SGA 1.16 "The Brotherhood" Transcript

1.16 "The Brotherhood"

Episode Guide

SGA 1.16 "The Brotherhood" Episode Guide

Précis

The Atlantis team travels to Dagan, a planet populated by a people whose ancestors once worshipped a ZPM as a religious symbol. But even as the team searches for keys to its whereabouts, the Genii have learned of their activities on Dagan and planted a sleeper agent amongst them. Now, with the Atlantis team closing in on the location of the ZPM, the Genii close in on them!

Guide | Transcript

Transcript

TEASER

FLASHBACK

INT—CORRIDOR OF VILLAGE ON DAGAN

[An elderly man rushes down the corridor. Outside a window, a Wraith transport beam moves past, amid the whining sound of a Wraith Dart.]

INT—DINING ROOM IN VILLAGE ON DAGAN

[Another man rushes in, tags a cloth bag and puts a scroll in it. The first man joins him.]

PORTA
Is it safe?

ASTRUM
Yes, the chamber has been sealed.

PORTA
Where are the others?

PORTA
The Brotherhood has fallen, Astrum. We're all that remains.

ASTRUM
My God. If we die, then—

PORTA
Hurry. They're getting closer.

[There are more Wraith Dart sounds. The men rush out.]

EXT—CASTLE COURTYARD ON DAGAN, DAY

[The two men go outside and are immediately beamed into a Dart.]

END FLASHBACK

EXT—CASTLE COURTYARD ON DAGAN, DAY

[McKay is beside the spot where Astrum and Porta were taken. A female scientist is with him.]

MCKAY

(walking with her)

Allina, I know I've said this before, but thank you so much for letting us in here, helping us through the material. It's been utterly fascinating.

INT—LIBRARY ON DAGAN

[Sheppard, Ford, and Teyla sit at a table full of old scrolls. McKay and Allina walk past, McKay carrying an armful of old books.]]

ALLINA
I'm happy to do it, Doctor. I'm sorry this information is so scattered. I'm afraid we're working on so many projects at once, reference materials tend to get misplaced.

MCKAY

Of course.
(looking inside a book)

Look at that.

[Sheppard, Ford and Teyla laugh over a joke. McKay approaches them with an irritated expression, carrying a piece of white parchment.]

MCKAY
What is going on here?

SHEPPARD
Just having a little fun, McKay.

MCKAY
Can we get back to work now?

FORD
I just don't see how running through history books is going to find us our ZPM.

MCKAY

(holding up the parchment)
Really? See this? This is a charcoal rubbing taken from an Ancient temple built about the time Weir's list was written. Notice anything familiar? Hmm? It's a ZPM. Look, we are close, closer than we have ever been before. Now, there may very well be hundreds of zero-point modules hidden in this galaxy, but the only one we are remotely sure of is here. Here.
(somberly)

Now, if you ever want to go home, if you ever want to protect Atlantis from the Wraith, we need to find this.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT—ATLANTIS, DAY

INT—ATLANTIS CONFERENCE ROOM

WEIR
Do they have any idea where the ZPM could be?

MCKAY
According to legend, an Ancient from Atlantis came through the stargate and entrusted a sect of Sudarian priests with a rare treasure, or "Potentia," as they called it. This Lantian told them to keep it hidden from the Wraith at all costs. Now, the Sudarian people worshiped the Ancients and considered the Potentia their most sacred artifact. Now, predictably, they did exactly as the Ancient requested.

WEIR
The Potentia being…

SHEPPARD
The ZPM.

WEIR
So they wouldn't have used it?

MCKAY
From what I can tell, they only brought it out of hiding to be displayed on high holidays. I'd be surprised if they knew it could be used. And that is good news.

WEIR
If they didn't know how to use it chances are it's completely full.

MCKAY
The bad news however, is that after ten thousand years of Wraith culling, Sudarian society is essentially extinct. The planet's inhabitants are only at a Renaissance level of development, but with the help of some of our gear, I really think they could make some headway.

WEIR
All right. I'm sold. Major, take your team back to Dagan. See if you can get us a ticket home.

INT—LARGE CHAMBER ON GENII

INT—GENII TRAINING ROOM

[Shirtless soldiers train. One lies on the floor. A man with a large scar on his right shoulder puts on a uniform coat. It is Kolya.]

PRANOS
Does it still pain you?

KOLYA

(to soldiers)
Leave us.
(to Pranos)

What do you have for me?

PRANOS
The Atlanteans have returned to Dagan.

KOLYA
You're sure?

PRANOS
Oh, yes. Our operative just checked in. It's only been 12 hours since they left. They must be getting close to it.

KOLYA
Do we have any idea what "it" is yet?

PRANOS
We know a little more. Our many off-world spies have been keeping a close eye on the Atlantean teams from afar. But this is the first planet we've managed to get this close to them. They're looking for a Lantian-era power source.

KOLYA
Is Chief Cowen sending a team?

