05x15 - Remnants

[bunniefuu]

I find it sad.

What?
What are you
talking about?

Mr. Woolsey.

He seems lonely.
McKAY: He does?

TEYLA: He
never takes part in any of
the city's social activities.

McKAY: Please. I mean...

He always eats alone,

either
in his office
or in his quarters.

Maybe he
has work to do, you know?
Some of us are busy people.

Sometimes,
when I walk by
his quarters at night,

I hear him crying.

What?

Really?
No.

(RONON CHUCKLES)

Mr. Woolsey, would
you care to join us?

(CLEARS THROAT)

Well, thank you,

but I'll be
taking breakfast
in my quarters today.

I still have some
final preparations

for my impending
performance evaluation.

I'm a little apprehensive.

You shouldn't be.

You've
done a wonderful job
as our new commander.

Well,
let's hope
the IOA agrees.

There you go.
He prefers to
be on his own.

Speaking of which,
where's Sheppard?

He flew some astrobiologists
to the mainland this morning.

And volunteered to
stay with them
overnight,

He did?
Why would he do that?

KIANG: This planet's
sun is a class-G star.

That fact, coupled with its
Earth-like atmospheric
composition,

results in the
predominance of green,
photosynthetic organisms.

Hmm.

Chlorophyll, of course,
mostly absorbs the sun's
blue and red wavelengths,

reflecting green ones.

"But hang on a minute,'
you're probably thinking.

"That's strange.

"Why doesn't chlorophyll
absorb green light?"

Yeah. Weird.
Well, why doesn't it?

KIANG: Well, the answer
lies not so much in the...
MAN: Oh, my God!

Wait here.

What happened?

Look at this.

Huh? It's a plant not unlike
the begonia eiromischa.

Oh, God,
Lorne warned
me about this.

You don't understand.
The woolly-stalked
begonia

went officially extinct
back on Earth in 2007.

And yet here we are,

standing over a species
that's shockingly similar...

I'm going
to go back to the Jumper
and set up for the night.

And it's thriving
in a climate that is...

Want to join me?

It's a very
unusual find.

Right.

Well, knock yourself out.
That's what we're here for.

Take your time.
We're here all night.

(LEAVES RUSTLING)

(NEARBY RUSTLING)

(GRUNTS)

CONRAD: Can I give
you a hand with that?

Actually,
if you wouldn't mind...

Hello.
Hi.

Where are you headed?

Back to my quarters.

The southeast pier.
Level 19.

Penthouse suite. Nice.

Have we met?

Not yet.
I'm Vanessa Conrad.

Dr. Vanessa Conrad.

Richard Woolsey.

I just recently
arrived on the
Apollo.

Welcome to Atlantis.
Thank you.

It's beautiful and huge.

It's probably
going to be weeks
before I know my way around.

Well, I'm sure

the g*ng at orientation
will help you settle in.

I'm sorry.
I'm keeping you.
Southeast pier, Level 19.

No, not at all.
I have all the
time in the...

This is you, I believe.
Right.

Well, nice to
meet you, Doctor.

Vanessa. You can
call me Vanessa.

Very well.
Nice to meet
you, Vanessa.

Thank you, Mr. Woolsey.
Actually, you can call me...

d*ck.

Crap.

Hey. What happened
to your offworld
foofaraw?

I thought you were
the guest of honor

at some
big diplomatic
dinner on M2J?

Yeah, I was, but
the festivities
ended early

when three members of
Lieutenant Donovan's team

suffered a severe
allergic reaction

to something
that we were served
at the grand banquet.

Come to think of it,
I think it might
have been

those little green berries
with the purple specks
on them,

because my tongue did feel
a little bit numb afterwards.

Yeah. FYI,
this conversation
ended six seconds ago.

Anyway, on the way back,
I had an idea.

Have a little lie-down.
It'll pass.

No,
you should hear me out.

I think we should run
a scan of the ocean floor.

I've been
noticing anomalous
temperature variations

in the waters
surrounding the city.

I think it bears
further investigation.

Not really.

