One is One Too Many
UNKNOWN PLANET. In a long corridor, a noble man walked, flanked by two Jaffa soldiers. They turn the corner, walk a ways up, and then open a door on the side. The man entered alone as the soldiers stood guard outside. Inside is a cell with energy bars pulsating from the walls, preventing anyone from escaping the other side of the room. A Prior was in the cell, de-cloaked and sitting on the ground.
PRIOR: You cannot hold me here forever. I will find a way to override your Anti-Prior device, and when I do, my wrath will be unavoidable.
FIRST PRIME TYPHOS: Silence, False God, or my Lord will strike you down like the coward you are. The device you speak of was remodeled by my Lord himself, and you will never be able to override its powers.
PRIOR: Your lord’s arrogance is astonishing. Do you not know of the greatness of the Ori and the powers they hold? Soon this entire galaxy will be under their control. Hallowed are the Ori.
TYPHOS: The Goa’uld are the true Gods, as you should now be aware. You were caught in my master’s trap like an animal. If the Ori are Gods, then why do they forsake you?
PRIOR: Do not speak about that which you do not understand!
(The Prior makes a hand movement, causing the cell to shake. However, he is soon drained of his powers and lies down on the ground. Typhos, at first alarmed, now seems even more confident.)
TYPHOS: I’ve told you, old fool, it is pointless. A true God created this cell solely for your arrival.
PRIOR: If your God is so powerful, then why doesn’t he show himself?
TYPHOS: (smirks) Because you are not worth his time. I am sent in his place to do his bidding.
PRIOR: And what is his bidding?
TYPHOS: (walks over to a control panel and pushes a button. A hologram appears in front of the cell, showing a galaxy of swirling stars around a bright center.) My Lord requires information.
PRIOR: And if I refuse?
TYPHOS: You will be punished by me. And if you still refuse, then you will be punished by My Lord. And I assure you, he will not be pleasant.
PRIOR: Nothing you do can harm me, for the Ori will protect me.
(Typhos walks over to another panel, which opens a slot in the wall. He pulls out a torture stick, turns to the Prior, and pulls the trigger causing yellow sparks to fly from the end.)
TYPHOS: Then why is there fear in your eyes?
(Typhos moves towards the cell. From the hallway outside, the two guards hear a scream rip through the air. They stand still, stalwart.)
UNKNOWN PLANET. The Prior is still inside his cell as the doors open once more. He looked strained and cautious. In walks the First Prime, and behind him arrives Ba’al. He walked up to the cell with a smile on his face.
BA’AL: I hope your accommodations are up to your standards.
PRIOR: All unbelievers will be condemned to eternal suffering. Your path has been chosen.
BA’AL: Ah yes, my path is clear. As is yours. (to his guards) Leave us.
(The First Prime and Jaffa soldiers bow to Ba’al and then exit the cell.)
BA’AL: I’m curious. Do you truly believe this ruse of yours? We Goa’uld put on a show, but never truly believe. We know what we are. I feel like you Priors do not understand in the same way as I do.
PRIOR: I am a follower of Origin. The Ori are gods and they have endowed within me their power so that I can serve them.
BA’AL: I see. (claps hands together and appeared slightly sad) Then we are not equals. For I am a god and you are just another servant. I have many servants. You will be another. Maybe one day I will meet your so-called gods.
PRIOR: (snorted) The Ori are the only gods. Your power comes from science and technology. Their power comes from within.
BA’AL: Power is power. There is always a source. See how easily I negated yours?
PRIOR: What do you want from me?
BA’AL: Your ship attacked one of my ships. Lucky for me this wasn’t the first time I have come across your kind. I rendered your ship inert and captured you. I need information.
PRIOR: I will tell you nothing. You are wasting your time.
BA’AL: My servants failed to gather the information. If it were any lesser being they would be punished for their lack of results. But I believe you will not succumb to torture. I know for certain that even the Ori-faithful cannot withstand the Goa’uld. Brace yourself, Prior, for all that you know is about to become mine. Soon, you will be nothing more than a bystander in your own life.
(A group of Jaffa enter, carrying a large tub. Inside, swimming, is a Goa’uld symbiote. The Prior eyes it with apprehension.)