PRANOS
Not yet. His priorities are elsewhere. Even if he was, he would never send you.

KOLYA
The last thing the Atlanteans need is more power. Get me on that planet, with or without Cowen's blessing.

INT—ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Chuck the Technician works on a console with Zelenka. Chuck drinks from a metal cup.]

TECHNICIAN
I don't know what happened. It just stopped working. I got some of the functionality back. It still isn't doing everything it used to.

ZELENKA
Yes, well, maybe if people stop insisting on having food and liquid in such close proximity to the ten-thousand-year-old equipment…

TECHNICIAN
Hey, we're very careful. We're not the problem here.

ZELENKA
Ah. Yes. Uh-huh.

[Zelenka leaves a laptop running and steps away. After a moment, the large Ancient screen becomes scrambled.]

ZELENKA
What did you touch?

TECHNICIAN
Nothing. I didn't touch anything.

ZELENKA

Curses in Czech. (looking at laptop)

Then why is it… What is this?

INT—ATLANTIS CORRIDOR

[Zelenka and Weir walk.]

WEIR
I didn't know we had deep space sensors.

ZELENKA
Yes, well, no one did. From what I can tell, they've been running silently in the background along with our other primary systems.

WEIR
In the background?

ZELENKA
Yes.

WEIR
So why the sudden leap to the foreground?

ZELENKA
Excellent question.

WEIR
We don't have an answer for that yet, do we?

ZELENKA
Not as of yet, no.

WEIR
Okay, well, keep me in the loop.

ZELENKA

(chuckling)

You are the loop.

[Zelenka continues beside Weir, looking uncomfortable.]

WEIR
Isn't that a nice thing to say. You're more than welcome to continue walking with me, but if there's something that you need to do…

ZELENKA
Yes. Yes.

INT—LIBRARY ON DAGAN

[Allina briefs the team.]

ALLINA
They called themselves "The Quindosim," a brotherhood of fifteen monks whose sole occupation was to keep the Potentia, or ZPM, safe.

MCKAY
Fascinating.

SHEPPARD
Yes. Fascinating.

MCKAY
Please, go on.

SHEPPARD
The Brotherhood of the fifteen consisted of a "Master Handler," five "Protectors," and nine "Stone Carriers." Their greatest fear was that the entire Brotherhood might one day be culled by the Wraith, which would result in the ZPM going missing forever.

TEYLA
Missing, yes, but it would not fall into enemy hands.

ALLINA
They were entrusted with the ZPM. Their hope was that one day the Lanteans would return to reclaim it and reward the Sudarian people for completing their task.

MCKAY
So they left hints, clues, should the Brotherhood be destroyed.

ALLINA
That's right. The priests created nine stone markers that, when united, are supposed to reveal the final resting place of the Quindosim's protected treasure. So far, we've only found three. The etching on the rocks involved many lines and dots. We think it's a map.

MCKAY
Mm. Amazing.

SHEPPARD
It is, actually. This looks like an Ancient numbering system.

ALLINA
That's what we thought. From what we can tell, they're numbers three, six, and seven.

MCKAY

(smiling kindly)

Excellent work. I mean, seriously, I'm very impressed here.

ALLINA
That's very kind of you, Doctor.

[Sheppard gives McKay a look.]

MCKAY
Where did you find them?

ALLINA
This building used to be their monastery, actually. We pieced together some of the information we found here, and tracked down the number six and seven stones. We found the number three stone on an unrelated dig just last week.

SHEPPARD
So, if we find the stones, we find the map?

ALLINA
Yes, exactly.

MCKAY
Here. You see this?

[He gives a stone tile to Ford.]

FORD
Part of the design?

MCKAY
I don't think anything on these stones is there just for aesthetics. Here. Yeah. Each of the stones has a different part of the grid embossed.

ALLINA
Signifying where its correct placing should be in the final configurations.

MCKAY
Exactly.

FORD
So what?

MCKAY

"So what?"
(to Allina)

Do you have a map?

[Later, Allina is showing them a paper map of the excavations.]

MCKAY
Okay, where did you find them?

ALLINA
We found the seven stone here… The six stone here… And, most recently, we stumbled on the number three stone here.

MCKAY
You have no idea how lucky a find that was.

[McKay starts drawing crossing straight lines on the map.]

ALLINA
I see it.

TEYLA
Doctor, I am not sure I—

MCKAY
They're buried in a grid. Look, we couldn't have done this without the number three stone. That, along with the number seven stone gives us two diagonally opposed corners. From that, you can extrapolate exactly how big the grid is, and therefore where each of the other stones should be buried.

SHEPPARD
All right, split up, two teams. Let's start digging.

EXT—WOODS OF DAGAN, DAY

[Kolya, Pranos, and Genii spy Tathal walk.]

PRANOS
Do you think they'll find it?

TATHAL
Many people from many worlds have come to find the lost treasure of the Quindosim.

PRANOS
Do you think they will find it?