We head through
the gate every day
exploring distant worlds,

and yet, with the exception
of a few marine biology tests,

we have barely scratched
the surface of the very
planet that we occupy.

That's ‘cause
there's nothing there.

My point is,
is it wouldn't
hurt to be thorough.

My point is
your point is pointless
and a giant waste of time.

(GROANS)

Damn it.

Xiao, welcome.

Atlantis welcomes you.

It is with
great pride that I...

Hello, Richard.
Xiao.

Welcome to Atlantis,

with great pride.

I'm looking forward
to the grand tour.

Well, then, shall we?

Yes.

(LEAVES RUSTLING)

This is the Control Room.

For all
intents and purposes,
the city's nerve center.

These technicians
are the very best
at what they do.

How's the kickboxing going,
Amelia?

Great, sir.
Thanks for asking.

Hello there, Chet.
It's Chuck.

Excuse me?

It's Chuck, sir.
My name is Chuck.

Of course. Chuck.
Chet's on the
late shift.

There is no Chet.

(STUTTERING) I think
it would be a simple matter

of reconfiguring the city's
short-range sensors in
order to achieve...

You know, I can see your
lips moving, but I'm not
hearing any sound.

It would take
less than an hour

to make the
necessary adjustments
that we would have to do.

All right, you know what?
If it is so simple and so
important to you,

why don't
you just go ahead
and do it yourself?

Because I require
your authorization.
You got it.

Thank you, Rodney.

Whoa!

You realize it's highly
unlikely you're actually
going to find anything.

Well, then I would have
wasted an hour of my time,

and you'll be
able to tell me,
"I told you so."

If, on the other hand,
I do find something,

perhaps they'll name
something after me
for a change.

Whoa.

The prospect of commanding
the Atlantis expedition
was a daunting one.

Mmm-hmm.
Dr. Weir and Colonel Carter

were incredibly
tough acts to follow.

Yet you availed
yourself nicely,
Richard,

and you survived
your nine months here.

Well, I like to think
I've accomplished

a little more
than mere survival,

and I'm certain that once
you've had a chance to
review my report...

That won't be necessary.

So I'm receiving my
graduation papers?

Of course.

In recognition
of the great job
you've done here,

the IOA is appointing
you as chair of Earth's
new environmental initiative.

Congratulations, Richard.

You're coming home.

All right, short-range
sensors are good to go.

Start the sweep.

Sweep initiated.

Great. So it should
take about 30 minutes
to scan the entire planet,

which means
I've got plenty of time
to get down to the cafeteria

and get myself some of that
fine almond biscotti and
a Yoo-hoo,

and be back in time
for you to tell me
you have found nothing.

(COMPUTER BEEPING)
We found something.

Yes, of course we did.

Whatever it is,
it's sitting approximately
1,500 feet below sea level.

Hello, John.

Kolya?

I don't understand
your reaction.

Nine months ago, you were
dreading coming over here.

A lot has changed
in nine months.

I like it here,

and quite frankly,
I don't like the idea
of leaving a job unfinished.

I've done good work.

My record speaks for itself.

What's really going on?

The IOA is
concerned about some of
the decisions you've made,

decisions that have
run counter to protocol

and, quite frankly,
common sense.

They... We feel that
the demands of this
position

have
compromised your judgment,
and it's time for a change.

McKAY: Right here.

That'll do.

I wonder how long
it's been down there.

To think it would have
remained undiscovered
if we hadn't have...

Nice job
on reconfiguring
the short-range sensors.

Thank you.

Nice job on
the wild guess.

Thank you.

Shall we?
Yes.

Keep looking. There's
nowhere for them to go.

They're scientists.

Trust me,
they don't
run very fast.

You're awake.

Save your energy. You're
not getting away this time.

I k*lled you.

You sh*t me.
There's a difference.

No. I k*lled you.

Beckett confirmed it.
You were dead.

Yeah,
I'm sure that's
what he thought.

Let's just
say your friend...
What was his name? Lucius?

He wasn't the only one using
Ancient technology that day.

How did you get here?

How did you find us?

Turns out some of your
offworld contacts aren't
as trustworthy as you think.