PRIOR: (unsure) The Ori will save me.
BA’AL: I admire your blind faith and arrogance, Prior. But if the Ori can’t save the Orici, then they won’t waste time with you, even if they are still alive.
PRIOR: What do you want with me?
BA’AL: The Clavus Theressa Infiniatis. What is it? Where is it?
PRIOR: I do not know its location, I swear!
BA’AL: You know what the best part about this is, Prior? (Walks over to the tub and picks up the symbiote. He then turns to the cell, enters, and walks towards the Prior.) I’ll know if you’re telling the truth.
(A close up on the Prior shows him on the floor, wriggling away from Ba’al. The symbiote crawls towards him and up his back. The Prior screams for a second, tilts his head back, then opens his eyes. They glowed.)
STARGATE COMMAND. The stargate begins to spin. Red lights begin to glow and an alarm sounds.
SERGEANT WALTER: Unscheduled off-world activation. General Landry to the control room.
(The iris closes over the stargate. General Landry enters the room.)
LANDRY: What is it?
SERGEANT WALTER: I don’t know, sir.
LANDRY: Are we expecting anyone?
SERGEANT WALTER: No, sir. SGs 14 and 17 are the only teams off-world and they’re both not scheduled to report back for twenty-four hours.
(The stargate begins to shutter, then a strong seismic charge flew through the air. The lights went off in the room for a split second, then turned back on. The stargate had shut down by itself.)
LANDRY: Status report?
SERGEANT WALTER: Looks like everything is functional, sir. It was just a power surge. The back-up generators didn’t even have to kick on. Computer systems are normal.
(Colonel Carter, Vala, Teal’c, Mitchell, and Daniel walk into the room.)
CARTER: What happened? Power surge?
LANDRY: Just a slight tremor from the stargate.
CARTER: It came from the stargate?
SERGEANT WALTER: Yes, ma’am. It turned off immediately afterwards.
CARTER: The stargate turned off? Did a wormhole even activate?
SERGEANT WALTER: Actually, I don’t remember. The iris was down. I don’t think the chevrons were locked in place yet.
CARTER: So something came through the stargate without an active wormhole? That doesn’t make any sense.
(An alarm goes off again and the stargate begins to rotate.)
SERGEANT WALTER: Unscheduled off-world activation.
TEAL’C: Perhaps something is trying to get through the iris?
CARTER: Not without establishing a wormhole.
(This time a wormhole appears behind the iris.)
LANDRY: Is there anything we can do?
JACKSON: About what? We don’t know what it is.
(A few seconds pass by as the team stares at the stargate. Suddenly, there’s a large static noise and then a very cloudy message. Someone was talking in a hurried manner.)
LANDRY: What’s he saying?
SERGEANT WALTER: I can’t tell. Let me see if I can clean up the transmission.
(Walter typed on his keyboard for a few seconds, however the message abruptly ended and the wormhole closed.)
TEAL’C: It sounded like someone was in trouble.
LANDRY: There’s nothing we can do about that until we figure out what he was saying. Colonel Carter.
CARTER: Yes, sir, I’ll see if I can help clean it up. Sergeant, send those audio files to my lab.
STARGATE COMMAND. Jonas Quinn and Daniel Jackson are watching a security camera. On it, Tomin is being interrogated by a four-star General from the Pentagon.
JACKSON: So how are you holding up?
QUINN: I’m fine. I just wish that your government would let me return back to Langara.
JACKSON: It’s for your safety as well as ours. If you were to fall into the hands of the Ori, then you could tell them what you’ve seen. There’s not much you can do there if you return anyways. The Ori are still in control on Langara. Even if they weren’t, your government probably isn’t so thrilled about your help in destroying three prototype starships.
QUINN: It’s my planet. I should be there, helping the rebellion. (points to the screen.) Who’s that.
JACKSON: That is Tomin, Vala’s husband from the Ori galaxy. He helped her escape and we brought him along with us.
QUINN: He’s an Ori Commander?
JACKSON: Yes, but he changed sides to help us defeat them.
QUINN: It doesn’t look like your leaders believe that.
JACKSON: They weren’t there. In any case, General Landry is trying to persuade the Pentagon to give him better accommodations. He’s going to be staying here for a while, like it or not.
