[He stands up.]

SHEPPARD One night, two tops. We'll bring our own blankets.

SMEADON (smugly) Very well. You may send your people.

SHEPPARD This won't be forgotten. I'll go back and tell everybody the good news. I'll send word once we know more.

SMEADON I look forward to it.

[Sheppard and Ford leave.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

[McKay, Zelenka, and other scientists work hurriedly on laptops.]

MCKAY No, no, no, no, no, I've already thought of that.

ZELENKA He may be onto something.

MCKAY I've already thought of it! It doesn't&mdash; Yes, the naquadah generators could be used to power select sections of the city, but when you subtract the areas that need to be secured just to protect themselves, it doesn't leave much power to shield anything else, and the city breaks apart because of the tidal stresses.

ZELENKA Well, we could relocate some of them, put them closer together.

MCKAY (loudly sarcastic) You're right. If only we had a magical tool that could slow down time. I foolishly left mine on Earth. Did you bring yours?

ZELENKA You know&hellip;you're not pleasant when you're like this, McKay.

MCKAY I'm always like this.

ZELENKA My point exactly.

[Sheppard and Ford enter.]

SHEPPARD Well, I've got a green light from Smeadon and the Manarians. I'm not sure how pleased he'll be if we get stuck there, though. That's not going to happen, right?

MCKAY Of course it's not. We can always gate off to another planet.

SHEPPARD Comforting. Thank you.

FORD Are we sure there's no part of the mainland we could go to?

TEYLA Everywhere that we have explored is in the path of the storm. My people are evacuating even now.

SHEPPARD Still, Ford's right. The mainland's the size of North America. You're telling me the entire continent's going to get hit? 'Cause I'd rather not owe Smeadon any favors.

WEIR If we lose Atlantis, we'll be stuck on the mainland without any access to the Stargate.

SHEPPARD McKay will come up with something.

MCKAY I will try, but despite what you all may think, I am not Superman.

[Ford chuckles.]

SHEPPARD Was anyone seriously thinking that?

FORD No, sir.

ZELENKA Never.

MCKAY Fine. My point is the storm will affect over seventy percent of the mainland and Atlantis isn't safe either. If you want everyone to live, you gate them off-world.

INT&mdash;MANARAN CONFERENCE ROOM

[Smeadon pulls a device from a drawer. It is a communications device.]

SMEADON (into device) Relay station two, prepare to receive transmission.

VOICE (over device) R.S.2 awaiting transmission. Over.

SMEADON I need you to relay a message to Cowen, of the Genii. Tell him we have something to trade.

[He smiles slyly.]

EXT&mdash;MAINLAND, DAY

[Ford stands outside a Puddle Jumper. Teyla users Athosians into the ship. Another ship sits nearby, also being loaded.]

FORD This could be going faster.

TEYLA Our people are hunters, Lieutenant. Many returning from great distances. Others do not want to leave the settlement.

FORD They know how serious this is.

TEYLA Even I would have a hard time believing in the strength of this coming storm if I did not see it from space.

FORD Yeah, well, do what you can to speed things up.

[Teyla nods.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

[McKay and Zelenka work.]

ZELENKA In the Czech Republic, we don't have to deal with hurricanes.

MCKAY We don't get that many in Canada either. Once something called "Hazel."

ZELENKA Hazel?

MCKAY Forty years ago.

ZELENKA That's interesting.

MCKAY Not really.

ZELENKA No, not really.

MCKAY I was once almost struck by lightning.

ZELENKA (becoming inspired) Lightning?

[McKay realizes the same thing and stands.]

INT&mdash;GATE CONTROL ROOM

[McKay and Zelenka rush in to speak to Weir. McKay nudges Zelenka aside so he can explain first.]

MCKAY What is the one thing keeping us from having a shield?

WEIR That would&mdash;

MCKAY Power. And what does a mega-storm from hell have lots of?

WEIR Power.

MCKAY In the form of?

WEIR You want to build a windmill?

MCKAY Electricity!

ZELENKA Atlantis is designed to withstand substantial lightning strikes. There are lightning rods all over the city.

MCKAY All those rods are channeled into four main grounding stations.

ZELENKA Yeah, in turn, those grounding stations discharge electricity back into the ocean, keeping Atlantis safe from massive electric shocks due to lightning strikes.

