STARGATE SG1
Episode 812
"PROMETHEUS UNBOUND"
By
Damian Kindler
Transcribed by
Callie Sullivan
SGC. LEVEL 27. Jack and Daniel get out of the elevator.
DANIEL
C’mon, Jack!
O’NEILL
Still no, Daniel!
DANIEL
It doesn’t even have to be on a permanent
basis!
O’NEILL
I didn’t let you go in the first place
- what makes you think I’m gonna change
my mind?
DANIEL
Because ... (He pauses, struggling to
come up with a reason.)
O’NEILL
Can you try to do better than that?
DANIEL
Because they’re gonna need somebody
who can translate Ancient - I’m the
most qualified person left on the planet
for the mission.
O’NEILL
Which is exactly why you’re gonna stay
right here.
DANIEL
Because I’ll quit!
O’NEILL
Why don’t you just hold your breath?
You haven’t done that in a while.
(They reach the door to Jack’s office and stop at the sight that
greets them. General Hammond is sitting in Jack’s chair. He spins
the chair round to face them.)
O’NEILL
General!
HAMMOND
Jack. I let myself in - hope you don’t
mind.
O’NEILL
Absolutely not! Welcome.
HAMMOND
Thank you.
O’NEILL
Miss the chair?
HAMMOND
Actually, I do.
O’NEILL
Want it back?
HAMMOND
As a matter of fact, I do. My new one
just isn’t the same.
O’NEILL
That’s not exactly what I meant.
HAMMOND
Doctor Jackson - nice to see you again.
DANIEL
Likewise. We miss you around here, sir.
(Jack looks at him indignantly.) So,
to what do we owe this pleasure?
HAMMOND
I came to ask if you’d be interested
in joining the mission to Atlantis.
O’NEILL AND DANIEL
You did?
HAMMOND
He’s the most qualified person on this
planet, and the mission commander needs
someone who can translate Ancient.
(Jack looks round at Daniel, who tries unsuccessfully not to
look smug.)
DANIEL
Really?!
O’NEILL
With all due respect, sir, I think you
should tell the mission commander that
I need Daniel right here.
HAMMOND
You just did.
O’NEILL
I did ... I did? You, sir?
HAMMOND
Yes. (He stands up.) Request denied.
Doctor Jackson, you’re with me. (To
Jack) I’ll have the chair shipped to
Washington. You can requisition a new
one.
O’NEILL
I’ll do that, sir.
HAMMOND
We leave tomorrow. (To Jack) Oh, and
I’ll be taking Walter too.
(He leaves the room. Jack looks round at Daniel, who glances
at him and then looks away, clearing his throat in a rather embarrassed
way before leaving the room as well.)
NEVADA. PROMETHEUS BASE. Daniel comes on board Prometheus and
walks along a corridor to meet General Hammond.
DANIEL
General!
HAMMOND
Welcome aboard!
(They shake hands.)
DANIEL
Thank you, sir - again.
HAMMOND
My motives were purely selfish, Doctor
Jackson. We haven’t heard a word from
the Atlantis expedition team since they
first left. We have no idea what we’re
going to find in Pegasus. Your knowledge
and expertise will no doubt prove invaluable.
DANIEL
General, if you don’t mind my asking
...
HAMMOND
Why am I going?
DANIEL
Well, you could’ve chosen anyone to
command this mission.
HAMMOND
Y’know, I sat back and watched you people
go on a lot of adventures over the years.
DANIEL
It’s just that I thought that, when
you were replaced at the SGC, you were
sort of bucking for retirement.
HAMMOND
And then I led Prometheus against Anubis’
fleet.
DANIEL
Got your dander up!
HAMMOND
That’s why I took the job as Head of
Homeworld Security - and then this opportunity
came along. Well, the President put
me in charge, so I could choose anyone
I wanted to lead the mission.
DANIEL
So why not choose yourself?!
HAMMOND
Like I said, I sent a lot of people
into action over the years. More than
a few didn’t come back. I’d like to
see this one through personally.
DANIEL
We’ve never left anyone behind, sir.
HAMMOND
And we’re not going to this time.
SPACE. Prometheus is in hyperspace. In Prometheus’ briefing room,
Daniel is talking to various personnel, including General Hammond
and Sergeant Harriman.
DANIEL
Last recorded MALP telemetry from Atlantis
indicated an enclosed space with viable
life support.
(A young scientist, Novak, walks to her seat, hiccuping as she
goes. She mutters “Stop it!” to herself as she takes her seat.)
DANIEL
Now we’re going on the assumption that
the expedition team found the lost city
and was able to set up a base of operations
there.
(Novak hiccups noisily.)
NOVAK
Sorry.
HAMMOND
Doctor Novak?
NOVAK
The Asgard hyperdrive is functioning
at one hundred percent, sir.
HAMMOND
Thank you. (He turns back to Daniel.)
Doctor Jackson?
DANIEL
I’m sorry - what-what was I saying?
NOVAK
Oh, you were assuming the lost city
is at the other end of this field trip.
(She hiccups.) Please ignore me.
DANIEL
It’s hard to.
HAMMOND
You disagree, Doctor?
NOVAK
Well, as far as we know, the Atlantis
team found another outpost like the
one on Antarctica. It could be on a
moon, or at the bottom of some deep,
dark ocean. (She hiccups.)
HAMMOND
Which is why we’re going. If they’re
trapped and need help ...