LANDRY: (over the intercom) Doctor Jackson to the briefing room.
(Daniel leaves Jonas, who turns back to the security camera.)
STARGATE COMMAND, INTERROGATION ROOM. Tomin is being investigated by several men in suits.
INTERROGATOR 1: You say you were the leader of the Ori’s armies?
TOMIN: That’s correct.
INTERROGATOR 1: And yet you claim to have no knowledge of the military plan or strategy to conquer this galaxy?
TOMIN: As I mentioned, the Priors themselves would receive orders from the Ori and then pass them on to me. I was only told where to send the soldiers and ships next.
INTERROGATOR 2: You were never in any briefing or strategy meetings about the overall plan?
TOMIN: That’s correct. We were to receive instruction and then follow their orders. (The interrogators looked at each other, unconvinced). The Ori preach faith. Any questioning of the plan or asking for more information would be to appear unfaithful. It would be blasphemy.
INTERROGATOR 3: So you’re telling us that you came all the way from a different galaxy to make war on everyone here, to kill millions of innocent beings, all in the name of faith?
TOMIN: (slightly ashamed) Yes.
STARGATE COMMAND. Jonas watched the end of the interrogation and left the room.
STARGATE COMMAND, BRIEFING ROOM. Daniel arrives to find Colonel Carter, Teal’c, Mitchell, Vala, and General Landry already there.
LANDRY: Doctor Jackson, just in time. Colonel Carter was able to clean up the distress message we received.
CARTER: Yes, sir. It turns out that it was more than just an audio message. It was a video as well. (She walks over to a screen, pushes a button on a remote, and a vision of an old man in front of a forest is shown.) Look familiar?
JACKSON: You’ve got to be kidding me.
LANDRY: Is that?
CARTER: Yes, sir. Former Vice President Kinsey. As we know, Kinsey was taken by the Trust and implanted with a symbiote. He then disappeared.
LANDRY: Play the tape, Colonel.
(Carter pushes another button and the video begins to run.)
KINSEY: (in distress, dirt on his face, using the familiar voice of a Goa’uld) I know someone’s there to receive this. My Jaffa and I have been ambushed by an Ori battalion. We did not think that they would have a presence here. I am asking for all help that you can send. (Behind Kinsey, a Jaffa energy blast is seen soaring through the air. He turns towards the shot, then back at the camera.) I must go. Please come quickly. As a reward, I will share with you a piece of the ultimate treasure in the galaxy: The Clavus Theressa Infiniatis.
(The video cut off.)
CARTER: That’s it, sir.
JACKSON: Did he say the Clavus Theressa Infiniatis?
LANDRY: He found it?
CARTER: It sounds like it. But if the Ori are there as well…
LANDRY: Then we may be too late. What happens if the Ori get the Clavus Theressa Infiniatis?
JACKSON: No one even knows what the Infiniatis actually is. It must be something important if the Ori are after it.
LANDRY: Well, whatever it is, if the Ori are after it then we can’t afford to let it fall into their hands. And if Kinsey is still alive and he knows about this Clavus thing, then we need to find him and get some information. Doctor Jackson, you, Teal’c, and SG-4 will go and find Kinsey, bring him back, and if possible, find the Clavus Theressa Infiniatis.
JACKSON: He didn’t say where he was, though, but I’m guessing it’s on P4C-712.
LANDRY: Yes, the same planet that you believed was a clue to the Clavus.
CARTER: Sir, what am I –
LANDRY: Colonel, you’re needed here. I need you to find out what’s wrong with the stargate. That surge has happened three more times in the past hour. I’m considering shutting down all off-world travel, but I’d rather not have to do that until you’ve taken a look at it.
CARTER: Yes, sir.
VALA: What about Mitchell and me?
LANDRY: I was hoping with your experience in the galaxy, Vala, that you’d have some ideas to help Colonel Carter with fixing the stargate.
VALA: (smiling) I do have a lot of knowledge that could be useful in this regard. But why is Mitchell staying behind.
LANDRY: (leans in) To keep an eye on you and make sure that knowledge of yours doesn’t blow up the base.
VALA: Oh.