MCKAY Now, many of the hallways are lined with a superconductive material that allows a safe, low-voltage transfer of power throughout the city.

ZELENKA Yeah. Which, of course means&mdash;

MCKAY I'm getting there, I'm getting there. Let's say the grounding stations weren't around. Every time lightning struck the city, those halls would become supercharged.

WEIR So wait, you want&mdash;

MCKAY If we were able to disable the grounding stations&hellip;

ZELENKA Which we think we can.

MCKAY Every time lightning struck the city, Atlantis would experience a momentary massive power surge. Now, that energy&mdash;

ZELENKA If it's channeled correctly, though&mdash;

MCKAY Yes, of course if channeled correctly&mdash; could conceivably be used to charge up the shield generator. Now, the more severe the storm, the more energy is produced and the longer we can keep the shield running.

ZELENKA It's an ingenious plan, really.

MCKAY I'm compelled to agree.

[Before Weir even has a chance to react, they start talking excitedly to each other.]

ZELENKA The only downside is we have no way of storing all that energy.

MCKAY Ah, once the storm stops and the lightning stops striking&hellip;

ZELENKA Yeah, we have no way of charging up the generator.

MCKAY Then we're back to square one.

WEIR So the city would survive?

MCKAY I'd give us better than ninety percent&mdash;

ZELENKA Seventy.

MCKAY Eighty percent chance.

WEIR Okay, so we should still evacuate.

MCKAY Yes, but not just because of Zelemka's pessimism.

ZELENKA Zelenka. If the plan works, the city will become highly charged with electricity. Really, the only safe place to be once the lightning begins to strike is in the control room.

MCKAY Mm. We need to evacuate everyone off-world until the storm passes and execute the plan with the smallest team possible.

WEIR Okay, good. Get on it.

[They turn to leave, still talking.]

MCKAY Right. To the grounding stations.

ZELENKA No, I think we should go to the power distribution centers first.

MCKAY Ah, good point, good call. Okay. I tend to get ahead of myself.

ZELENKA Yeah. Okay, so&hellip;

INT&mdash;GENII HIDDEN COMPOUND

INT&mdash;GENII TRAINING ROOM

[Kolya takes on three Genii soldiers armed with fighting sticks. He takes the two men down quickly, then spars with the female. He ends by trapping her hand painfully then throwing her to the ground. A private enters.]

GENII PRIVATE Commander Kolya&hellip; Chief Cowen needs to see you immediately.

KOLYA I'm not to be disturbed while training.

GENII PRIVATE He said "immediately," sir.

[Kolya reluctantly tosses away his stick, then helps the female soldier up.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS MAINLAND, DAY

[The wind is starting to kick up strongly. Teyla, Beckett, and Ford wait by the Puddle Jumper.]

FORD Still haven't turned up yet?

TEYLA I'm afraid not. They are on a hunting mission. No one has been able to get them word about the evacuation.

FORD How many again?

TEYLA Three. Two boys and a young woman.

BECKETT Why don't we just take our jumper and go find them?

TEYLA They are hunting in dense vegetation. Even if we were able to locate them, we would be unable to land.

BECKETT Jumper Three is loaded and ready to go. Maybe you should just&mdash;

TEYLA Just go. I will stay behind and give the hunters more time.

FORD I'll stay with you.

BECKETT Okay, I get the point. We'll wait.

INT&mdash;COWEN'S OFFICE

[Kolya has come as ordered.]

KOLYA They're not ready.

COWEN Of course they are.

KOLYA You commissioned me to train a group of men who, on their most treacherous day, guarded this facility or performed some sort of reconnaissance mission. They are not yet a strike force.

COWEN This is the rarest of opportunities. Within the next hour, there will be less than ten people on Atlantis, most of them only scientists. Now, surely you can accomplish our goals and get out before the storm hits.

KOLYA If all goes well. But we don't train assuming all will go well.

COWEN We cannot afford to pass up this opportunity.

KOLYA You wanted my opinion. I gave it to you.

COWEN (calm by intent) And I value that opinion&hellip; But the Atlantians are in possession of materials that are vital to our goal of defeating the Wraith. We need them. I need them. Ready your strike force.

[Kolya leaves without saying a word.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[The gate is active; Atlantis personnel head through carrying supplies. The gate shuts down.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE CONTROL ROOM

[McKay, Weir, and Sheppard have watched the evacuation.]