KOLYA
I do not know. We'll wait for them to find the treasure, then take it by force. Your men are not to act until I give word. Understood?

TATHAL
Absolutely.

EXT—WOODS OF DAGAN, DAY

[Elsewhere, McKay leads Allina and Sanir on the search.]

MCKAY
Which would make us, uh… Right, I think.

ALLINA
Can you believe the progress we've made, Sanir? How many years have we been searching for these stones?

[Sanir suddenly stops.]

ALLINA
What's wrong?

SANIR
We should not be helping them, Allina.

ALLINA
They are helping us as much as we are helping them.

SANIR
They will take the Potentia if they find it. You must see that.

ALLINA
They have come to us from the great city of Atlantis. It is for them that the Brotherhood of the fifteen have kept the treasure hidden.

SANIR
I do not trust them, Allina.

ALLINA
If you would rather head back to your village than help us, I will not stop you.

[They continue on with McKay.]

EXT—EXCAVATION SITE ON DAGAN, DAY

[McKay the Dagan women, and Teyla, Ford and Sheppard dig in marked excavation pits in different locations.]

[Later, Sheppard finds a box.]

SHEPPARD
Check this out.

[He opens the box and finds a stone tile. Elsewhere, Teyla finds one as well, as does McKay at his location.]

EXT—EXCAVATION SITE, DAGAN

[Sanir finds the box.]

SANIR
Allina.

[McKay pulls a tile from the box.]

MCKAY
This is going to work.

ALLINA
I think it just might.

INT—LIBRARY ON DAGAN

[The teams have re-joined. McKay stands beside a map posted on the wall.]

ALLINA
It's a layout… of the Sudarian villages. The walls of this monastery have protected it for ten thousand years.

MCKAY
It's beautiful.

ALLINA

(smiling flirtatiously)

It is… And yet, my eye is drawn elsewhere.

MCKAY

(looking around, bemused)

Hmm? How so?

ALLINA
I'd like to restore it one day, but I'm afraid of damaging it. Perhaps you could help me, Doctor.

MCKAY
Really, you need to start calling me Rodney.

ALLINA
Very well.

[They sit down on a bench. McKay yawns.]

ALLINA
I don't bore you, do I?

MCKAY
No. No, no. It's not you. I just don't think I've ever been so tired.

ALLINA
But you're a scientist. Are you not used to this by now?

MCKAY
Mm, yeah, but my kind of science is the good kind of science, the kind you can do sitting in a chair or even laying on a couch.

ALLINA
What was it like? Growing up in the city of the Ancestors, Rodney?

MCKAY
I'm sorry?

ALLINA
Atlantis.

MCKAY
Oh, no, no, no, no, we didn't, uh… We come from a planet called Earth, in an altogether different galaxy. We only just recently made Atlantis our home.

ALLINA
How recently?

MCKAY
Oh, just a matter of months, really.

ALLINA
You're tired.

MCKAY
Mm.

ALLINA
Do not let me keep you from sleep.

MCKAY
If you insist. I'll, um…yeah. Okay.

[He walks away. Allina sighs.]

INT—LIBRARY ON DAGAN

[McKay enters the area where the rest of his team is eating at the main table.]

MCKAY
I'm heading to bed.

SHEPPARD
Which bed might that be?

MCKAY
What?

FORD
I think Allina might have a little crush on you, Doc.

MCKAY
Oh, she does?

TEYLA
It is very clear to us all.

MCKAY

(surprised)

It is?

SHEPPARD
Well, everyone but you, apparently.

MCKAY
Should I have, um… Are you sure about this?

SHEPPARD
Yeah, I'm very sure.

MCKAY
What should I do?

SHEPPARD
You don't know what to do?

MCKAY
I know what to do, eventually. I mean, what should I do now? Should I say something, something tonight?

SHEPPARD
Tell you what, Valentino—wait till tomorrow. You'll be more on your game after you get some rest.

MCKAY

Oh. Right. Right. Good answer.
(more loudly, so Allina can hear)

Good night.

EXT—EXCAVATION SITE ON DAGAN, DAY

[McKay and Allina study the stone tiles they have found while the rest of the team digs.]

ALLINA
It doesn't look much like a map. I guess I was wrong.

MCKAY
Mm, possibly, although, um, well, you know, just because you originally thought it was a map doesn't make your initial assumption bad or incorrect. Well, incorrect, yes, but it was a good guess.

ALLINA
I'm sorry?

MCKAY

(tentatively)

You're…very, very smart, and, uh…and attractive and whatnot, and, um…Uh…you've got a lot of things going for you even when things don't—

[Sheppard has walked up behind them to drink some water.]

ALLINA
Is everything all right?

MCKAY
Everything's great. Everything's really… Why wouldn't it be?

SHEPPARD
You're sure we're in the right place? We've almost doubled the size of the dig site, and we haven't found anything yet.

MCKAY
It's got to be the right place. The other eight stones were almost exactly where we thought they would be. Why would this be any different?