NOVAK
If they’re even alive at all. (She hiccups.)
DANIEL
As for why they’ve been unable to make
contact with Earth, hopefully it’s just
a matter of being unable to locate a
viable power source.
HAMMOND
Using information collected from the
Ancient outpost on Earth, Doctor Jackson
and his team have pinpointed our destination
in the Pegasus galaxy.
DANIEL
Which is here. (He indicates the location
on a map. Novak hiccups noisily.)
NOVAK
Damn it to hell! (She takes a glass
of water off the table, turns her chair
around, leans forward between her knees
and noisily slurps water from the far
side of the glass. Walter tries to hide
his smile, while the others look awkward
or annoyed.)
LATER. Doctor Novak walks towards an elevator. Daniel is already
there and swiping his card through the reader to call the elevator.
DANIEL
Doctor Novak.
NOVAK
Doctor Jackson.
DANIEL
Daniel.
NOVAK
You can call me Lindsey. Um, sorry for
contradicting you in the briefing.
(The elevator arrives and they get in.)
DANIEL
Oh, no, don’t be. I mean, you were right
- the fact that we haven’t heard from
the Atlantis expedition since they left
is a bad sign. (Novak hiccups.) Tried
holding your breath?
NOVAK
Oh, God, I’ve tried everything!
DANIEL
Yeah, it doesn’t work for me either.
NOVAK
It’s been like this since I was a kid.
(She hiccups. The elevator arrives at
its destination and they get out.) It,
er, it comes on when I get scared, but
this is the worst it’s been since my
PhD presentation. I mean, I don’t really
do well in stressful situations. I guess
that’s why I turned down going to Atlantis
the first time.
DANIEL
Well, I’m sure you’re gonna be fine.
General Hammond says you’re, er, you’re
very good at what you do, so ...
NOVAK
Oh, thank you!
(Alarms sound. Novak hiccups.)
NOVAK
What’s that? What’s wrong?
DANIEL
I don’t know.
(He hurries off. Novak holds her breath for a few seconds, then
realises that she ought to be somewhere.)
NOVAK
OK. (She too hurries off.)
BRIDGE. Colonel Reynolds is standing at the front of the Bridge,
looking out the front windscreen. He turns and walks away as
Daniel comes in. Hammond is in the big chair, with Walter sitting
beside him.
HAMMOND
We’re picking up what sounds like a
distress call.
DANIEL
Where are we?
HARRIMAN
We’re still well inside the Milky Way.
HAMMOND
Play it back.
HARRIMAN
Yes, sir. (He activates the playback.
A woman’s voice can be heard. What she
says is broken up with many gaps.)
WOMAN’S VOICE
Help ... require assistance ... have
failed ... lost power to ... Repeat,
stranded in ...
DANIEL
She sounds human.
HAMMOND
What do you think?
DANIEL
Well, as much as I hate to delay this
trip, I think we have to check it out.
HAMMOND
How far away is it?
HARRIMAN
The message is originating just over
fifty light years off our designated
route. We could be there in ... twenty
minutes?
HAMMOND
Set a course.
HARRIMAN
Yes, sir.
SPACE. Prometheus comes out of hyperspace. Up ahead, two ships
are motionless.
HAMMOND
Set shields at maximum. Arm weapons.
REYNOLDS
Looks like an al’kesh and a cargo ship.
HARRIMAN
Scans indicate they’ve suffered significant
damage. The distress signal is originating
from within the al’kesh.
HAMMOND
I don’t understand. A human distress
call from a Goa’uld ship - that makes
no sense.
REYNOLDS
I agree, sir. It could be a trap.
DANIEL
Look, I know this looks suspicious but
what if there was an uprising on board
one of those ships? There could be human
prisoners in need of our help.
HAMMOND
Open a channel.
HARRIMAN
Yes, sir. (He activates comms.)
HAMMOND
This is General George Hammond of the
Earth vessel Prometheus. We’re answering
your distress call and standing ready
to assist you.
(There’s no reply.)
HARRIMAN
We can transport a portable sensor unit
on board to determine life support viability.
(Hammond nods his agreement.)
REYNOLDS
General - an al’kesh is potentially
a valuable ship. Even if there are no
survivors, we need to determine if it’s
spaceworthy. If it is, we should salvage
her.
HAMMOND
Take a team.
REYNOLDS
Yes, sir.
AL’KESH. Reynolds and three others ring on board. They check
out the immediate area.
REYNOLDS
Prometheus - this is SG-3. We are on
board.
(The team moves into the corridors.)
REYNOLDS
General, we’re seeing some energy weapon
damage.
(The team moves on. After a while Reynolds sees a dead Jaffa
lying on the floor.)
REYNOLDS
We have one Jaffa - KIA.
SG TEAM MEMBER
Sir, over here!
(Reynolds hurries to see what his team mate has found, then activates
his radio again.)
REYNOLDS
Make that four Jaffa. Looks like these
folks had a little onboard fire fight.
Still no sign of life. We’re heading
to the Bridge.
(They hear the sound of the transporter rings activating and
hurry back towards the ring room.)
PROMETHEUS BRIDGE.
REYNOLDS
Prometheus, someone just activated the
... (His transmission ends.)
HAMMOND
Colonel Reynolds, say again?
HARRIMAN
Sir! Our rings just activated.
(At the Prometheus ring room, the doors open and a super-soldier
comes out.)