STARGATE COMMAND, GATE ROOM. Daniel Jackson, Teal’c, and SG-4 are awaiting transport to P4C-712, the location of Kinsey’s distress call.
LANDRY: Remember, there is definitely an Ori presence on the planet. Your first priority is to bring Kinsey back to this planet.
JACKSON: What about the Clavus Theressa Infiniatis?
LANDRY: We can’t do anything about it until we have some more information. If Kinsey knows about it and he falls into the hands of the Ori, then we have a serious problem and no knowledge of its whereabouts. Good luck.
(They walk through the open wormhole.)
P4C-712. The SG team walks through the stargate to find themselves on a forest planet. They move away from the gate into a small, open patch of ground.
TEAL’C: Guard the stargate, Colonel Dreyer. Doctor Jackson and I will scout the area.
DREYER: You don’t want us with you?
TEAL’C: We will make less noise if there are just two of us. We do not want to attract any more attention than necessary. Remember, there are Goa’uld and Ori here.
DREYER: Yes, sir.
(SG-4 moves back to the gate to setup a defensive perimeter. Teal’c and Jackson move further into the forest for several minutes, scanning the area as they go.)
TEAL’C: Do you know how to find Kinsey?
JACKSON: No, but he seemed in distress. I would assume that – (They hear staff blasts off in the distance.) – that we’ll hear something shortly! Let’s go!
(Teal’c and Jackson hurry through the forest towards the shooting. They come across a man fleeing towards them.)
KINSEY: (human voice) Doctor Jackson! (Kinsey ran from the forest trees, limping and covered in dirt.)
(Teal’c and Jackson raise their weapons.)
JACKSON: Woah, there, Kinsey. Stay where you are. Not another step.
(Kinsey stops a few feet away.)
KINSEY: You consider me a threat?
TEAL’C: You are a Goa’uld.
KINSEY: (Eyes flash and his voice turns Goa’uld) Very well.
JACKSON: How did you end up here anyways, Kinsey. And how did you find out about the Clabus Theressa Infiniatis?
KINSEY: I don’t have to answer to any Tau’ri.
TEAL’C: (charges his Staff weapon) You will answer the question nevertheless.
KINSEY: (gives Teal’c a level look) You are very persuasive, Teal’c. Not that it is of any importance, I found myself in the midst of the other Trust Goa’uld. We came across one of the former System Lords, Ba’al.
JACKSON: That guy just won’t die.
KINSEY: No, indeed since he continues to make clones of himself and his clones create clones. This Ba’al was able to form a powerful Jaffa fleet and the Trust ran into him on one of our scouting missions. He told us of the Clavus Theressa Infiniatis and that its location was on this planet.
JACKSON: How did he find that out?
KINSEY: I did not ask. But we are wasting time. There are Ori here and they are only minutes behind me.
(As if on cue, stun blasts began to fly through the air towards the stargate.)
KINSEY: Fight them off!
JACKSON: We have to take you back through the gate!
KINSEY: No! Fight them off! They cannot take the Clavus Theressa Infiniatis!
JACKSON: We’ll be back!
(They begin running to the stargate, a platoon of Ori soldiers behind them.)
KINSEY: We cannot leave!
JACKSON: Pipe down, Kinsey! (over radio) SG-4 we’ve got company.
(They turn and see the stargate. Near it is SG-4, lying down on the ground, stunned. In front of the gate is Ba’al and a legion of Jaffa soldiers. Teal’c raises his staff weapon, but Ba’al waves his hand and the weapon flies away. More Jaffa troops appear behind them.)
BA’AL: (walks up to Teal’c and Jackson) The sholva and Doctor Jackson. What a pleasant surprise.
JACKSON: (desperate) There are Ori soldiers behind. You’re about to be trapped.
BA’AL: Am I?
JACKSON: I’m serious Ba’al, take us prisoner, whatever, but we need to get out of here immediately. (Suddenly, Ori soldiers appear out of the woods and surround Ba’al’s forces. Jackson sighed.) I told you. You always were dumber than you thought.
(Ba’al looked around at the Ori soldiers. A Prior stepped forward in front of the others. Ba’al stood to face him and for a long moment there was silence. Then, Ba’al smiled and laughed. The Prior pulled back his hood to reveal flashing eyes and a Ba’al clone.)