MCKAY That's everybody. We've got just over four and a half hours until the storm hits. Let's get down to the labs.

[He and Weir leave. Two security guards approach Sheppard.]

SHEPPARD Evacuate the people on in-bound Jumper Two as soon as they come in.

GUARD #1 Yes, sir.

INT&mdash;MANARAN CONFERENCE ROOM

[Smeadon drinks with an Athosian farmer, who is very intoxicated.]

DORAN I'm finally at the point where I don't mind the taste of it.

SMEADON I was raised on this brew. It burned away whatever taste sense I had. So, you think you can teach our farmers a thing or two?

DORAN (drunkenly) Yes, yes, that's what I was saying, yes. Most people think that farming is planting good seed in well-tilled soil, which it is. It is, but there's also more, and that knowledge is here.

[As he speaks, the Genii romany Sora walks up behind him.]

SMEADON And you want to trade these marvelous skills in an exchange for a piece of my land.

DORAN I do.

SMEADON I think I'll need something more.

[Sora grabs Doran's finger and twists it, making him yelp.]

DORAN Ow ow ow.

[Smeadon pulls a device from Doran's vest pocket.]

DORAN That hurt. Who are you?

[Kolya is there now as well.]

KOLYA Tell me the sequence of numbers to enter in this device.

DORAN I can't tell you that.

[Sora tightens her hold around his neck.]

SORA It isn't worth dying for.

DORAN You don't understand. It's my hand that you need to put in the code. That's how it works.

KOYLA And the shield of the Atlantis Stargate will be lowered?

DORAN Yes, yes. What is this? Who are they?

KOYLA Bring him to the gate.

SMEADON They are friends, Doran.

KOYLA Make sure he will enter the code.

SORA He will.

SMEADON Do as they say, and we'll see about that piece of land.

[Sora and Doran leave.]

KOYLA (to Smeadon) You have done a great service for the Genii and will be rewarded.

[Kolya leaves, holding the device. Smeadon smiles smugly.]

INT&mdash;MCKAY'S LAB

[McKay works at a computer while Sheppard and Weir look on.]

MCKAY There are dozens, possibly hundreds of lightning rods placed strategically around the city.

SHEPPARD Wait a sec.

MCKAY What?

SHEPPARD Why?

MCKAY Why what?

SHEPPARD Why are there hundreds of lightning rods placed around the city? Wouldn't the shield protect against lightning?

MCKAY Yes, yes, it would but running the shield all the time is only good for one thing&hellip;draining power.

SHEPPARD Right?

MCKAY You're aware that there is a time element to what we're doing here, right?

SHEPPARD Yes it's been brought to my attention.

MCKAY Like I was saying, there are lightning rods, a lot of them, placed all over the city. Now, as it stands right now, all the energy they capture is routed into four main grounding stations. In turn, these stations ground all that energy into the ocean below us.

SHEPPARD So instead of sending electricity to ground&hellip;

MCKAY We use it to power the shield.

WEIR How?

MCKAY By directing it right down the corridors of Atlantis and into the shield generators.

WEIR The city can handle that?

MCKAY Yes&hellip;theoretically.

SHEPPARD Like dinosaurs turned into birds "theoretically," or theory of relativity "theoretically?"

MCKAY What? Uh&hellip;somewhere between. Elizabeth&hellip;you take grounding station two; I'll take grounding station one. Major, you take stations three and four.

SHEPPARD Whoa, whoa, wait a sec, where are stations three and four?

MCKAY (indicating on a map) Here and here.

SHEPPARD And we are&hellip;

[McKay has chosen nearer stations for himself and Weir.]

MCKAY Here, yes. I need to get done quickly so I can start working on the sub-routines, and Elizabeth was complaining about her knee the other day, so&mdash;

SHEPPARD Whoa, wait a second. Are these things even close to a transporter?

MCKAY Uh, yes, Elizabeth's is.

SHEPPARD (probing) And mine?

MCKAY (cagily) It's a brisk walk away.

SHEPPARD And by brisk you mean far?

MCKAY By walk I mean run.

SHEPPARD Okay.

MCKAY You'll need to radio in once you've gotten to your first station.

SHEPPARD All right, let's do it.

EXT&mdash;MAINLAND ON ATLANTIS PLANET, DAY

[It is now a deluge around the Puddle Jumper. Teyla waits outside. Finally the missing hunters emerge jogging out of the woods. They all rush into the Jumper.]