HAMMOND
Security team to level four ring room.
Visuals onscreen. (Walter calls up the
ring room camera but there is nothing
but static on the screen.) Seal it off.
HARRIMAN
Controls are not responding, sir.
AL’KESH. One of SG-3 is trying to get the ring transporter working.
Reynolds comes over to him.
REYNOLDS
Airman.
AIRMAN
It’s no good, sir. The rings will not
activate.
PROMETHEUS BRIDGE.
HAMMOND
Security team, report.
HARRIMAN
All shipboard communications are down.
HAMMOND
Initiate emergency lockdown.
HARRIMAN
I can’t, sir. It may be possible from
the engine room.
HAMMOND
Go.
(Daniel and a couple of technicians hurry out of the room.)
CORRIDORS. Daniel and his team enter a corridor and see the super-soldier
up ahead. Daniel dives out of the way as the super-soldier turns
and fires a zat gun, taking down the other three people. Daniel
stays in hiding as the super-soldier clumps away, then looks
cautiously round the corner at his downed colleagues. Hearing
the super-soldier firing its zat at some other people, he runs
off.
AL’KESH. The rings activate.
AIRMAN
That wasn’t me, sir.
(Reynolds looks at what has been transported in.)
REYNOLDS
Let’s get ‘em out of there.
(He and his team run forward and we see that several members
of the Prometheus crew are lying on the floor, unconscious.)
PROMETHEUS BRIDGE. The door opens and the super-soldier walks
in. Hammond, Walter and the other crew stare in horror as it
raises its zat gun.
PROMETHEUS CORRIDORS. Daniel makes his way to the Armoury, takes
down a Telchak rifle and adjusts the chip in it. Picking up a
bag of weaponry, he heads off.
AL’KESH. Reynolds and his team have just finished dragging their
unconscious crewmates off the ring circle when the rings activate
again. SG-3 raise their weapons. The rings lift, and standing
there are Hammond, Walter and two other crew members.
AL’KESH BRIDGE. Hammond and Reynolds come onto the Bridge. Out
the front windscreen, they see Prometheus power up and fly away.
HAMMOND
Can we pursue?
(Reynolds sits in the pilot’s seat and tries to activate some
controls.)
REYNOLDS
Engines are offline. Controls are unresponsive.
The weapons are offline too, sir. It
looks like we’re dead in the water.
(Walter hurries in.)
HARRIMAN
General. I just did a head count. Daniel
Jackson is still aboard Prometheus.
PROMETHEUS BRIDGE. Daniel carefully makes his way onto the Bridge.
The super-soldier is standing with its back to him. Daniel raises
his rifle and fires, but the blast has no effect. The super-soldier
turns toward him. Daniel fires again, still with no effect. The
super-soldier raises its zat gun.
DANIEL
Oh, crap!
(The super-soldier fires. Daniel cries out in pain and falls
to the floor.)
AL’KESH RING ROOM. Hammond goes over to Novak, who is sitting
on the floor holding her head.
HAMMOND
Are you OK?
NOVAK
Oh, I feel like my head’s gonna explode
- but on the bright side, I think my
hiccups are gone! (She hiccups, then
rolls her eyes before turning to Hammond.)
What do you need, sir?
HAMMOND
I need this ship operational - now.
NOVAK
Yes, sir. (Reynolds helps her to her
feet.) Thank you.
AL’KESH BRIDGE. Walter is in the pilot’s seat, trying to get
the controls to work. Hammond comes in.
HARRIMAN
Near as I can tell, we’re lucky that
the life support systems are still working,
sir.
HAMMOND
How much time do you figure we have?
HARRIMAN
That’s hard to say. I’ve got some secondary
systems online, including some short
range sensors, sir. Scans of the cargo
ship indicate that it’s in worse shape
than this al’kesh. (He looks round at
Hammond.) Strange, isn’t it, sir?
HAMMOND
That a Goa’uld super-soldier would go
to all this trouble to keep us alive?
PROMETHEUS BRIDGE. Daniel is unconscious in the commander’s chair,
tied by his wrists with plastic tethers. He wakes up, tries to
move and realises that he can’t. He looks over to the super-soldier,
which is standing with its back to him and looking at some screens.
DANIEL
Hey, how’s it going? (The super-soldier
ignores him.) Guess it’s just you and
me, huh? (It still ignores him.) It’s
a little strange, isn’t it? See, that
weapon I shot you with should have killed
you. What’s even stranger is you guys
usually don’t take prisoners, either.
I mean, it’s, uh, kinda kill first and
... (He trails off and thinks through
what he was about to say.) No, that’s
generally just about it - just the killing.
I’m just gonna talk to myself here for
a while, ‘cos you’re not gonna talk
to me and ... Not that you guys are
very talkative, but, uh ...
(The super-soldier finally turns towards him. Its voice sounds
like a Goa’uld.)
SUPER-SOLDIER
You may prove useful.
DANIEL
OK, now we’re gettin’ somewhere. Where’s
everybody else?
SUPER-SOLDIER
I transported them onto the al’kesh.
DANIEL
Well, you kept the wrong guy, ‘cos I
don’t know anything about the ship.
(The super-soldier walks towards him.)
SUPER-SOLDIER
But you are very attractive.
(Daniel coughs.)
DANIEL
What?! (The super-soldier walks closer.)