Your secret's out, Sheppard.

A half day's walk in
that direction will bring us
to the edge of the mainland.

I figure it'll
take us maybe two days
to reach Atlantis by boat.

Before you even get
to the city, they're going
to blow you out of the water.

No. They won't
even see us coming.

They'll be too busy
counting their dead.

What are you going to do?

Send an
expl*sive through your gate,
cr*pple the city's defenses.

But for that,
I'm going to need
something from you.

I think you call it
an IDC.

Go to hell.
Yeah,

I thought you would
need some convincing.

(DOOR BEEPS)

Dr. Conrad.
Vanessa. Come in.

I hope I'm not intruding.

Not at all.
What brings you by?

This may be
wholly inappropriate,

but I was wondering
whether you'd like
to catch a movie.

A movie?

They're screening two
of my favorites tonight.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles
and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Truth be told,
I'm having a horrible day,

and I'm
not in much of
a laughing mood.

Then we can wait
until tomorrow,

when they'll be screening
Mad Moneyand Kangaroo Jack.

Is it something you'd
like to talk about?

It seems the time
for talk has passed.

I've just been informed
that I'm being relieved of
my command here on Atlantis.

I'm sorry. Why?

Apparently,
I'm not very good at
toeing the company line.

I assumed
I got this position on
the strength of my record,

but now it's clear that the
only reason they appointed me

is because they expected
I would just roll over
for them.

Then don't.
What?

Don't roll over for them.

Fight this.
I can't.

The decision's been made.

If that was true,
then why didn't they
just forward you a communique

instead of sending
a mouthpiece on a three-week
journey to the Pegasus Galaxy?

Did you really expect me
to just give up without
a fight?

Honestly? Yes.

I assumed you'd let
common sense guide
you on this one.

You weren't sent
here to fire me.

You were sent here to
evaluate my performance

and make
a recommendation
based on your findings.

The IOA may be
leaning a certain way,

but they
have yet to make
a decision on my fate.

Yet you,
their representative,

clearly have,

which leads me to assume
something else is going
on here.

Someone in the IOA
wants me gone and is using
you to make sure that happens.

Tell me, Xiao, what are you
getting in return?

Oh.

It's my job, isn't it?

They've promised you
the Atlantis command if
you help them get rid of me.

This will all go a lot easier
if you just accept where this
is going...

The hell I will.

Richard,
I hold all the cards.
The decision is in my hands.

This is a fight
you cannot win.

You can tolerate more
than any man I've
ever known.

Now, why is that?

Well, I was married once.

(CHUCKLES)

You're here in
the Pegasus Galaxy
to protect your people,

but half the time
you can't even do that.

That's what drives you,
isn't it?

Your past failures.

Do you think by not giving me
the IDC, you're keeping
your people safe?

You're just putting off
the inevitable.

It's over.
You can't protect them.

You, those scientists,

your friends
back at Atlantis,
they're as good as dead.

Well, I see that asking
nice isn't working.

I'm going to have
to make other plans.

Two men report
to my position.

MAN: On our way.

In a couple of minutes,

you're going to wish
you'd given me that IDC.

What are you working on?

According to this,
the device is emitting
a low-level energy signature

in an oscillating pattern.

Is it dangerous?

No, radiation's
minimal, but...

Unimportant. We should
be focusing on the data.

I was.

Like, I've run every kind of
decrypt sweep I can think of
at this thing.

Still nothing.
I don't know
what to do.

You'll think of something.
Really?

What makes you so sure?

Because you're brilliant.

That's true.
Doesn't mean
I'm going to...

Wait a minute.
What did you say?

Why did you say that?
What are you, sick?

Am I sick?
What've you heard?

No, nobody's sick, Rodney.

I said you're brilliant,
because...

Because you are.
Hmm.

I rarely say it, because
you're a difficult man
to compliment.

You're egotistical.
You're arrogant.

You're stubborn...
And brilliant.

Yes, Rodney, and brilliant.

Thanks. Well,
pull up a chair, Radek.
We've got some work to do.

All right.