FORD
Major!

SHEPPARD
Tell me you found the stone.

FORD
Not quite, sir, but I think McKay should take a look at this.

[At Ford's position, they uncover a large cover stone with a symbol on it.]

ALLINA
It carries the mark of the Brotherhood.

SHEPPARD
The writing's in Ancient. Can you read it?

MCKAY
It's a warning. It says, "Only the Brotherhood of the Fifteen should enter the forbidden chamber—"

ALLINA
"Of the Quindosim."

TEYLA
What chamber?

[They set up a tripod with a block and tackle, which the use to move aside the cover stone. Ford activates some chemical lights and tosses them into the shaft below. It is not very deep.]

MCKAY
So, who wants to go first? Seems sort of like a Sheppard thing?

[Later, McKay and Ford lower Teyla into the shaft. Sheppard has already gone. From a ridge nearby, Kolya watches through a spyglass, flanked by other Genii.]

KOLYA
We couldn't have planned it any better.

INT—UNDERGROUND CHAMBER ON DAGAN

[McKay is lowered into the chamber.]

MCKAY
Oh. Easy, Ford! God.

SHEPPARD
All right, he's down.

FORD

(from the opening above)

All right. I'll stay up here, keep an eye on the descender.

SHEPPARD
Stay sharp. I'll let you know if anything interesting happens.

[Allina has found a platform with spots for the nine tiles.]

ALLINA
Do you see this? This is the whole pattern.

MCKAY
So the ninth stone must integrate into this raised center piece.

[McKay notices hand-shaped indentations on either side of the platform. He puts one hand in one.]

MCKAY
May I?

[He puts his other hand on the other side, but nothing happens.]

TEYLA
I believe we can rule out a map.

SHEPPARD
All right. Any ideas?

MCKAY
I'm getting there.

EXT—ATLANTIS, EVENING

EXT—ATLANTIS BALCONY

WEIR

(to a team leader)

Yes, get your team together and head off to section seven.

ZELENKA
Dr. Weir, Dr. Weir, I was finally able to interface our computers with the Atlantean long-range sensors.

WEIR
Excellent.

ZELENKA
There's an unidentified craft about the size of a Wraith Dart heading for the city.

WEIR
What?

ZELENKA
Yes.

[They rush inside.]

INT—ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

ZELENKA
I'm sorry. The sensors picked it up days ago, but it's taken me until now to finally decipher what they've been trying to tell us.

WEIR
A Dart. How is that possible?

ZELENKA
Well, perhaps it was modified to get here as quickly as possible.

WEIR
The hive ships are light years away still.

ZELENKA

(at a console)

Well, it could have used a neighboring Stargate and been flying towards us at maximum speed ever since Wraith discovered that we were here. At its current velocity…it will be here in 27 minutes.

WEIR
We need to get jumpers in the air.

EXT—EXCAVATION SITE ON DAGAN, DAY

[Ford stands watch above the shaft. He is hit in the neck by a dart. He pulls it out, but falls unconscious.]

INT—UNDERGROUND CHAMBER ON DAGAN

[McKay studies the tiles.]

SHEPPARD
What? What-what don't you believe?

MCKAY
It's a gate address, a six-symbol gate address.

TEYLA
Gate symbols?

ALLINA
I see them now. Yes.

TEYLA
Do you recognize the address?

MCKAY
No.

ALLINA
I'm not familiar with this one, either.

SHEPPARD
So the ninth stone is on another planet.

EXT—EXCAVATION SITE ON DAGAN, DAY

[Kolya approaches the shaft area.]

KOLYA
Is he dead?

TATHAL
No, just unconscious. He will be like that for hours.

KOLYA
Excellent. We'll wait for them to—

[Ford sits up, trips one man, and shoots Tathal.]

INT—UNDERGROUND CHAMBER ON DAGAN

[McKay and the others hear the shots.]

EXT—EXCAVATION SITE ON DAGAN, DAY

[Kolya and his men point guns at Ford. Ford has one man on the ground.]

KOLYA
Put the weapon down, Lieutenant Ford.

INT—UNDERGROUND CHAMBER ON DAGAN

[Sheppard and the others walk to the bottom of the shaft and looks up.]

SHEPPARD
Ford?

EXT—EXCAVATION SITE ON DAGAN, DAY

[The man being held by Ford elbows Ford in the face, knocking him unconscious.]

KOLYA
Major Sheppard. I'm afraid the Lieutenant has had to step away for a moment.

INT—UNDERGROUND CHAMBER ON DAGAN

MCKAY
Who's that?

SHEPPARD
It can't be.

TEYLA
It sounds like…

SHEPPARD
Kolya?

[Kolya appears at the opening above. He and Sheppard point guns at each other.]

KOLYA
Surprised?

SHEPPARD
You're alive.

KOLYA
As far as I can tell. Did you actually think a single bullet to the shoulder would kill me? I always thought you were smarter than that.

SHEPPARD
What'd you do to Ford?