JACKSON: What is going on here?
BA’AL: (using the low voice of a Goa’uld.) You have done well, Kinsey.
(Teal’c and Jackson look at Kinsey.)
KINSEY: Thank you, my Lord.
BA’AL: (to the Prior) I am impressed that you were able to find so many soldiers in such a quick time.
BA’AL PRIOR: They are willing to serve their Gods.
JACKSON: You implanted a symbiote within a Prior?
BA’AL: Yes, after my failure with the Orici I had to take a small step backwards. However, at the time, the Priors are the most powerful weapons in the Galaxy.
JACKSON: So why the elaborate ruse? Why bring us here if you have the most powerful weapons in the galaxy?
BA’AL: I found this planet a few months ago. What startled me was the formation on its northern pole.
JACKSON: Some kind of Ancient weapon?
BA’AL: Not quite. It is a temple, but it is not Ancient. It is Ori.
JACKSON: An Ori temple in this galaxy? That’s impossible.
TEAL’C: The Ori had no knowledge of this galaxy before we introduced them to it.
BA’AL PRIOR: There must be something we do not understand about it. Perhaps there were dissidents in the ranks of the Ancients who wished to follow their brethren by making the people of this galaxy worship them.
JACKSON: So it’s not quite Ori.
BA’AL: We will soon find out. That is why I have a Prior now. I was unable to gain access to the Temple, but I hope that the Prior will be able to find a way inside.
JACKSON: And why do you need us?
BA’AL: (smiling) You have always been resourceful, Doctor Jackson. I admit I am disappointed that Colonel Carter is not here, however, your knowledge of Ancient may be important in what is inside the Temple. I cannot take the risk that this Temple may not be Ori.
(The Ori and Jaffa soldiers surround Jackson and Teal’c.)
JACKSON: You could’ve just asked for help, you know.
BA’AL: Where is the fun in that?
STARGATE COMMAND, CONTROL ROOM. Colonel Carter is working on a computer alongside Vala and Mitchell. General Landry and Jonas Quinn enter.
LANDRY: How’s it coming, Colonel?
CARTER: Not good, sir. I’ve been trying to understand why the stargate is unable to establish a wormhole when it’s coming from an outside source. In the past five hours, we’ve received seven wormholes, and they’ve all been disrupted with those static shocks.
LANDRY: Keep working on it. Vala, any ideas?
VALA: (spinning in her chair) You know, there was a guy I knew back on Mallefet who could sync stargate wormholes so that he could stay in his ship and then pop in and out from one to the other in record time. Helped him smuggle goods across the entire galaxy in half an hour.
LANDRY: And how does that help us?
VALA: I’m sorry, help us how with what?
LANDRY: (raised his eyebrows and turned away) Just keep at it.
MITCHELL: (hurrying after General Landry) Sir, can I have a moment?
LANDRY: What is it, Mitchell?
MITCHELL: With respect, sir, why exactly is Vala here? I mean, it’s not like she’s going to come up with a solution that Carter can’t figure out, right?
LANDRY: Actually she’s here because Tomin is currently being investigated.
MITCHELL: Sir?
LANDRY: I may need her to make a case to keep Tomin here instead of being taken to a holding cell outside the Pentagon. She’s got a connection to Tomin and was in a similar situation. So, entertain her here for a while longer.
VALA: Sam, did you remember to carry the one on your calculations? I always forget to carry the one.
(Carter looked up from her work and stared at Vala, who gave her a smile)
MITCHELL: I’ll do what I can, sir, but I make no promises if she upsets Sam.
QUINN: (to Carter) Do you want me to take a look at it?
LANDRY: Actually, Jonas, I was wondering if you could help me with something else. Walk with me.
(Landry and Quinn exited the room and entered the hallway)
LANDRY: You remember how you felt when you first came to Stargate Command?
QUINN: Unwelcomed, for the most part.
LANDRY: I was afraid of that. You know about Tomin, the Ori Commander that we brought back here?
QUINN: I’ve seen some of the interrogation video.
LANDRY: Well, the Pentagon has agreed to keep Tomin here for the moment, but he must be placed under guard. I was hoping that you could help him understand his situation.
QUINN: And help him understand why he has to be kept here against his will?