Hey, big guy, I’m-I’m flattered, really
I am, it’s just that, uh, you’re not
my type. And I’m more than a little
disturbed that I might be yours.
(The super-soldier lowers its head and starts to take its helmet
off. Daniel flinches away, closing his eyes.)
DANIEL
Woah, no, don’t! You don’t have to do
that! Don’t! Don’t! Oh!
(The super-soldier takes its helmet off, revealing an attractive
human woman with long black hair. Daniel opens his eyes. The
woman smiles at him.)
VALA
Don’t worry. I’m not gonna hurt you.
DANIEL
Thank God.
VALA
Much ... I hope.
LATER. Vala is taking off the super-soldier armour. She is wearing
a black close-fitting catsuit underneath.
VALA
I wish to send a long range transmission
using the communications systems.
DANIEL
Sorry, don’t have a clue.
VALA
You lie.
DANIEL
In general? Uh, no. Yes. Well, I try
to be honest but, you know, occasionally
a little white one slips out every now
and again ... (Vala slaps him hard around
the face.) Ah! Ow!
VALA
Shall I kiss it better?
DANIEL
Um, no. Just don’t do it again. Hey,
look, even if I knew what it is you
wanted me to do, what makes you think
I’d tell you? How the hell do you think
you can steal a ship when you don’t
know how it works?
VALA
I got the sublight engines going.
DANIEL
Yeah, so you did.
VALA
You really expect me to believe you
don’t know how your own ship works?
DANIEL
OK, look. My name is Daniel Jackson.
I’m an archaeologist, a historian. (Vala
goes to the seat beside him, sits down
and starts trying to activate the controls.)
I study ancient cultures - histories
of the past, ancient civilisations.
Have you heard of Earth? Tau’ri?
VALA
No.
DANIEL
OK. Well, we were on our way to rescue
a few friends who are trapped in ...
VALA
I really don’t care.
DANIEL
Look, this really isn’t necessary ...
VALA
Can I have this ship? “No.” OK. Discussion
over. (She slams her fist down on the
console. The console beeps and a message
comes up saying: “Communications System:
Active”.) Oh. (She turns to Daniel.)
Here we go. (She activates the comms.)
Tennet O’Voran. Tennet, this is Vala.
If you can hear me, please respond.
... (Unnoticed by her, Daniel has managed
to reach down and pick up a long piece
of metal which may help him to sever
his bonds.) I’ve managed to procure
a vessel bigger and better than what
I hoped for. Tennet, if you get this
message, I apologise for the delay and
will meet at the designated co-ordinates
in one day. Vala out. (She turns to
Daniel.) Now, about the hyperdrive.
AL’KESH. Novak and Reynolds are working on a crystal bank. Novak
takes out a crystal as Hammond comes in.
HAMMOND
Colonel. Doctor.
NOVAK
I’ve re-routed remaining power to shields
and life support for the time being,
but as far as the engines go ... (She
shrugs.)
REYNOLDS
The control crystals for both sublight
and hyperdrive engines are totally fried.
NOVAK
Looks like they were deliberately sabotaged.
HAMMOND
Can they be repaired?
NOVAK
In a word, no. We need new ones.
REYNOLDS
I was thinking about that cargo ship,
sir.
HAMMOND
Sergeant Harriman says life support
over there is minimal - barely enough
to sustain one person for a few moments.
NOVAK
And if we don’t get new crystals ...
(she hiccups) sorry.
REYNOLDS
I’ll go, sir.
HAMMOND
No, I’ll go.
REYNOLDS
Uh, with all due ...
HAMMOND
Colonel, someone took my ship. I want
it back.
VALA
Access is restricted by a code.
DANIEL
Yeah? Too bad.
(Vala turns to him. Her left hand is still encased in a piece
of the super-soldier’s weaponry. She shoots him in the left shoulder,
leaving a bad burn. Daniel cries out in pain.)
VALA
That hurt?
DANIEL
Uh! Yeah!
(Vala opens her right hand to show a small Goa’uld device attached
to her fingers.)
VALA
I can fix it.
DANIEL
I don’t know the code!
(Vala stands up and walks over to Daniel. She sits on his lap
and holds the device near to his wound. The device activates.)
VALA
There. Feel better?
(Daniel looks at the hole in the sleeve of his T-shirt. Underneath,
the burn is completely healed. He looks up at Vala.)
DANIEL
You’re a Goa’uld.
VALA
. No - but I was once a host to one.
DANIEL
Which would explain the naqahdah in
your blood that lets you use Goa’uld
technology.
VALA
And how I can quickly learn to fly this
rather primitive ship.
DANIEL
Yeah, so primitive one would wonder
if it was worth the bother.
VALA
Well, in this case, it’s the size that
matters. (She pointedly looks down at
Daniel’s groin.) Actually, pretty much
in every case. (Daniel blinks. She looks
into his eyes again and speaks pleadingly
to him.) Tell me the code. (She reaches
out and gently strokes his arm through
the hole in his T-shirt.) Please.
DANIEL
Don’t-don’t know it.
VALA
Fine. (She gets off his lap and walks
away, turning to gaze at him for a moment
before leaving the room. Daniel looks
bewildered.)
AL’KESH RING ROOM. Hammond is gearing up to go over to the cargo
ship. Walter and Reynolds are watching him.
REYNOLDS
How much time will he have?
HARRIMAN
I’m guessing a few minutes. Maybe less.
REYNOLDS
Sir ...