Tell me what plan Bis,
or are you just going
to surprise me?

I'm going to have my men
repair the damage they
did to your Puddle Jumper,

then use it to
att*ck the city.

Well, I hate
to be Mr. Negative,
but I can think of

at least one problem
you're going to run into.

Yes, I know
all about the Ancient gene
needed to operate the Jumper,

but that's not going to be
a problem because you're
going to give us a hand.

Hold him.

Last chance, Johnny boy.

You going to
give me that IDC?

Didn't think so.

You're an interesting man,
Sheppard.

You travel to another galaxy,

risk your life
defending a bunch of
people you don't even know.

If you ask me, you're
either someone with
a death wish,

or someone running
away from something.

So tell me,
what are you
running away from?

Where have you been?
All over.

The electromagnetic radiation
this device is giving off

covers the entire city
and well beyond.

I thought you said
it wasn't dangerous.
Well, it's not.

I mean, at least,
according to this,

it's operating at
a relatively low
frequency.

I think, at worst, some people
may experience headaches or
trouble sleeping.

Well, then we'll shut
it off before bedtime.

In the meantime, you should
be focusing on the data.

I'm not getting
anywhere with that,

I mean, despite
the fact that I
am a genius.

I said you were brilliant.
I didn't say you were
a genius.

Same diff.
I don't get it.

You know,
this script appears to
be a lot less complicated

than many
we've encountered.
It's only 12 symbols

in an
endlessly repeating
yet varying sequence.

Yeah, I agree.

It's very curious.
It's like being asked

to figure out the password
for an alien laptop or
something.

I think that if we...
What?

What are you doing?

I'm figuring out
the alien's password.

Rodney, I was kidding.
No, it makes sense.

I mean, every kid with
a computer password-protects.

Why wouldn't an alien?

There.

Why didn't I see that before?
What?

The pattern
isn't in the text.

It's in the space between
the text, each exactly 12
symbols in length.

Each section of text
is a multiple of 12,
24,48, 96,

separated by
a 12-symbol space.

Look,
it's a puzzle.
It's a prompt.

What are you doing?

I'm running pattern
recognition software
on the 12-symbol sequence.

Hopefully, I can come up
with a 12-symbol permutation

that I can feed directly
back into the device,

and if 'm right...

If we're right,
we unlock the
alien laptop.

You poached
my private spot.

What?

What I meant to say
is you discovered my
little personal area.

Uh...

This is where I come to
be alone with my thoughts.

Do you mind sharing it?

Not at all.

It's beautiful.

I wish I could
stay here forever.

By the way,
I wanted to thank
you for earlier today.

I took your advice.

Are they backing down?

Unlikely.
But at the very least,

I have the satisfaction of
knowing I went out swinging.

You're a good man, Richard.

I really wish
they could see that.

Vanessa, would you like
to have dinner with me
tonight?

It would be my pleasure.

Wonderful.

What time should
I swing by to
pick you up?

It might be easier
if we just met up.

Mr. Woolsey,
you're off radio.

Dr. McKay needs to
see you right away.

That is the historical,

scientific and technological
records of an extinct
civilization,

and if this device
is any indication,

a highly advanced
one at that.

Medical breakthroughs,
specifications for
advanced weaponry...

This is incredible.
It is.

I sense a "but.

No, no, no.
No, no, no.
No "buts."

A "By the way," maybe.

I'm listening.

It's like I said, the device
contains the records for a
long-dead civilization,

but it also contains
the chemical building blocks
for a silicon-based life form.

What does that mean?

This device was designed
to seed planets with
organisms that

would, in time, evolve
into a sentient race.

Once that sentient race
reached a certain level
of intellectual maturity,

they could then benefit from
the information left for them

by their extinct ancestors.

So what happened?
I'm not sure.

I mean,
obviously, they didn't
complete their journey.

I mean,
they ended
up here instead.

Still,
with the help of the
Daedalus,we could ensure

that it finally reached
its target destination.

Okay, let's copy the data,
and then send it on its way.

Which is where the
"Oh, by the way" comes in.