TEYLA Hurry! Move! Come this way! Hurry!

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

[The hunters take seats on the benches.]

FORD Are you okay? You okay?

BECKETT Here it comes.

FORD Okay, just sit here. Strap in as best you can. It's going to be a real bumpy ride. (joining Beckett, who is at the pilot controls) All right, let's get out of here.

BECKETT I'm not so certain that's such a good idea anymore.

FORD What?

BECKETT Look at it out there. Even Major Sheppard would have a hard time flying through this.

TEYLA (joining them) We are ready.

BECKETT I think it's best if we wait it out. We're safe as long as we're in here. We've got rations, and there's plenty of water.

FORD Yeah, especially outside.

[They all look at each other doubtfully.]

TEYLA Very well. I hope you are right, Doctor. We won't have a chance to change our minds if you are wrong.

BECKETT It'll be cozy.

[Outside, the thunder claps.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS GROUNDING STATION

[Sheppard arrives at his first station. The wind is blowing strongly.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) I'm here!

MCKAY (over radio) I told you to contact me when you got to the first one, Major.

SHEPPARD I am at the first one, Rodney.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS STAIRWAY

MCKAY Oh, sorry, I'm already done mine.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS GROUNDING STATION

SHEPPARD Oh, great, good for you.

WEIR (over radio) Me too.

SHEPPARD Good for everyone.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS STAIRWAY

MCKAY Where are you now?

SHEPPARD I'm at the damn grounding station.

MCKAY No, no, no, no, not you.

WEIR I'm in the transporter.

INT&mdash;AT ATLANTIS TRANSPORTER

[Weir exits to find McKay there.]

MCKAY There you are.

WEIR There I am.

[They start walking together.]

SHEPPARD (over radio) Glad everybody's having such a good time. What do I do?

MCKAY There should be a keypad right on the console of the station.

[The scene switches between McKay and Weir walking inside and Sheppard at the grounding station.]

SHEPPARD (finding it) Got it.

MCKAY Punch in the Ancient equivalent of 0-3-1—5-4-7.

[Sheppard turns a dial to the numbers indicated.]

MCKAY That do it?

[The grounding station separates from the section that goes under the sea.]

SHEPPARD Yep.

MCKAY Good, three down, one to go. They all seem to have the same separation code, so, uh, get to the next one, repeat the procedure, we'll meet you in the control room.

SHEPPARD (running back inside) Roger that.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[The two guards keep casual watch over the inactive gate.]

GUARD #1 Bacon.

GUARD #2 The one thing you wish you'd brought with you is bacon?

GUARD #1 It's the food that makes other food worth eating.

GUARD #2 You wish you brought bacon to another galaxy?

GUARD #1 Yeah, you asked me what&mdash;

[The gate starts to spin.]

GUARD #1 Off-world activation.

GUARD #2 Dr. Weir said no one should be coming back until tomorrow.

SORA (by voice from other side of wormhole) There's been an attack on Manara. We have wounded incoming! Lower the shield.

GUARD #2 They're broadcasting an Athosian IDC.

SORA Please! Before it's too late.

GUARD #2 We are lowering the shield.

GUARD #1 Whoa, we should get the okay from Dr. Weir.

GUARD #2 They're under attack. Lower the shield.

GUARD #1 (into radio) Dr. Weir there's been some sort of attack on Manara. We have an Athosian party incoming with wounded.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

WEIR (into radio) We're on our way.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[People dressed as Athosians pour through the gate. Some carry a stretcher with a covered body. The guards run down the stairs to meet them.]

GUARD #1 What happened?

SORA They were everywhere! I can't believe they didn't kill us all.

GUARD #2 Who?

[Kolya uncovers himself, jumps off the stretcher, and shoots both guards. The other shed their Athosian cloaks to reveal Genii uniforms.]

SOLDIER All right, check your weapons.

[A man checks the guards and finds them both dead.]

KOLYA (casually) Secure the room.

SORA (to Kolya) These men could have been overpowered. We need the Atlantians to be cooperative.

KOLYA Secure the room.

SORA Cover the entrances!

[The soldiers run up the stairs to get in position. Kolya looks around from the staircase.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Sheppard runs.]

WEIR (over radio) Apparently there's wounded incoming.

SHEPPARD That doesn't make any sense. They said it was Wraith-related?