HAMMOND
Not another word, Colonel. (He steps
into the ring circle.) Do it now.
(Walter steps forward.)
HARRIMAN
General. Godspeed.
(Hammond nods, and Walter steps back again.)
CARGO SHIP. Hammond rings on board. He activates the light on
his rifle and heads off. He rounds a corner, coughing and struggling
to breathe. On the al’kesh, Novak contacts him over comms.
NOVAK
General? General, can you hear me?
HAMMOND
I’m here in the engine room.
NOVAK
Open the third panel down on the centre
column.
(Hammond opens the panel.)
HAMMOND
Done.
NOVAK
You want the blue one. It should be
located at the centre of the panel.
(We see Hammond’s view of the panel - his vision is already blurry.
He sees the blue crystal and takes it out.)
HAMMOND
Got it.
NOVAK
One panel up, you should find a clear
one.
(Hammond opens the panel but, unlike the previous one, this one
is not illuminated and the colours of the crystals are obscured
by the dimness of the light.)
HAMMOND
It’s hard to tell. The light in here’s
... (He trails off. On the al’kesh,
Reynolds looks at his watch anxiously.
On the cargo ship, Hammond takes a crystal
out of the panel.) Something’s ... (He
trails off again, and falls to the floor.)
NOVAK
General, can you hear me?
REYNOLDS
It’s only been two minutes.
NOVAK
There was a firefight on board. If the
life support is not cycling the air
... (She trails off as she realises
something.)
REYNOLDS
What?
NOVAK
Staff blasts give off carbon dioxide.
In a small enclosed space ...
(Walter turns and runs for the ring room.)
CARGO SHIP. Hammond stumbles into the ring room. On the verge
of collapse, he tosses the crystals into the ring circle before
passing out. The rings activate and the crystals are whisked
away, but in their place is Colonel Reynolds. He grabs Hammond
and starts to drag him into the ring circle.
AL’KESH RING ROOM. Walter runs into the circle, grabs the crystals
and hurries out of the circle again, handing the crystals to
Novak. A technician activates the rings, and Reynolds and Hammond
are transported back in. Hammond is lying on the ground, unconscious.
REYNOLDS
General. General. Sir! (He unzips Hammond’s
jacket and puts his ear down on the
general’s chest.)
HARRIMAN
Is he breathing?
(Reynolds looks up at him, unsure.)
NOVAK
He may need mouth-to-mouth.
(Reynolds stares at her in horror. She gives him a “get on with
it!” look. Reynolds tilts Hammond’s head into the correct position,
then pinches his nose. Just as he is reluctantly lowering his
face down towards Hammond, Hammond takes a breath, then starts
to cough.)
REYNOLDS
Oh, excellent waking up, sir! Good job
on the crystals, too.
(Hammond reaches up, grabs Reynolds by the shoulder and drags
him down so he can speak weakly in his ear.)
HAMMOND
Get the ship moving.
NOVAK
What did he say?
REYNOLDS
He said, “Get the ship moving.”
(Novak hiccups, then she and Walter hurry away as Reynolds helps
Hammond to his feet.)
REYNOLDS
C’mon, General, let’s get you up.
PROMETHEUS. Vala is in a compartment of the engine room studying
a bank of crystals. After some thought, she pulls one out and
the bank makes a noise. She leaves the compartment.
ENGINE ROOM. A screen shows the message, “Hyperdrive course -
plotting.” Vala turns away from the screen.
VALA
Much better.
(As she walks past the doorway we see that Daniel is there, holding
a zat gun on her.)
DANIEL
Lose the weapon - move away from the
console.
VALA
I liked you better tied up.
DANIEL
Against the wall. Lose the weapon.
(Vala takes off the super-soldier weapon from her left hand.)
VALA
This suit will still absorb zat blasts.
DANIEL
What about your head?
(Vala walks over to the wall, then turns and holds her arms wide.)
VALA
So, you should probably make me take
it off.
DANIEL
I think we’ll turn the ship around first.
VALA
I dunno. If I had me at gunpoint, that
wouldn’t be my first choice.
DANIEL
Yeah, well. (He walks over to a console
and types. The console beeps in a negative
sort of way. He turns to Vala.) What’s
goin’ on?
VALA
I rewrote the access codes so I’m the
only one who can use the navigation
systems.
DANIEL
Undo it.
VALA
Listen - hundreds of lives are at stake.
I’m trying to save the last of my people
and this ship is their only hope.
DANIEL
Maybe if you’d mentioned that off the
top.
VALA
Would you really have helped?
DANIEL
Look, as I was saying before I was so
rudely interrupted, we were also on
a rescue mission.
(The console beeps warningly. Daniel looks at the screen.)
VALA
What is it?
DANIEL
A ship just appeared on our radar. It’s
an al’kesh.
VALA
This quadrant is crawling with Goa’uld
vessels. Chances are it’s not your friends.
I made sure that ship was fully disabled
when you showed up.
DANIEL
We’ll see.
VALA
We have to raise shields and arm weapons.
DANIEL
I’m gonna try and hail them first.
(As he walks towards another console, Vala kicks the zat gun
out of his hand, then punches him hard in the face. Daniel puts
his hand to his face as Vala stands ready, her fists held up
in front of her. She tries to punch him again but he blocks her
and punches her on the nose. She puts both her hands to her nose,
doubling up with the pain.)
VALA
Oh! Oh! Oh! You hit me!