Look, this device is
set up in such a way

that accessing the data
would do irreparable damage

to the biological samples.

In other words,
it's either/or?

Either we take the data,
or we send it on its way.

We can't do both.

You disappoint me, John.

I didn't think you'd
be this easy to break.

Even those two scientists you
came with put up
more of a fight

before we k*lled them.

Just another two
you couldn't save.

We're done.

It's operational?
Yes,

we used the genetic
material to initiate it.

You hear that, Sheppard?
We've got the Jumper.

Sir, we can come back and deal
with him once we're done
with Atlantis.

No.
We deal with him now.
Find him and k*ll him.

Hello, Ellen. Hello, you.

Amelia, could you please do me
a favor and pass on a message
to Dr. Vanessa Conrad?

She's in one of the
science departments.

Please tell her that,
given Dr. McKay's
recent findings,

we may
have to reschedule
our dinner tonight.

Dr. Conrad?
Are you sure, sir?

Better yet,
why don't you just tell
me where her quarters are?

I suppose it's only proper
that I tell her personally.

There's nothing here, sir.

She hasn't been
assigned quarters yet?

No, sir, according to this,
there's no
Dr. Conrad on Atlantis.

(SHOUTS)

Amelia, the woman
I was talking to when you
approached me earlier today.

Sir?
On the balcony.

The woman I
was speaking with

when you delivered the
message from Dr. McKay.

She probably left
before I got there, sir.

When I approached
you on the balcony,
you were alone.

There's nothing
wrong with you.

What's going on?
I'll let you
know in a second.

I'm just looking
over your results.

She won't find anything.

According to this,
you're fine.

Perfectly normal.

See?
Then what is going on?

Why isn't
your name in
the database?

Why couldn't Amelia
see you earlier today?

I'm pretty sure
my name is in
the database.

And as for Amelia,
if she has a medical concern,

there's no reason
why she shouldn't
see me.

When did she come by?
She can't see me, Richard.

Only you can see me.

Why?

I'd like to clarify
the misunderstanding.

I don't
want her thinking
I turned her away.

Amelia's fine.
I'll talk to her.

Great.

Um, as for you,

you said you've
been feeling unwell?

Uh... That's right.

Tired?
Somewhat.

Any visual symptoms?
Shadows or flashes in
your field of vision?

Uh...

Sort of. Yes.

What about
auditory symptoms?

Occasional ringing or
buzzing or whistling?

We need to talk.

Yes. The occasional buzzing.

Somewhere private.

There it goes again.

I bet you haven't been
sleeping very well,

what with this whole
probationary review.

Of course.
That's it exactly.

You're obviously
under a lot of stress,

and sometimes
anxiety can manifest
itself in a variety of ways,

but these are
going to help you relax
and sleep through the night.

And hopefully, once you're
well-rested, you'll be
feeling much better,

and your symptoms
will disappear.

But if they don't,
come back and see me.

Okay?

Thank you, Doctor.

I wouldn't
advise taking those.

How long have you
been standing there?

Sorry. I just
didn't want to disturb you.
You seemed deep in thought.

I'm always deep in thought.
Keeps me sharp and sleepless.

So, what are you working on?

I'm just
analyzing
the readings

from the radiation
the device is emitting.

Jeez,
again with
the radiation.

Hey, I'm just k*lling time
till Woolsey gives us the
green light

to start data retrieval
on that thing.

You think he will?
Of course. This is huge.

The chronicled achievements
of an alien race, are you
kidding me?

Whoa! Wait a minute.

What?

The modulated,
ultra-low frequency
emanating from the device.

I've seen something
like this before.

Oh, no.

I'm sorry
I made you
doubt your sanity.

Who are you?
What are you?

I'm a physical manifestation

of your subconscious
romantic and sexual ideals.

Oh, God.

You're not crazy.
You're really
seeing me.

Why?

I'm sorry
I had to deceive you,

but the
survival of an entire
civilization is at stake.

This has something
to do with that device

Dr. McKay recovered,
doesn't it?

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

XIAO: Richard?

She can't see me.