LANDRY: His faith in the Ori has been shaken. He could become a powerful ally so long as we don’t shake his faith in us.
QUINN: I’ll see what I can do.
STARGATE COMMAND, INTERROGATION ROOM. Jonas entered a room where Tomin is sitting down at a table. Jonas moved forward and sits across from him.
TOMIN: Who are you?
QUINN: Jonas Quinn, I’m a friend of Stargate Command.
TOMIN: Another member of this planet’s government?
QUINN: No. I’m an alien. My homeworld is Langara. I was a member of SG-1 a few years ago. When I first came here I went through everything you are going through.
TOMIN: Oh, really? You were interrogated for information because you were a soldier to this planet’s greatest threat?
QUINN: Not quite. But I know the feeling of leaving your homeworld and being unwanted by your own people.
TOMIN: These people want something from me, or else I wouldn’t still be here.
QUINN: You know more about the Ori than anyone here.
TOMIN: I do not know any of their plans! The Priors were in charge.
QUINN: Surely you must know some of their strategies and strengths. Look, I heard you earlier. It must be tough to have everything you believed in and serve your entire life to turn out to be a lie. I get it. I worked for my government for years, helping them with their projects, all in the hopes of improving not just their lives but the lives of everyone on my planet. But the people in my government, they were afraid and just wanted weapons of war. Once I came to that realization, everyhing changed for me.
TOMIN: What did you do.
QUINN: What I could. To help others. Maybe you don’t know everything about military plans and strategy, but you were there. You lived among them, they trusted you with other things. Maybe it’s just not about ships and soldiers and stuff like that. Maybe it’s something else you saw or overheard.
CARTER: (over radio) Jonas, come in.
QUINN: (over radio) Go ahead, Sam.
CARTER: (over radio) The Stargate is acting up again. I need your help in the control room.
QUINN: (over radio) I’m on my way. (to Tomin) Look, I know you don’t know me, but I can vouch for these people. Not all of them are going to see you as a friend, but they’re not evil. The really evil ones don’t let you leave. They just need to trust you first. Try thinking about something you can give them to create that trust. I’ll talk to you later.
(Quinn stood up to leave, but Tomin held him back)
TOMIN: There is something wrong with the gate?
QUINN: Yeah, there hasn’t been any incoming wormholes established. It keeps shorting out. Think about what I said. These people are very nice once you get to know them. They’re just taking precautions. Once you give them a reason to trust you, then you’ll be off the hook.
(Jonas left the room, leaving a confused-looking Tomin.)
P4C-712. Jackson, Teal’c, Ba’al, Kinsey, and Prior Ba’al have arrived at the north pole. Covered in snow and ice, they are looking at a large Temple in front of them.
JACKSON: Why do the Ancients and Ori love to build things in the snow?
KINSEY: Have you found the entrance?
BA’AL PRIOR: Yes. Follow me.
JACKSON: Ba’al, did you figure out what the Clavus Theressa Infiniatis is?
BA’AL: I assume it is a treasure of the Ancients.
JACKSON: Uh-huh. No specifics?
BA’AL: Tracking it to this planet was difficult enough. Very few people know of its existence.
(Walk to the base of the temple, where a long wall stretches as far as can be seen.)
BA’AL: Where is the door.
(Prior Ba’al raises his staff. On the wall, a door appears from nothing.)
BA’AL PRIOR: Only a Prior would be able to enter this Temple.
BA’AL: As I suspected. Go first.
JACKSON: But that doesn’t make any sense. There weren’t any Ori in this galaxy.
BA’AL: So you keep saying and yet the facts are not lining up with your story.
(Prior Ba’al led the way into the Temple. The darkness retreated as torches on the sides of the corridor light up as the Prior approached. The group walked down the corridor, until it turned into a large cavern. As they enter, lights turned on that showed it to be a large room cut down the middle by a chasm. On the other side was another doorway, but no way to cross.)
JACKSON: Alright, how do we get across?
(Ba’al Prior raises his staff again, but nothing happened. The room shook but the chasm remains.)
JACKSON: Having trouble?
BA’AL PRIOR: There is nothing in this room to allow us to cross.
BA’AL: Are you certain?