KOLYA
He's fine.

SHEPPARD
Then what do you want?

KOLYA
The same as you, Major—the lost treasure of the Quindosim.

SHEPPARD
What possible use could that be to you?

KOLYA
The Daganians have informed us that this ZPM, whatever it may be, is an object of great power. And great power is of use to all people, especially the Genii.

ALLINA
Sanir.

SANIR
They offered us a great reward, Allina. They agreed to let us keep the treasure if we just—

[Allina slaps Sanir.]

SHEPPARD
They're no use to you, Kolya. ZPMs only work on Atlantis.

KOLYA
Perhaps…but I prefer hearing that from a Genii scientist.

TEYLA
We do not have it yet. We have not found the ninth stone.

KOLYA
We have an unbelievably large tactical advantage over you. Now, if you would rather I just cover the mouth of the chamber up and forget about the whole thing, I'm more than willing to consider it.

MCKAY
She's right. We're closer, but we're not there yet. Look, the ninth stone is hidden on another planet. All we have is the gate address.

KOLYA
Dr. McKay… So wonderful to hear your grating voice again. How's the arm?

MCKAY
Do you want to keep trading barbs or do you want to find the ZPM? Look, lift me out of here, I'll help you find it, but then you let my team go.

SHEPPARD
Shut up, McKay.

MCKAY
You got a better idea?

SHEPPARD
No.

MCKAY
Do we have a deal or not?

KOLYA
You and two Daganians will be raised out…along with everyone's weapons and radios. The rest of you will remain here. If Dr. McKay finds the ZPM, the others will be let go. I give you my word.

SHEPPARD
Well, we have his word.

MCKAY

I don't see that we have much choice.
(calling up)

I'm coming up.

INT—ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR
We've got the general population confined to their quarters. Let's hope they're out of harm's way.

ZELENKA
Any word from Sheppard yet?

WEIR
No, I've not been able to reach him. His entire team is off radio.

ZELENKA
It's still closing in very fast. Who are we going to get to fly the third jumper?

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

[Bates and Beckett are in a Jumper in the bay, Beckett in the pilot's seat.]

BECKETT
I can barely make it to the mainland and back without crashing. For the last time I'm a doctor, not a bloody fighter pilot.

BATES
A Wraith Dart's going to be all over this city inside of ten minutes, and our only real fighter pilot is off-world. I, for one, would like to mount the best defense we can.

BECKETT

(taking the controls)

Brilliant.

INT—ATLANTIS JUMPER BAY

[The Puddle Jumper lifts off and flies out into the atmosphere.]

INT—ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

TECHNICIAN
Jumper Two is away. All three are out.

WEIR

(into radio)

Good luck, Carson.

BECKETT

(over radio)

Thanks. I'll need it.

EXT—AT DHD OF DAGAN, DAY

[McKay dials an address on the DHD. The Stargate doesn't activate.]

MCKAY
It's not working.

KOLYA
Try it again.

MCKAY
Look, I've tried it twice, backwards and forwards.

KOLYA
We've played this game before, McKay. Try some other combinations of the same symbols.

MCKAY
You joking? Do you have any idea how long that would take?

PRANOS
He's right. There are 720 possible gate address.

MCKAY
It's a waste of time.

KOLYA
You said the address was the location of the ninth stone.

MCKAY
Look, it has to be, but the puzzle is ten thousand years old. Maybe the gate doesn't exist anymore. Look, back in the Milky Way, some cultures actually bury their gates to render them useless.

PRANOS
What about something else? What if these aren't Stargate symbols?

[McKay holds up a rubbing of the tiles.]

MCKAY
Look at them. What else would they be, huh?

ALLINA
Actually, these symbols may not be gate-related.

MCKAY
Really? What are you thinking?

INT—ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

ZELENKA

(into radio)

Gentlemen, you should have visual in thirty seconds.

EXT—ATLANTIS, DAY

[Three Jumpers fly up and away from the city.]

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

BATES
You ready?

BECKETT
No, I'm not ready.

BATES
You're going to do fine.

BECKETT
Is fine going to be enough?

ZELENKA

(over radio)

Coming right at you.

BECKETT
Do you see it yet?

BATES
Not yet. I can't see it anywhere.

EXT—SKY ABOVE ATLANTIS, DAY

[The Dart fires on the first Jumper, blowing it up. The other two pass it.]

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

BATES

(shocked)

Atlantis…Markham and Smith have been taken out.

BECKETT
It's headed for the city.

EXT—SKY ABOVE ATLANTIS, DAY

[The two Jumpers turn back toward the city.]

INT—LIBRARY ON DAGAN

[Allina stands before the large map again.]

ALLINA
This monastery is where the fifteen priests of the Brotherhood used to live. The mural here is a map, a layout of Sudaria as it was in their time. I should have thought of this before. See, the Sudarians worshiped the Lantean Ancestors. The Stargate was considered a sacred portal and its symbols religious icons. All 36 gate symbols are incorporated.