(DOOR BEEPING)
(CLEARS THROAT)

Yes?

I thought I heard
you talking with
someone.

(CLEARS THROAT) No.

I was running through the pep
talk I'm going to be giving
the g*ng in microbiology.

Really?

You know, I saw you on the
balcony this afternoon
talking with yourself.

I occasionally do
verbalize my thoughts.

It helps me put
things in perspective.

A casual observer might find
that sort of behavior
a little disconcerting,

especially coming from
someone in your position

faced with a very
important decision.

Oh!

Another nail in my coffin?

Dr. McKay briefed me on
the device he recovered...

Yes, itis
an impressive find.

...that doesn't
belong to you.

Please sit down.

He tells me
you've delayed
giving the go-ahead

on the data retrieval.

I'm not sure
if Dr. McKay explained
the dilemma we're facing.

I can't even believe you're
considering letting this
slip away.

There are other
issues to consider.

Such as?
The fate of another race.

Will you stay out of this?

I will do no such thing.

Their civilization is dead.

Ours, on the other hand,
is very much alive,

and we could use
that information.

We'd be robbing a civilization
of the opportunity to rebuild
itself.

There's no guarantee
that a civilization
will evolve

from the seeding process.

The entire race could die out
before it even reached
sentient status.

And we would
be throwing away
an incredible opportunity.

Or consigning billions of
potential lives to oblivion.

I can't believe your
good fortune, Richard.

This is your opportunity
to show the team back home

that you can play ball.

Follow procedure
and save your job,

or you can hand it to me
on a silver platter.
Your choice.

How dare you thr*aten me?

It's not
a thr*at, Richard.

I'm simply telling you
how things are going
to play out

if we lose that device.

Richard, please. They were
a kind and peaceful race,
one well worth saving.

We need to get rid of it!

The energy signature
that device is giving off

is very similar to one
we encountered on M1B-129.

It can induce
mass hallucinations.

Or function as
a means of communication

between two very
different species.

Let's act quickly.

Salvage the data
and destroy the device.

Thank you all, both,
for enlightening me.

I'll make my
decision shortly.

Please.

Now,
why don't you tell
me what's going on?

This has gone
on long enough.

Use your other hand.

Go on.

I have
no intention of
letting you die.

Now, climb back up, John.

(GRUNTS)

That's it.

What the hell's
going on here?

Tens of thousands
of years ago,

a civilization
foresaw its end.

After millions of
years of evolution,

the race known as the
Sekkari faced extinction.

Knowing
they couldn't
save themselves,

they spent their
final days creating
the means to start over.

They built seed carriers,
each with a different
target world

programed into
its navigation
system,

worlds that would provide
them with the chemical
compounds necessary

to produce, sustain and
develop life.

Each seed carrier
also held a repository

containing the history
of the Sekkari people,

their struggles,
their achievements

and the mistakes
that ultimately led
to their own destruction.

The seed
carriers were outfitted
with subspace communicators

designed to alert the group
once a seeding was successful.

Over 50 were launched.
None achieved their goal.

This unit malfunctioned.
I guided it to the
nearest planet,

this world, in the hope that
it would prove suitable to
the life-forming process.

It wasn't.

This device
survived re-entry
relatively unscathed,

then spent
the next 2,000 years
at the ocean's bottom,

until recently,
when its dormant
systems were awakened

by its sensors picking up
trace readings from one of
your submerged Puddle Jumpers.

The one Dr. McKay flew up
out of the underwater bay
several weeks ago.

I scanned your city,
and I linked with you.

What are you?

I'm the seed carrier's
artificial intelligence.

My aim
was to study you,
to get to know you,

and eventually direct you
to help complete this
unit's assignment.

By manipulating me.
No.

By finding out what
kind of person you
were

in the hope that we
could place our
trust in you.

Couldn't you have
simply communicated
your situation to us

from the beginning?

Please understand,
I am the last hope
of the Sekkari people.

I couldn't risk it.
I'm sorry.

As a soldier,
you were a thr*at.

If anyone
was to use force to
secure the repository,

it would have been you,
the m*llitary man.