(Daniel rolls his eyes and bends down towards her.)
DANIEL
You hit me!
VALA
Yeah. You know, we could just have sex
instead.
(Without warning, she punches him again, then kicks him hard
in the stomach, sending him flying across the room. She runs
across to him, sits on top of him and grabs him by the ears,
hauling him to his feet. He cries out, trying to pull her hands
off his ears but eventually resorts to grabbing her hair and
pulling on it. He manages to push her against a wall. She finally
lets go and ducks down out of his grasp just as he swings a punch
at her, which smashes through an electrical panel on the wall.
Sparks fly and Daniel grasps his fist in pain. Vala, crouched
on the floor in front of him, grabs a small fire extinguisher
and slams it up into his groin. Daniel freezes, grunting in agony.
Vala punches him back against a console, then punches him again,
sending him flying backwards over the console.)
AL’KESH BRIDGE. Hammond comes onto the Bridge to talk to Reynolds
and Novak.
REYNOLDS
Feeling better, sir?
HAMMOND
Yes, thank you.
REYNOLDS
We just caught up with Prometheus.
HAMMOND
Nice work!
REYNOLDS
It was all Novak, sir.
(Novak smiles proudly, then hiccups.)
HARRIMAN
They’re not responding to our hails,
sir.
PROMETHEUS ENGINE ROOM. Daniel crawls round the side of the console.
Vala, who was standing on top of the console, jumps down in front
of him. He turns and crawls in the opposite direction. Vala jumps
onto his back, wrapping her thighs around his neck. Daniel manages
to get to his feet and stumbles backwards. Vala grabs onto a
strut on the ceiling and continues squeezing her thighs around
his neck. Daniel manages to force her legs apart and get out
of her grip, then turns towards her. Still hanging onto the strut,
she kicks him hard and he falls on his back. She drops to the
floor and jumps on top of him, her knees either side of his waist,
and leans forward.
VALA
Are we done?
DANIEL
I am!
(Vala grabs his head and hauls him up into a sitting position,
strokes his cheek gently, then kisses him passionately. Daniel
pushes her away.)
DANIEL
You’re a fruitcake!
(Vala headbutts him savagely. Daniel’s eyes cross and he slumps
back to the floor. Vala gets off him and goes over to the console
and starts typing. A few seconds later a zat blast hits her and
she falls to her knees, turning to look at Daniel, who is up
on his knees aiming the zat at her. She collapses unconscious.
Daniel deactivates the zat and tries to catch his breath.)
AL’KESH BRIDGE. The crew are looking out of the window at Prometheus.
HAMMOND
Weapons?
HARRIMAN
Online. We are in range.
HAMMOND
Target the rear thrusters. Take out
her sublight capability.
(A hyperspace window opens in front of Prometheus and she flies
into it, disappearing from view.)
REYNOLDS
She just jumped into hyperspace.
PROMETHEUS. BRIG. Vala regains consciousness lying on the floor
of a small room with little in it except a toilet. She sits up.
VALA
Ow! (She looks down and realises that
she’s now dressed in a jumpsuit. She
looks around her prison.) Oh, that’s
just great!
(On the Bridge, Daniel is watching her on the screen as she clambers
to her feet.)
DANIEL
I see you!
(Vala looks around the cell and sees the camera in the corner.
She walks towards it. Daniel waves at her image.)
VALA
Did you have fun taking off my clothes?
DANIEL
It was your idea.
VALA
No, I meant when I was conscious - you
know, so I could distract you and kick
you in the head.
DANIEL
I kept my eyes closed the whole time.
VALA
I’m sure you did. (She squats down for
a moment, still feeling the after-effects
of the zat blast. Daniel reaches out
towards the screen and pinches his finger
and thumb repeatedly over the image
of her head, continuing to follow her
head on the screen as she stands up
again.)
DANIEL
So, where we goin’?
VALA
I told you - to save my people. Can
you please let me out of here?
DANIEL
Ohhhhhhhhhhh, no.
(Vala wearily sits down on the toilet.)
VALA
Y’know, I haven’t eaten in days.
(Daniel rolls his eyes.)
DANIEL
Could you please tell me how to access
the navigation controls?
VALA
It isn’t very nice, you know, starving
a prisoner to death. Come on, Daniel,
you’ve seen me naked. The least you
could do is cook me dinner.
(Daniel takes his glasses off, sighs, and rolls his eyes again.)
PROMETHEUS COMMISSARY. Vala is sitting at one end of a long table
with various items of food in front of her. Daniel is sitting
at the other end holding the zat gun on her.
VALA
Aren’t you hungry? (She tosses an apple
towards him. He doesn’t try to catch
it, and it hits the table and then rolls
off onto the floor.)
DANIEL
No.
VALA
Thank you. You know the Tok’Ra?
DANIEL
Yep.
VALA
Ten years ago, a Tok’Ra incited a rebellion
on my planet. When people rose up against
the ruling Goa’uld, and once the Jaffa
had been overcome, the Goa’uld was captured
alive, tortured, and beaten for days
on end. I was host to that Goa’uld at
the time. The people didn’t understand
that it was the symbiont that had ruled
over them so harshly. I guess the Tok’Ra
felt responsible. He rescued me, removed
the Goa’uld symbiont, nursed me back
to health.
DANIEL
You said your people are in trouble
now.
