Common Ground

"Common Ground" is the seventh episode of the third season of Stargate: Atlantis.

Synopsis
Lt. Colonel John Sheppard is captured by Commander Acastus Kolya, who wants the expedition to hand over Ladon Radim, in exchange for returning Sheppard. Sheppard is also imprisoned with a Wraith feeding on him, and the two form an unlikely alliance to escape the base.

Plot
While on a mission off-world, the team is ambushed by a Genii strike team. As the team escapes through the Stargate, Lt. Colonel John Sheppard is captured by Commander Acastus Kolya. Back on Atlantis, the team suspects that Ladon Radim, the current leader of the Genii, had betrayed them. Ladon arrives to Atlantis and asserts that he his not responsible for Sheppard's capture.

At that moment, Atlantis is contacted by Kolya. He has Sheppard hostage and demands that Dr. Elizabeth Weir turn Ladon over to him to get Sheppard back. Weir refuses to give in to Kolya's terms, so in order to coerce her into agreeing, he uses a captured Wraith to slowly drain Sheppard's life. He gives Weir three hours to answer his demands or he will let the Wraith feed on Sheppard again.

It is revealed that the reason for Kolya's antagonism towards Ladon is their rivalry for the leadership of the Genii. Kolya firmly believes that he is the rightful ruler of the Genii, but his plans were ruined by Ladon, who informed the government of his rival's plans and pulled off a coup of his own. Ladon agrees to help the team find Sheppard. With the information he provides, the marine team strikes at a Genii outpost, but quickly discover it to be a dead end.

Meanwhile, Sheppard begins to talk to the Wraith, who is also a prisoner of the Genii. Both prisoners want to escape; Sheppard wants to get back to Atlantis, while the Wraith is tired of being starved in a prison cell, explaining that, for a Wraith, hunger is like a raging fire inside them, and they have no choice but to feed. Initially, the Wraith does not trust Sheppard, believing that the chances of escaping were zero, he has been there for many years and has had his resolve weakened, but he gradually becomes impressed by Sheppard's unwaning hope that his people will come to save him, and the prospect of truly being able to feast. Eventually, the Wraith agrees to an escape plan.

Working together, the unlikely allies escape from their prison. However, as they try to reach the Stargate, Genii forces begin to pursue. In order to gain the strength to fight them off, the injured Wraith feeds off Sheppard, leaving him barely alive, and easily defeats the Genii. At that moment, the Atlantis team, who have found out the location of the prison, arrive, and are horrified to see what appears to be the Wraith feeding on Sheppard. However, the sated Wraith keeps his word to Sheppard and returns life force back to him, restoring his physical condition; indeed, Dr. Rodney McKay says that Sheppard almost looks younger than he did before. The Wraith reveals that the Wraith give the 'Gift of Life' only to their most devout followers… and, he adds, to their brothers.

Sheppard threatens Kolya (who escapes through the Stargate), saying that unlike their last encounter, he will not hesitate to kill him if they meet again. He then stuns the Wraith with Ronon Dex's Particle magnum, and the team drops him off at an unknown planet where he and the Wraith agree that the next time they meet, "all bets are off." The Wraith is then presumably picked up by a Wraith Dart. Both part ways with the realization that there are many things they don't know about each other's kind.

Notable Quotes
Kolya: The truth is, I would've settled for Doctor McKay, but I don't imagine I would enjoy his constant wailing.

Ladon: If you trade my life for Sheppard you will not only be yielding to blackmail, you will be planting the seeds of civil war.

Ronon: So what? I say we turn him over and let 'em fight it out.

McKay: We can't do that!

Ronon: Why not?

McKay: Well, because! (looks at Weir) Can we?

McKay: Alright, people, let's do this one by the numbers. We get in, we get our man, we get out. Stay sharp and stay alive.

Beckett: What are you on about?

McKay: Oh, just things that Sheppard would say, so I thought I would, um ...

Teyla: (with a look of both patience and exasperation) Well said, Rodney.

Ronon: Just stay behind me.

McKay: (after firing machine gun) I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I just reacted.

Teyla: (gun at ready) What is it?

McKay: Um… mouse? Really big one, though. More of a rat, really, possibly rabid…

Sheppard: How far is the Stargate?

Todd: It will be guarded.

Sheppard: We got guns.

Todd: They will be waiting for us.

Sheppard: Don't be so negative. You think you're gonna make it?

Todd: If I feed.

Sheppard: Well don't look at me.

(Both draw weapons at each other)

Sheppard: We make it to the Stargate, we both go our separate ways. Until then, we're gonna need each other. Deal?

Sheppard: You have no idea where the Stargate is, do you?

Todd: It was many years ago.

Sheppard: Way to go John. Listening to a Wraith.

Todd: It was not my intention to deceive you Sheppard.

(Over the radio)

Genii Soldier: Reinforcements have arrived at the Stargate, Commander.

Kolya: Kill the Wraith on sight, but I want Sheppard alive.

Sheppard: Well, we learned two things. One...he likes me better than you...

(Wraith chuckles)

Sheppard: Two...we probably would've never made it to the Stargate anyway.

Todd: Then it is over.

Sheppard: No. Our people don't leave each other behind. That's three things you've learned.

Todd: You still believe that?

Sheppard: Kolya doesn't know where we are. He's wasting manpower. Could be he's searching for us or guarding the gate. The odds of my people finding us are going up and up.

Todd: You are more like Wraith than you know.

Sheppard: I'm not sure I like the sound of that.

Todd: There is much about Wraith that you do not know Sheppard.

Weir: What will we be up against?

Ladon: Nothing one of your cloaked jumpers and my good friend Ronon couldn't handle. I ask only that you leave Kolya for my own forces to find.

Weir: No promises.

Goofs

 * The hole created in the cell wall by the Genii Soldier changes shape between the close up and long shots.
 * At 5:13, a German Atlantis crew member can be seen sporting his German flag patch upside down. He is seen again at 21:10.
 * Near the end of the episode, the Dial Home Device's glyphs are glowing yellow instead of blue. Yellow is exclusive to Stargates used in the Milky Way while blue is used by Stargates of Pegasus.

Character

 * Todd