MCKAY
So, connect the symbols on the stones…

PRANOS
And you should be able to triangulate where the center stone is buried.

MCKAY
You're a genius.

ALLINA
Thank you, Rodney.

KOLYA
Yes okay, we're all very impressed, but let's get on with it.

EXT—ATLANTIS BALCONY, DAY

[Marines watch as the Dart speeds past, followed by the Jumpers.]

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

BATES
Shoot it down!

EXT—ATLANTIS

[The Dart and Jumpers fly through the city.]

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

BECKETT
It's right in the middle of the city. I don't have a clean shot.

EXT—ATLANTIS

[The Dart activates a field beneath it.]

INT—ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR
What's it doing?

ZELENKA
It's scanning us.

INT—LIBRARY ON DAGAN

[McKay uses surveyor's lasers to create lines on the map corresponding to Gate symbols around the map. The lines form a triangle in the center.]

MCKAY
Huh.

ALLINA
I was hoping it would narrow the area down a little more.

MCKAY
Well, it was worth a shot.

KOLYA
How big an area does that represent on the map?

ALLINA
Several square miles.

MCKAY
Hold on a second. It's part of their symbol.

[He sets up a second surveyor's tripod.]

ALLINA
The mark of the Fifteen. Yes.

KOLYA
What?

MCKAY
It's a fifteen-line symbol. Fifteen lines.

ALLINA
Nine lines on the outside.

MCKAY
Representing the Stone Carriers.

ALLINA
Six on the inside.

MCKAY
Representing the five Protectors and the Master Handler.

[The lines intersect at a single point.]

KOLYA
Do you know where that is?

ALLINA
Yes. I can take you there.

MCKAY
Hold on a second.

EXT—ATLANTIS, DAY

[The Dart flies low over the city, scanning it.]

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

[They pursue the Dart.]

BECKETT
Hold tight. One more second.

EXT—ATLANTIS, DAY

[The Dart explodes, and the two Jumpers fly through the debris.]

INT—PUDDLE JUMPER

BATES
Yes!

BECKETT
We didn't do that. At least, I don't think we did.

BATES

Well, whatever happened, it's dead.
(into radio)

Atlantis…we have a kill.

INT—CONTROL ROOM

WEIR

(into radio)

Good news, Jumper Two. Now head on home.

INT—LIBRARY ON DAGAN

MCKAY

Someone, give me a knife.
(at their reluctance)

You all have guns. Someone, give me a knife.

KOLYA
All right.

[They give him a knife. He starts to touch the laser intersection point on the map.]

ALLINA
Rodney!

MCKAY
It's not a map to where the center stone is. It is where the center stone is. Look.

[He pulls away a piece of the map, revealing the final tile hidden edge-wise behind it.]

MCKAY
We have all the pieces.

KOLYA
Congratulations, Dr. McKay. You may live yet.

INT—UNDERGROUND CHAMBER ON DAGAN

[Sheppard searches the chamber.]

SHEPPARD
This is pointless. No trap doors or hidden passageways.

TEYLA
There may be more than one way in here, Major.

SHEPPARD
If you're trying to hide a chamber, you don't put a bunch of entrances and exits all over the damn place.

FORD
You'd rather just sit here and wait for them to come back?

SHEPPARD
What have you got that we can use? I've got a couple MREs, some ammo, and some med supplies.

[Teyla pulls a knife from the sheath on her leg.]

SHEPPARD
Well, that's a start.

FORD
I've got a couple of flash-bangs. I think that's about it, though.

TEYLA
Flash-bangs?

FORD
Work kind of like grenades. Pull the pin, depress the trigger, once you let the spoon pop, you've got about 1.5 seconds before the room is filled with 2.4 million candlepower and a bang that's rated at 175 decibels.

SHEPPARD
It'll stun anyone with their eyes and ears open for about ten seconds.

[Sheppard looks around and starts to clear some dirt near a brick wall.]

FORD
What are you doing? You going to dig us out of here?

SHEPPARD
Yeah, something like that. Come over and give me a hand.

EXT—EXCAVATION SITE ON DAGAN, DAY

[Genii guard the shaft entrance. McKay and the others approach, McKay talking to Kolya.]

MCKAY
Hey, you want Sora back? Is that what this is about?

KOLYA
Sora knew what she was doing, more so than most of the men. Besides, the Genii do not make deals with terrorists.

MCKAY
Terrorists? You attacked us!

KOLYA
After you ambushed us on our own world.

MCKAY
This is crazy. We're both just trying to protect our people.

KOLYA
That's correct, but if making your people the target buys my people more time, it will have been worth it.

MCKAY
Listen—

KOLYA
I don't want to discuss it any further, Doctor. Find the ZPM, and you can all return to Atlantis. Fail, and the deal's off.

EXT—ATLANTIS, DAY

INT—ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

WEIR
So what happened out there?

BATES
As soon as we had a clean shot, it self-destructed.

WEIR
Why?