VALA
Well, it was only a matter of time before
the forces of another Goa’uld showed
up - a System Lord named Camulus. (Daniel
nods.) That’s when the Tok’Ra disappeared.
People still refused to surrender; Camulus
ordered that they be wiped out. We controlled
several ships: troop transports, cargo
ships, al’kesh. Many people were saved,
flown to an inhabitable nearby moon
in the system. The ships made several
trips before most of them were intercepted
and shot down. Camulus never knew there
were any survivors, so we were safe.
Only problem was, the moon didn’t have
a Stargate.
DANIEL
So you were trapped.
VALA
We only had a few ships left - not enough
to relocate everyone again. It wasn’t
a problem: Camulus seemed to have little
interest in the other planets in the
system. He left behind a small force
to guard the Stargate. We used the ships
to keep appraised of what was happening
and to steal supplies and technology
wherever we could.
DANIEL
You know that Camulus is gone now? He
was beaten by Ba’al.
VALA
And Ba’al’s forces are searching every
inhabitable world in Camulus’ territory.
His ships are everywhere. It’s only
a matter of time before my people are
found.
DANIEL
So you got desperate and tried to steal
that al’kesh.
VALA
It was damaged in the firefight. I was
hoping one of my ships would answer
my distress call. I’m sure you can imagine
how lucky I felt when this ship showed
up - it’s big enough to rescue all my
people and take them to a world far
away, free from the Goa’uld.
BRIG. Daniel has escorted Vala back to the cell. She walks inside.
VALA
You don’t have to lock me up.
DANIEL
Uh, I think I do.
VALA
What difference is it going to make?
This ship is automatically flying to
my homeworld. You can’t stop it.
DANIEL
Well, when I get to your planet I’ll
just explain the situation to your people
and maybe there’s something we can work
out.
VALA
My people - they’re not gonna trust
you. You have to let me talk to them.
DANIEL
No. (He closes the door and walks away.)
VALA
Daniel! (She turns away from the door.)
This is bad.
LATER. Prometheus comes out of hyperspace and flies past a large
planet towards a smaller one. On the Bridge, Daniel sits down
in the commander’s chair.
TENNET
Vala, this is Tennet. We have you on
our scanners.
(Daniel activates comms.)
DANIEL
Uh, yeah. Hi!
TENNET
Where is Vala?
DANIEL
She’s here; she’s just ... indisposed
at the moment.
TENNET
She did not mention she was working
with someone.
DANIEL
No, I guess not. Look, I realise I owe
you an explanation. It’s a bit of a
long story, really.
TENNET
We will hear it in person and inspect
your vessel.
DANIEL
That’s good, ‘cos apparently we’re coming
in for a landing.
TENNET
We will meet you at the designated co-ordinates.
DANIEL
Okey-dokey. See ya there.
PLANET’S SURFACE. Prometheus lands. Two people are waiting for
it, but we don’t yet see what they look like. Once the ship is
down, the people pick up a large crate and walk towards her.
BRIG. Vala is trying to hotwire the door. As she connects two
wires they spark and electrocute her. She cries out in pain and
storms away from the door, realising that she’s not going to
get out.
VALA
OK. (She walks to the camera and addresses
it.) You want the truth? I’ll tell you
the truth. Daniel, are you there? (We
see the Bridge - the commander’s seat
is empty.) I hope you can hear me. The
planet we just landed on is not my homeworld.
Whatever you do, you must not go out
there.
(On the Bridge, we see another camera screen. It shows Daniel
walking out to meet the two people.)
PLANET SURFACE. Daniel, dressed in some of the super-soldier’s
armour and holding a zat gun, approaches the two people.
DANIEL
Hi, guys!
(For the first time we see the two people. They’re not human,
and have long tentacles coming from the back of their heads.)
TENNET
Who are you?
DANIEL
Uh, the name’s Olo. Hans Olo.
TENNET
Where is Vala?
DANIEL
She’s inside.
TENNET
We will only do business with Vala.
DANIEL
“Business”. Yeah. That figures. Not
that I’m surprised or anything. I don’t
look surprised to you, do I?
TENNET
What?
DANIEL
It’s just I was expecting some refugees
in need of transport to another planet
- human sort of refugees. Not that there’s
anything wrong with you guys that I
know of.
SECOND ALIEN
We have the naqahdah.
(Tennet opens the lid of the crate to show Daniel its contents.)
TENNET
Refined weapons grade.
DANIEL
Ooh, that’s nice!
TENNET
This was the price we agreed upon. This
ship is impressive in size but we cannot
...
DANIEL
OK, you know what? Seriously, there’s
been a big misunderstanding. I don’t
care what you’ve got - I’m not gonna
sell you the ship, so ... (The aliens
draw their weapons. Daniel raises his
zat gun.) OK, you know what? That is
not necessary.
TENNET
We had a deal! We must have this ship!
(Just then, two gliders soar over Prometheus, firing at the ship.)
TENNET
Goa’uld gliders! (To Daniel) Fool! You
were followed!
DANIEL
Of course we were! (To the aliens) OK,
you know what? I’d love to stay and
chat but ...
(He fires at the second alien, who goes down. Tennet fires at
Daniel but his armour absorbs the blast. Daniel zats Tennet,
then runs back towards the ship.)
INSIDE. Daniel runs towards the Bridge as the ship takes heavy
fire. Panels are sparking everywhere. He reaches the Bridge and
jumps into the pilot’s seat. On the camera feed from the brig,
Vala walks over to the camera.