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Weir and McKay make their way toward the gate room.]

WEIR (into radio) We'll ask them ourselves in a second. Hold on.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

[McKay and Weir arrive in the gate room and are immediately seized by the Genii soldiers. The rest point their weapons at them.]

WEIR What the hell is going on?

KOLYA Dr. Elizabeth Weir?

WEIR Yes.

KOLYA And you must be Dr. McKay.

SORA That is him.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Sheppard hears Kolya on the radio.]

KOLYA (over radio) Where is Major Sheppard? I would like to know the whereabouts of Major Sheppard.

[Sheppard stops running to listen.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS GATE ROOM

WEIR You seem to know a lot about us. Who are you?

MCKAY They're Genii.

KOLYA There's only one thing you need to know, Dr. Weir. As of right now&hellip;we are in control of Atlantis.

[Weir and McKay look at each other in shock. Sheppard is shocked as well.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

[The huge storm is on the horizon.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER IN JUMPER BAY

[Sheppard enters the Jumper and powers it up.]

SHEPPARD Puddle Jumper Two, this is Sheppard. Come in. Jumper Two, do you copy?

EXT&mdash;MAINLAND, DAY

INT&mdash;JUMPER two

FORD This is Ford, sir. We decided to wait out the storm in the Jumper.

[The scene switches between Jumper 1 and Jumper 2.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) You're still on the mainland?

FORD (into radio) Yes, sir.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Well, we've got a situation, here. From what I can ascertain, a small Genii strike force has gated in.

FORD (into radio) The Genii? The folks who wanted us to build them an A-bomb?

SHEPPARD (into radio) Yeah, that's them. They've got Weir and McKay hostage. They've also got control of the gate room.

FORD (into radio) You're breaking up, sir, did you say hostage?

SHEPPARD (into radio) Affirmative.

[Beckett groans in dismay.]

FORD (into radio) We're on our way.

BECKETT What do you think you're doing?

FORD You heard him.

BECKETT Take a look outside, hotshot. We're not flying through this.

FORD McKay and Weir were taken hostage, Doc. I'm not just going to sit here and do nothing.

BECKETT Neither one of us are real pilots. If it was a bad idea an hour ago, it's an idiotic one now.

FORD We're going to have to take our chances.

TEYLA Dr. Beckett is right, Lieutenant. We are of no use to Major Sheppard dead. (into radio) Major, this is Teyla. The hurricane is in full force outside. We could attempt to fly through it, but it is doubtful that we would make it back to Atlantis. And we have three young passengers.

SHEPPARD (into radio) That's bad news.

TEYLA (into radio) I am sorry.

SHEPPARD (into radio) So am I. You stay put until it passes over.

FORD (into radio) Sir, I&mdash;

SHEPPARD (into radio) It's okay, Lieutenant. Just get your ass back here as soon as you can. I could use a little backup.

FORD (into radio) Good luck, sir.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Sheppard out.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS BALCONY

[Kolya surveys the weather, then heads back inside.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Weir and McKay are held at gun-point. A Genii soldier, Ladon, removes McKay's radio headset.]

WEIR Who are you?

KOLYA Commander Acastus Kolya, of the Genii. (looking around the control room) This Atlantis is extraordinary&hellip;more than I ever imagined.

WEIR What have you done with the rest of my people?

KOLYA I'm quite sure they have no idea we're even here.

WEIR Then they're safe?

KOLYA Yes.

WEIR How were you able to bypass the shield?

KOLYA With the time-tested combination of strong drink and weak minds.

WEIR There was a time when our two peoples considered becoming allies. Why are you doing this?

KOLYA You are in possession of supplies we vitally need. Hand them over without difficulty, and we'll leave peacefully.

WEIR Or?

KOLYA We're both intelligent people, Dr. Weir. I'm sure there's no need for me to demonstrate once again the strength of my resolve.

WEIR Which supplies did you have in mind?

KOLYA All of your stores of the C4 explosive. All of your medical supplies. The Wraith Data Device you stole from my people&hellip; And one of your ships.

MCKAY (sarcastically) Is that all?

KOLYA No. Where is Major Sheppard?

WEIR He's on the mainland. What you're asking for isn't that easy. We've had to divert a lot of power in order to prepare for the storm. The armory safety doors have shut, which means we can't&mdash;

KOLYA Just so we're clear, I know you're lying.