BATES
Ma'am, I have no idea. I don't think it came here to fight. It didn't seem that interested in the Jumpers, except for when we were blocking its way to the city.

ZELENKA
Darts are not long-range fighters. The fact it came so far, alone… It was a scout.

WEIR
But why would it self-destruct? Scouts are meant to relay information.

ZELENKA
But it did relay information.

[He brings his laptop to the large display.]

ZELENKA
Look. Just before it exploded, the Dart was transmitting data.

WEIR
I don't suppose you could—

ZELENKA
Not any time soon, at least.

BATES
Can we determine where it was sending it?

ZELENKA
Well, I could direct the long-range sensors to that area, see what shows up. Give me a couple of hours.

INT—UNDERGROUND CHAMBER ON DAGAN

[Sheppard, Teyla, and Ford stand with their hands behind their heads, near the brick wall Sheppard had been digging beside. The others are at the pedestal.]

MCKAY
I just assumed that we place the stones on the pedestal, have someone put their hands on the palm prints, and hopefully, we get the ZPM. The only question is, what order do we put the stones in?

PRANOS
I think it's pretty straightforward.

MCKAY
Well, nothing's been straightforward yet. What makes you think this would be?

PRANOS
The last one is the only one with grooves that match the center position.

MCKAY
So?

PRANOS
So it fits snugly into place. Complete the pattern, get the ZPM. Why would they continue to play games at this point?

MCKAY
I really don't think you understand how these people thought.

KOLYA
McKay. Stop stalling.

MCKAY
I'm not stalling. I just think we need to consider the fact—

KOLYA
Pranos, arrange the stones and retrieve the ZPM, please.

[Pranos puts the final tile in the middle of the nine, then places his hands on the imprints. Two metal bracelets spring from the platform over his wrists, then retract.]

PRANOS
Aah!

KOLYA
McKay.

MCKAY
What do you want me to do?

[Pranos looks at his palms. There are triangular cuts on each one.]

PRANOS
What's this?

[Pranos falls to the ground. Kolya checks him.]

KOLYA
He's dead. You knew this would happen.

MCKAY
Yes. Yes, I did. In fact, I was in the middle of telling you as much when you ordered him to activate the pedestal. Look, you killed him, not me.

KOLYA
What's the correct order of the stones?

MCKAY
I'm not sure yet.

KOLYA

Well, you'll have four chances to get it right.
(to Sheppard)

You go first.

[Later, Sheppard is arranging the tiles on the pedestal.]

SHEPPARD
Any time you want to start…

MCKAY
I'm thinking, I'm thinking.

SHEPPARD
All right. We tried one to nine.

MCKAY
Thank you, yes.

SHEPPARD
How about nine to one?

MCKAY
Possibly. Look, Pranos was right. The center stone’s the only one that locks into place. All the others must move around it. I'm just trying to think of a combination that make sense with five in the middle.

SHEPPARD
15. It's got to have something to do with fifteen…or nine, or five—

MCKAY
Shut up. Please? I'm trying to think.

SHEPPARD
I'm not going to shut up, Rodney. My life's at stake.

MCKAY
Exactly, so simmer down, and let me save it!

SHEPPARD
Ever heard the term two heads are better than one?

MCKAY
It's a common misconception.

SHEPPARD

(to Kolya)

Give me the gun. I'll shoot him myself.

KOLYA
This is taking too long. Choose and go.

MCKAY
What, you got somewhere you've got to be?

KOLYA
Choose and go.

MCKAY
I got nothing.

SHEPPARD
Thanks for the pep talk.

MCKAY
Nine to one. It's all I can think of.

SHEPPARD
Okay. Step back.

MCKAY
I'm sorry.

SHEPPARD
I'm not dead yet.

MCKAY
Yeah. Sorry.

KOLYA
Major. Now.

[Sheppard studies the tiles, then gets a look of realization.]

SHEPPARD
I got it!

MCKAY
What?

SHEPPARD
The Brotherhood of 15.

MCKAY
What about it?

SHEPPARD
The numbers one to nine can be put in a three-by-three grid so they add up to 15 in every direction.

MCKAY
Oh, you're right. How'd you know that?

SHEPPARD
It was on a Mensa test.

MCKAY
You're a member of Mensa?

SHEPPARD
No, but I took the test.

MCKAY
When?

SHEPPARD
You want to talk about this now, Rodney?

MCKAY
Right. Right. Okay.

SHEPPARD
Two, nine, four…

[They arrange the tiles to achieve the sums.]

MCKAY
Seven, five, three… Six, one, eight. That's it. That's got to be it.

KOLYA
Good luck.

[McKay steps away. Sheppard places his hands in the indentations. From the large stone tablet on the wall in front of them, a ZPM slides out. Sheppard takes a deep breath of relief. Kolya goes to the ZPM. Sheppard looks at Teyla and Ford and nods. Ford releases the flash-bang trigger at his foot. He and Teyla run down the corridor. Sheppard covers his ears and ducks his head. Kolya is unprepared as the flash-bang goes off. Teyla knifes a Genii; Sheppard fights Kolya. Teyla stabs another Genii. Ford takes out a soldier as well, and Sheppard gets his weaponed aimed at Kolya. McKay stumbles around, unable to see.]