So I connected
with your mind
to distract you.

Distract me?

Making me
think the Jumper
had been sabotaged

would've
been enough
of a distraction.

You would have discovered
the subterfuge.

I'm unable to maintain
a static illusion
over time.

It was necessary to
keep your mind occupied.

And that's what you chose?
What you chose.

I didn't have full control
over your hallucination or
the direction it took.

It was your mind
driving the diversion.
I merely played along.

Are you saying I
tortured myself?

You t*rture yourself
every day, John.

But in this case, it was
your mind manifesting
your darkest fears.

You were the architect of
your own self-deception.

Now you know the truth
and have a decision to
make.

Colonel, where were you?

Do you know how long
we've been sitting
here...

Shut up.
Get in the Jumper.

WOMAN: Sorry to
disturb you, Ms. Shen,

but you've just received
a secure transmission
from Earth.

Can I patch it through?

Go ahead.

Luthor, how are things?

Well.

But I felt it
only fair to inform you
of recent developments here.

As much as I believe
you'd be a worthy candidate
to replace Richard Woolsey,

I'm afraid the rest of
the council feels otherwise.

It looks like we'll be going
with James Coolidge instead.

Coolidge?
Don't worry.

You'll still be rewarded
for facilitating the
transition.

Congratulations.

You'll be chairing the IOA's
new environmental initiative.

Well, I'm off.

I suppose I'll be
joining you shortly.

Don't make
any holiday plans.
You're not going anywhere.

I gave you
a glowing review.

And since
your future rests
entirely on my report,

I'd like
to be the first
to congratulate you

as the
new permanent commander
of the Atlantis expedition.

I don't understand.

Like you, Richard,
I'm nobody's puppet.

They should've thought of that
before delivering yesterday's
update.

Good luck.

Yesterday's update?

I don't know what
she's talking about, sir.

We haven't
had a scheduled
dial out in days.

Could I have
a moment alone, Amelia?

Yes, sir.

I assume that you're
responsible for that.

Consider it
a going-away present.

Thank you.

(CLANKING)

All righty.

McKAY: Here we are,
all fixed up and
ready to roll.

So what happens to you
when you reach your
final destination?

Destination?

You're talking to
the Al, aren't you?

I'll start the process
that will give life to
the Sekkari,

and then
I'll go to sleep until
a time when I'm needed again.

John,
I realize it may have
been an unpleasant experience.

Yeah, well,
just a little bit.

What, you can see her, too?

And I want you to know
I'm sorry for what you
had to go through.

The Apollois
ready to beam.

The ship will take you
to your target planet.

McKAY: I'm sorry, I don't
mean to complain or anything.

It's just that
I have spent the
better part of a day

making sure this
was in working order.

It would be kind of nice
to just get a little
face time with the...

Here you are, Dr. McKay.
The true form of the
Sekkari.

Neat.

Good luck.

SHEPPARD: "Neat"?

McKAY: What?
She caught me off guard.

What did
you want me to say?
What would you have said?

SHEPPARD: "Weird."

Mr. Woolsey, would
you care to join us?

Well, actually, I have
some reports to file...

Thank you.
I'd love to join you.

So, you really had no idea
that what you were seeing
wasn't real?

Trust me, the manifestations
were very convincing, Doctor.

You wouldn't have known.

Well, with all due respect,
I think they knew they
couldn't fool me,

so they,
you know,
didn't bother.

They just concentrated
on you two.

You know what I don't get

is the Al thing
revealed itself
that morning,

you discover the device
that afternoon.

I mean,
that's perfect timing.

The Colonel's right.
That was very coincidental.

And I know
what you're implying,
okay, but my mind was clear.

All right? That
device was found because
of my brilliant thinking

and, as much
as I hate to admit it,
a little help from Zelenka.

What are
you talking about?
Zelenka's offworld.

No, he's not.
He came back
yesterday.

Lieutenant Donovan had
a nasty reaction to
something he ate.

They came back early.

Didn't they?

Son of a...

I guess
it wasn't that much of
a coincidence after all.

(LAUGHS)