Runner (episode)

"Runner" is the third episode of the second season of Stargate Atlantis.

Plot
On a planet Major Lorne and a botanist, Dr. Parrish, are walking through a forest. While Parrish is interested in the vegetation, Major Lorne grows impatient. Suddenly they find a dead Wraith and so they return to the Stargate. However they are watched by Lieutenant Ford from a tree.

Back at Atlantis Lorne informs the others and Beckett reveals that the enzyme sac was removed which identifies Ford as the one who did it. Dr. McKay however is not pleased to go to the planet since it has a very high UV rate. Later Lt. Col. Sheppard talks with Col. Caldwell who reminds him that Ford is now a threat to the base, much to Sheppard's annoyance.

The team then flies to the planet with a Puddle Jumper and start to search the planet. Sheppard and Teyla examine the place where the dead Wraith was found. McKay and Lorne talk about Ford while searching for him. Suddenly both teams see someone and chase that person. Before they can catch him, Teyla and Sheppard are shot. Lorne then contacts Atlantis and informs Dr. Weir about the situation.

At daybreak, Sheppard and Teyla wake up in a cave and are confronted by a person who threatens them with a P90. He then tells them that his name is Ronon Dex and he has a flashback about when he was in the military fighting the Wraith. Back at the Stargate teams start to search for their missing comrades. In the meantime Sheppard and Teyla talk with Ronon and he tells them that he has seen Ford and he again has a flashback about when Ford killed the Wraith. They tell him more about Ford and what has happened to him until Ronon leaves.

While McKay talks with Lorne the Major is stunned by Ford who then takes McKay with him because he wants to prove that he is now much better. At the cave Sheppard and Teyla free themselves and confront Ronon and Teyla realizes that he is a Runner. He tells them that he was implanted by a tracking device and then hunted. Afterwards he takes the two by surprise and holds Sheppard at gunpoint. Meanwhile Ford tells McKay what has happened to him since he left Atlantis. At the cave Sheppard makes a deal with Ronon which includes removing the tracking device from him. In exchange Ronon will help them capture Ford.

Back in Atlantis Weir informs Beckett about the situation but he is not happy. Back on the planet Ford starts to quarreling with McKay and then leaves to free Sheppard and Teyla but McKay follows him. At the cave Teyla talks with Ronon about his situation and he tells her that he has been hunted for seven years. Suddenly Sheppard and Beckett arrive and Beckett starts to examine Ronon, while Sheppard watches from a short distance away. Beckett is finally able to remove the device (although he had to do it while Ronon was awake and threatening Teyla with his weapon) but then Ronon passes out.

Meanwhile, Ford stuns two soldiers and McKay angrily shoots on him then runs away. Suddenly the gate dials and three Wraith darts come through. At the cave Ronon has left and attacks Ford who wants to kill McKay. The two fight until Sheppard intervenes and then Ford runs away. Sheppard confronts him but Ford runs in the culling beam of a Dart.

Back at Atlantis the team informs the others but Col. Caldwell is angry with Sheppard. Sheppard then visits Ronon and brings him to the control room where he is shown a picture of his world Sateda, which now lies in ruins.