MCKAY
What the hell just happened?

SHEPPARD
Are you okay?

ALLINA
Yes. Thank you.

SHEPPARD
Sorry, Rodney. I had no way of telling you what was coming.

MCKAY
What, my eyes? I need my eyes for seeing!

SHEPPARD
Get the ZPM, Rodney.

MCKAY
It's a small miracle I can still make out shapes, that's all I'm saying.

[He pulls the ZPM from the wall while Kolya stare at him.]

KOLYA
Don't look at me.

SHEPPARD
All right. We're getting out of here. We're going to send a villager to pick you up in about an hour.

KOLYA
The smart thing would be to kill me now.

[Sheppard walks over and points a pistol at Kolya.]

SHEPPARD
You're right. I tell you what— I'm going to want points for this in the future… But if you ever do this again I will kill you. Deal?

[Ford starts to rise out of the shaft on the rope, Teyla holding the other side of it.]

SHEPPARD
Are we good?

MCKAY
Yeah, as far as I can see.

SHEPPARD
Let's move out.

MCKAY
I can't believe you never mentioned the Mensa thing.

SHEPPARD
I took the test. I never joined.

MCKAY
But you passed.

SHEPPARD
Yes.

MCKAY
Well, do you know we have a chapter on Atlantis? You could become an honorary—

SHEPPARD
Rodney. Rodney, up the rope.

EXT—DAGAN WOODS, DAY

[Sheppard's team and Allina walk.]

FORD
I thought we'd never find one of those things.

SHEPPARD
You know, I'm going to sleep pretty soundly tonight.

MCKAY
Not me. I'm going to be up all night getting every system I can back on-line. Allina, I don't think we'll ever be able to properly repay you for this.

ALLINA
You won't have to.

[Armed men and women arise all around them, and others come running up on the path. They all have guns. They converge on Sheppard's team.]

MCKAY
I'm sorry?

SHEPPARD
All right, all right. Easy. Easy.

MCKAY
Allina…you involved the Genii?

ALLINA
This has nothing to do with the Genii. I'm a member of the New Brotherhood.

MCKAY
Then what is this about?

ALLINA
Ten generations ago after a severe culling, the Brotherhood was destroyed. Many of us found their writings and decided to try and complete the task handed down to us by the Ancestors. I am the new Master Handler. We thank you for helping us find the Potentia, but it must go into hiding again.

SHEPPARD
We come from the city of the Ancestors. That ZPM was intended for us.

ALLINA
No. You live in Atlantis, but you are not the Ancestors.

SHEPPARD

(to McKay)

What'd you tell her?

MCKAY
Atlantis might fall if we don't take this ZPM back. Then it would serve no purpose. Do you really think the Ancestors would have wanted that?

ALLINA
None of us can know their plan.

SHEPPARD
They don't have a plan. Do you think getting attacked by the Wraith and chased out of the galaxy is something they planned for?

MCKAY
Allina, you're far too smart to think—

ALLINA
The Potentia will be put into hiding on another world. When the Ancestors return our people will be greatly rewarded.

[She takes the ZPM from McKay.]

MCKAY
Allina, you can't believe that. Look, come back with us. Let me prove it to you.

ALLINA
This is how it must be. Now it is time for you to leave.

INT—ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Sheppard's team has returned.]

WEIR
Did you try to explain—

MCKAY
I tried. Believe me, we tried.

WEIR
We could have used it.

SHEPPARD
Of course we could have.

WEIR
No, you don't understand. While you were off-world, a Wraith Dart flew over our city.

SHEPPARD
I'm sorry?

WEIR
We lost a Jumper, along with Markham and Smith.

SHEPPARD

(shocked)

We what?

WEIR
And it scanned us.

SHEPPARD
We just lost two of my men and a Jumper, and this is the first time I'm hearing about it?

WEIR
I tried to reach you, but you've been out of radio contact for over twelve hours. Now, the Dart sent a transmission deep into space, and then it self-destructed before we could get to it.

ZELENKA
Yeah, we scanned the area with our deep space sensors and, uh…

MCKAY
We have deep space sensors?

ZELENKA
Yeah. It's a long story.

WEIR
And we found something else…rather unsettling.

SHEPPARD
I'm already unsettled. Show me.

[Zelenka activates the large screen, showing three large ships.]

MCKAY
What are those?

ZELENKA
Wraith hive ships. Three of them. The system analysis just got back—

SHEPPARD
Right. Where are they headed?

WEIR
If they maintain direction and speed, they'll be over our planet within two weeks.

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

Transcribed for Solutions by Michelle, February, 2011.

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--Michelle 00:57, 1 March 2011 (UTC)