MCKAY Elizabeth, just give him what he needs.

[McKay leans forward, pressing a button on the console to activate the intercomm.]

MCKAY If he needs the C4, the medical supplies, and the Wraith Data Device, then just give it to him. None of that's worth dying for.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Sheppard, now suited in combat gear and fully armed, overhears McKay. The Genii notice that McKay is touching the console.]

KOLYA Step away from the console.

MCKAY I was leaning! I was just leaning!

WEIR Your request is unreasonable. And, you can't possibly need all our C4, or all our medical supplies.

KOLYA You're in no position to tell me what is reasonable and what is not.

WEIR How do we know that you won't kill us once we give you what you need?

KOLYA You don't. Please show my men where they can find what they're looking for.

[Sora, Ladon and another soldier lead Weir away.]

KOLYA What are you doing here?

MCKAY (defiantly) From my understanding, I'm being held hostage.

KOLYA I mean here, in Atlantis. Why did some of you stay behind?

MCKAY Oh. Tie up some loose ends.

KOLYA Like what?

MCKAY You know. Make sure everyone got out okay.

KOLYA Isn't that the work of someone less important?

MCKAY (chucking nervously) You'd think so, wouldn't you?

KOLYA You have a plan, don't you?

MCKAY I've got lots of plans about lots of things.

KOLYA I'm interested in the plan you have to save the city.

MCKAY I never said anything about saving anything.

KOLYA Not yet.

[He puts his hand on McKay's shoulder threateningly. He nods to a soldier, who pulls out a long, sharp knife.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS INFIRMARY

[Genii soldiers collect infirmary supplies by the boxful.]

INT&mdash;MCKAY'S LAB

[Weir pulls out a box from beneath a table and works to open it.]

SORA (with hostility) Where is Teyla Emmagan?

WEIR You know Teyla?

SORA Is she here, in the city?

WEIR No, she isn't. You must be Sora. I read the Genii mission report. I'm sorry about your father.

SORA He'll be avenged.

WEIR Teyla didn't kill him.

SORA No. She left him to die.

WEIR She had no choice&mdash;

SORA Are you finished?

WEIR All of the information we downloaded from the Wraith ship is still on this device.

[She shows it to them.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS ARMORY

[Two soldiers enter. In an empty C4 box, they find a radio. It's marked with an arrow to a button and the word "Talk".]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[The soldier arrives with the radio and gives it to Kolya. Sora is there as well.]

[Nearby, Weir is holding McKay's forearm, which is bleeding through his jacket.]

WEIR What did they do to you?

MCKAY I tried to keep my mouth shut. I tried, I just, I couldn't&hellip;

[Kolya approaches.]

KOLYA What’s the meaning of this?

WEIR I honestly have no idea.

MCKAY It's a radio. The arrow points to the talk button.

KOLYA (into radio) This is Commander Kolya.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS UPPER WALKWAY

SHEPPARD (into radio) Kolya&hellip; That's a hard name to pronounce. Is that a first name? My name’s Major John Sheppard, and I have hidden the C4 where you will never, I repeat, never, find it. When I get confirmation that the prisoners have been safely released and allowed to gate off Atlantis, I will help you find it.

KOLYA He’s good.

WEIR Yes, he is. I'd do what he says.

[The scene switches between Sheppard and Kolya's locations.]

KOLYA (into radio) Your offer is very generous, Major.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Yes, it is.

KOLYA (into radio) However, Dr. McKay recently shared with me there's a plan in action to save the city.

SHEPPARD (surprised, into radio) He did?

KOLYA (into radio) He did. My understanding is there is one final grounding station that needs to be deactivated. Uncouple the grounding rods at station three, assist with the reactivation of the shield, and you and your friends can leave here, unharmed.

SHEPPARD (into radio) Wait a minute. I thought all you wanted was C4 and a Jumper.

KOLYA (into radio) Why raid a city when you can seize it, Major? Atlantis will be ours or the ocean's&hellip; You choose.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS MAINLAND, DAY

[The weather has degraded further.]

INT&mdash;PUDDLE JUMPER

FORD We should have heard something from the Major by now.

TEYLA Perhaps he has not had the opportunity.

FORD I don't like not knowing what's going on in there.

BECKETT Why would the Genii attack us? Why now?