VALA
Daniel? What’s going on?
DANIEL
We’re being attacked by gliders. Tell
me how to access the ship’s systems.
VALA
Let me out and I’ll help you.
DANIEL
You’ve gotta be kidding me!
(Vala shrugs dramatically.)
BRIG. Daniel opens the door to the cell. Vala has a huge grin
on her face. He lets her out of the door, holding a zat on her.
DANIEL
Let’s go. No funny stuff.
VALA
What did you do with my buyers?
DANIEL
Oh, we’ll talk about that later.
VALA
And the naqahdah?
(When Daniel doesn’t reply, she stops walking.)
DANIEL
Move!
VALA
Do you have any idea what that is worth?
(Daniel hoists her over his shoulder
in a fireman’s lift and starts to run
towards the Bridge.) Oh, watch out!
Argh!
BRIDGE. Daniel runs in, puts Vala down and runs for the weapons
console as she runs to the pilot’s seat and activates some controls.
VALA
Alright, raise our shields.
(Prometheus takes off, still being fired on by the gliders, although
their attack is now being held off by the shields.)
DANIEL
What are you waiting for? Let’s go into
hyperspace.
VALA
I can’t - it’s not working. We’ve already
taken too much hull damage. We have
incoming - al’kesh. Arm weapons.
(Prometheus heads into space, still pursued and being fired on
by the gliders. More gliders join the attack. Two al’kesh also
fly around the ship.)
VALA
Shields are failing.
“Tracking ... target locked.” Prometheus
begins firing, taking out one of the
gliders. However, weapons impacts on
Prometheus begin to have an effect again.
Panels blow out all around the Bridge.)
VALA
Aft shields are down. We are almost
out of weapons.
(As one of the al’kesh flies towards Prometheus, it is blasted
out of the sky.)
VALA
What just happened?
DANIEL
An al’kesh just took out one of its
own.
HAMMOND’S AL’KESH.
HAMMOND
Nice work, Sergeant. Target the second
al’kesh. Fire at will.
HARRIMAN
Roger that, sir.
(Hammond’s al’kesh pursues the other one and blasts it to bits.)
PROMETHEUS BRIDGE.
HAMMOND
Doctor Jackson? This is General Hammond.
Do you copy?
(Daniel, picking up his zat gun, runs over to the central chair
beside Vala and activates the comms.)
DANIEL
General! It’s me! Good to hear your
voice, sir.
HAMMOND
Likewise. You alright, son?
(Daniel looks across to Vala.)
DANIEL
We’re fine, sir.
HAMMOND
Are we clear to ring aboard?
DANIEL
Stand by. (He deactivates comms and
turns to Vala.) Unlock the system. (Vala
hesitates.) Those gliders likely retreated
to a nearby mothership. We have to get
out of here now. Unlock the system.
(Vala nods, activates some controls, then nods to Daniel, who
activates the comms again.)
DANIEL
You’re all clear, sir. (He sinks back
in the chair.)
VALA
What’re you gonna do with me?
DANIEL
I’m not sure.
VALA
Look, Daniel, whatever happens, I just
want you to know ...
(Daniel turns to her and zats her into unconsciousness.)
LATER. The al’kesh is preceding Prometheus as they head slowly
towards home. Inside Prometheus, Hammond and Daniel are walking
along a corridor, following by Novak.
NOVAK
We managed to get the shields and hyperdrive
back online. However, there was significant
hull damage. I wouldn’t recommend a
long journey in hyperspace.
HAMMOND
I’m afraid we have no choice but to
return to Earth.
DANIEL
How long before the ship’s ready to
go again?
NOVAK
Hard to say.
HAMMOND
It’s good work, Doctor, both here and
on the al’kesh.
NOVAK
Thank you, sir! (She starts to walk
away.)
DANIEL
Hey! (Novak turns back to face him.)
Hiccups are gone, huh?
(Novak stares in amazement, realising it for the first time.)
NOVAK
I didn’t even notice! I guess I was
having too much fun!
HARRIMAN
Security team to level four. The prisoner
has escaped.
DANIEL
Ring room!
(He and Hammond hurry away. Novak looks nervous for a few moments,
then realises that her fear hasn’t brought her hiccups back again.)
NOVAK
Wow!
BRIDGE. Hammond walks over to Walter.
HAMMOND
Status?
HARRIMAN
Security Team One unresponsive. The
rings on level four just activated,
sir.
(Near the level four ring room, security guards are lying unconscious
on the ground. The ring transporter can be heard activating in
the background. Daniel comes along the corridor, walks into the
ring room and finds several unconscious crewmembers lying inside
the ring circle. He picks up a radio and speaks into it.)
DANIEL
General Hammond? SG-3 was just transported
here. She’s on the al’kesh.
(Seen from the Bridge’s front windscreen, the al’kesh starts
to fly away from Prometheus.)
HAMMOND
Lock weapons on its engines.
HARRIMAN
Aft thruster is targeted.
(Daniel runs onto the Bridge.)
HARRIMAN
Target is ...
(Just then, the al’kesh goes into hyperspace.)
HARRIMAN
It’s gone, sir.
HAMMOND
Can we track it?
HARRIMAN
No, sir. Our long range scanners are
being scrambled.
(Daniel gazes out the windscreen.)
DANIEL
She’s good.
THE END
|
