Hope

Hope is the upcoming fourteenth episode in the second season of Stargate Universe, and the 34th episode overall.

Synopsis
Ginn resurfaces in Chloe Armstrong via the communication stones, creating a dilemma for Eli Wallace and Nicholas Rush to solve. Meanwhile, Ronald Greer becomes a kidney donor after Tamara Johansen diagnoses Dale Volker with end-stage renal disease.

Plot
Nicholas Rush and Eli Wallace are playing chess on the observation deck, trying to keep their minds off of Earth while the crew waits for news from Homeworld Command. In the comm lab, Chloe Armstrong comes in to take her shift on the long-range communication device, reliving Dale Volker. Volker seems dizzy upon standing up, but passes it off as his leg being asleep.

In the control interface room, Volker and Adam Brody argue over the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey, which Volker refers to by its proper name of "Also sprach Zarathustra". Brody wonders why Volker bothered using the proper name when it's famous in context. Volker just says that it was the thing that made him want to be an astrophysicist, which is what Brody asked. Brody gets him to admit that he heard it from the movie. Volker becomes dizzy again, but before they can call attention to it, Chloe seems to be taken over by the communication device.

In the comm lab, Everett Young addresses Chloe to find out who has contacted them. To his surprise, it is Ginn. She explains that the last thing she remembers is answering questions in Homeworld Command in Amanda Perry's body. When she realizes that she is not in her own body, Young explains that Simeon killed her, which also killed Perry. Rush theorizes that her consciousness may have somehow been separated from her body due to the link being severed improperly.

Volker visits Tamara Johansen in the infirmary, hoping to get something to help him sleep. As she prepares something, he collapses. She diagnoses him with high blood pressure, and he admits that he was taking blood medication prior to boarding Destiny, having run out not long after. He never told her because he thought she couldn't do anything. TJ analyzes his blood work and discovers that his kidneys are failing from stage-end renal disease. The only option available is a transplant.

Eli catches up with Ginn, telling him about how Rush killed Simeon. She kisses him, but he gently pushes her back since she's in Chloe's body. Ginn suddenly starts gasping for air as if being strangled. Eli calls for help, and she is brought to the infirmary. TJ can find nothing wrong with her, though Scott believes that it would be best to deactivate the stones. Rush and Eli argue against this, citing the need to study the phenomenon. As they leave, TJ stops Young to inform him of Volker's need for a kidney transplant. TJ is worried about the dangers, but Young tells her to take it one step at a time, starting with finding a donor.

Ginn has a second choking episode, and Chloe's mind surfaces during it. Scott confirms that the stones were not disconnected, which leads Rush to believe that Chloe's mind is simply being suppressed by Ginn. Scott again suggests disconnecting the stones for Chloe's safety, and Rush and Eli again protest. Young insists that they will be disconnected upon the next choking episode, which is how long Rush and Eli have to find a way to get Ginn's mind out of Chloe safely.

TJ's tests reveal two compatible donors: Ronald Greer and Morrison. Morrison is worried about the risks, but Greer volunteers on the spot. The first step is to extract some bone marrow from Greer, which will be used to prevent Volker's body from rejecting the kidney. Greer denies any medicine for the procedure, jokingly screaming in pain the first time TJ tries to insert the needle. Once she actually does so, he manages to resist the pain.

Scott comes to visit Eli and Ginn, wondering about the status of their plan to remove Ginn. Eli doesn't have any good news about downloading her mind from the stones, but Rush is still working on it. Chloe and Ginn are switching more frequently now, a result of Ginn's mind slowly fading. Unexpectedly, Amanda Perry takes over Chloe's body. Rush is happy to see her, having wondered if she might manifest like Ginn did. Rush suggests using the interface chair to download their minds from Chloe. He admits to having spoken to Jeremy Franklin after he disappeared from using the chair, and explains that he deactivated the neural link following the incident where the ship projected a battle scenario into Young's mind. Scott insists that Chloe, Ginn, and Perry must make the choice for themselves. Scott, Rush, and Eli speak to Chloe, Perry, and Ginn, respectively. All three agree to using the interface chair. Rush and ELi ultimately plan to find a way to download their minds into new bodies.

In the infirmary, Greer and Volker are waiting for the surgery to begin. Greer tries to reassure Volker that everything will go alright. Volker relates how he used to sit in his backyard at night, watching the stars through his telescope. Meanwhile, TJ is on the observation deck, nervous about performing major surgery. Young comes in looking for her. He says he won't order her to do it, since she knows it must be done.

As TJ begins the surgery, Brody plays "Also sprach Zarathustra" to help Volker relax. Realizing that the song isn't very relaxing, he tries to turn the player off, only to end up playing "Dragostea din tei" instead. Unable to shut it off, he pulls out the batteries. TJ starts on Greer.

Rush and Eli start the process of removing Ginn and Perry from Chloe. During the process, power is disrupted all over the ship, shutting off database access during Volker's surgery. Without it, TJ cannot finish the operation. Once power is restored, Rush removes Chloe from the chair. In the infirmary, Perry appears to TJ, walking her through the operation. Having been successfully uploaded into the ship's database, she has full access to the library. With Perry's help, TJ finishes the operation.

In the comm lab, David Telford manages to make a connection. It had taken them this long to restore functionality to their device. He confirms that the bomb was disarmed.

In the infirmary, Volker has recovered enough to walk around, though he still needs an IV. Brody quickly makes an excuse to leave, so Lisa Park helps him up. Greer is still in bed, and has a small infection from the surgery. He believes he'll be alright.

On the bridge, Perry appears to Rush. She describes her new state of being as "freeing". Meanwhile, Ginn appears to Eli. Though she cannot touch him, the fact that they can see each other is enough.