FORD We didn't exactly leave on the best terms. I mean, beside from the fact that we stole some of their gear and didn't hand over the C4 we promised them, they're pretty convinced Teyla killed one of their top guys.

TEYLA They believe so falsely. The fact that they chose our weakest hour cannot be a coincidence. Someone must have told them that we would be in a diminished capacity.

FORD There's got to be a way back.

BECKETT Those winds outside are blowing at a hundred and ten knots. We're not going anywhere, son.

INT&mdash;WEIR'S OFFICE

[Sora leads Weir in. Kolya is working a tablet computer.]

WEIR Thank you for seeing me. This city was designed to be inhabited by the Ancients and their direct descendants and although, yes, while there is limited functionality for those who do not posses the Ancient gene, it is only those who have it who can revive this city to its true potential.

KOLYA And you have this gene?

WEIR No, but many of my team do. The Wraith are slowly waking. Soon this entire galaxy will be embroiled in a war the likes of which our generations have never seen.

KOLYA A war that you expedited.

WEIR Disagreements like ours will no longer matter. The only thing of any consequence will be how prepared we are, and what defense we are able to mount. Now, this city holds many secrets which could help us win that war&hellip; But only if my team are here to discover them. So fine, take whatever you need for your people, but if you don't leave us this city, you're only hurting yourselves in the long run.

KOLYA You believe your people, who are not even of this galaxy, are closer to the Ancients than we are? Your arrogance is astounding. We will take this city, we will mount a defense, and we will win, with or without your help, Dr. Weir.

[The soldier who had the knife arrives.]

GENII PRIVATE Sir, he's at the Grounding Station.

[Kolya grabs the radio and gets up.]

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS GROUNDING STATION, DAY

[Sheppard arrives. The weather is much worse now. Sheppard holds up a life-signs detector.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Kolya arrives. Ladon is speaking into a Genii radio.]

LADON The commander's here.

SOLDIER (over radio) He's just standing there, sir.

KOLYA Hold your position. Do not approach until he's finished.

SOLDIER (over radio) Yes, sir.

KOLYA Use lethal force only if necessary.

SORA (concerned) You told him he would be unharmed.

KOLYA Let's hope he doesn't put up much of a fight.

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS GROUNDING STATION, DAY

[Sheppard sees the other soldiers on the life-signs detector. He makes his way around the device and then to the wall where he has some cover. He has his rifle raised.]

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

SOLDIER (over radio) He's stopped. He's not at the control panel anymore. He's looking around.

KOLYA (into radio) Hold your fire.

MCKAY Those control panels are pretty fragile. You might not want to&mdash;

[A Genii soldier grabs McKay on his injured arm.]

MCKAY Oh!

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS GROUNDING STATION, DAY

[Sheppard works his way out of sight of the two soldiers. They move forward to find him. He shoots one multiple times. The other pursues him, and he dives over the railing onto the balcony. He shoots the second soldier, killing him. He takes his radio from the soldier's wrist. He sees that the control switch has been hit and is ruined. He speaks into the radio.]

SHEPPARD (into radio) Let me tell you what you did wrong here, Kolya.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[McKay gasps in relief to hear Sheppard.]

SHEPPARD (over radio) A), you lost two of your men. B), You damaged the switch before I could separate the grounding rods, which I'm sure you're gonna get an earful from McKay for&hellip; and, C), you lost all of what little credibility you had with me.

MCKAY Do you have any idea how big a setback that is? I may not even be able to activate the shield. I can't possibly&mdash;

[A soldier grabs his arm again.]

MCKAY Get off me!

[The scene switches between Sheppard and Kolya's locations.]

KOLYA You killed two of my men.

SHEPPARD (into radio) I guess we're even.

KOLYA (into radio) I don't like even.

SHEPPARD (into radio) I'm not finished yet.

KOLYA (into radio) Neither am I. Say goodbye to Dr. Weir.

[Kolya points his gun at Weir. McKay is stricken, and Weir tries to steel herself.]

SHEPPARD (into radio, shouting in anger) This city has a self-destruct button. If you hurt her, I'll activate it. Nobody'll get Atlantis!

KOLYA Even if it exists, Major, you need at least two senior personnel to activate it&hellip; And I'm about to take one of them out of the equation.

SHEPPARD (into radio, shouting for a response) Kolya? Kolya! I'll give you a ship! I'll fly it out of here for you myself! Kolya!

[Darkness falls as the storm approaches.]

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

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