JACKSON: Maybe the Ori were clever enough to prevent someone from impersonating a Prior.
BA’AL PRIOR: Impossible. The Priors follow the words of the Ori unquestioningly. The Ori would have been too blinded to think of Priors that went against their will.
JACKSON: Uh-huh. Sounds like something I’ve heard before with the Goa’uld.
BA’AL: The Tok’ra and the Jaffa rebels and traitors will be dealt with in time and according to plan.
JACKSON: There it is! I knew I had heard that before. Amazing how much the Ori and Goa’uld have in common.
TEAL’C: If everything is according to plan, then why are you not able to cross the chasm?
BA’AL: The answer is simple. There must be another way across.
(Jackson walks over to the near wall.)
TEAL’C: What is it, Daniel Jackson?
JACKSON: There’s writing on the walls. Some dialect of Ancient. I’m assuming it’s Ori.
(Ba’al approached him.)
BA’AL: Can you read it?
JACKSON: Kind of. Why don’t you ask your Prior?
BA’AL PRIOR: It states that the other side of the chasm ‘holds the pattern back home’. What does that mean?
JACKSON: You’re asking me? You’re the Prior.
BA’AL PRIOR: My first guess is that it is a stargate address to a world inside the Ori galaxy.
JACKSON: Why would that be here? That can’t be the Clavus.
BA’AL: No, there must be more here. See if it says anything about crossing the chasm.
BA’AL PRIOR: It says that a Prior needs the help of his god to cross the chasm.
JACKSON: Well that’s a little problematic since the Ori aren’t here to help us.
TEAL’C: I thought the Ori were never in this galaxy. How could the Ori help a Prior cross the chasm?
BA’AL: Are you sure that we’re talking about the Ori and not the Ancients?
JACKSON: Well, some Ancients wanted to act like the Ori. It’s possible there was a renegade group or a separate group that maybe had the same values and beliefs as the Ori but weren’t technically Ori themselves.
KINSEY: So now all we have to do is find an Ancient willing to help us.
(Jackson shrugged his head.)
STARGATE COMMAND, CONTROL ROOM. General Landry and Tomin arrive into the control room where Jonas, Vala, Mitchell and Carter were working on the computer system.
LANDRY: Any further progress, Colonel?
CARTER: No, sir. Jonas and I have been trying to figure it out. In the meantime, the stargate won’t reply to wormholes that have been started by us now. That means we are effectively without gate travel in or out.
LANDRY: Tomin has overheard our discussions on the problem with the stargate and he’s offered some of his help.
CARTER: Help in what way?
TOMIN: I know what is wrong with the stargate.
QUINN: How could you know what’s wrong? Do you have any knowledge of the stargate system?
TOMIN: No, I do not know the technical aspects of the gate. However, I do know of a plan by the Ori to render the gates ineffective. The Ori were building a fleet of stargates. They were going to bring them into your galaxy and use them to dial every gate at the same time to prevent any escape by the inhabitants and disrupt communication lines between planets.
CARTER: Why do this now? Wouldn’t they have tried this at the beginning of the invasion?
TOMIN: It was going to be used as a last measure if conversion was out of the question. It marks the beginning of the Ori Armada.
MITCHELL: Don’t they already have an Armada in the galaxy?
TOMIN: (smiles) There are around thirty ships in your galaxy now. The Armada consists of two hundred warships and thousands of soldiers. If converting this galaxy was deemed too costly or not bearing sufficient results, then there was a second plan to be implemented. It starts with launching the Armada – an Armada to wipe your galaxy clean for repopulation by loyal Ori followers. They would hit all planets that disobeyed the Ori and refused to follow Origin, lock the stargates to prevent anyone from fleeing, and systematically erase any resistance in the galaxy. The final push has begun.
(Carter and Jonas exchanged worried glances.)
CARTER: But the problem with the stargates isn’t that there’s an active wormhole preventing us from dialing out, it’s that the system just isn’t working at all. It’s like it won’t even accept a wormhole from locking into place.
TOMIN: I don’t understand what the problem is with the wormholes. I only know of the Ori’s plans to dial all the gates. It should have taken effect already if the Armada is assembled.
VALA: Perhaps someone is protecting the system by not allowing the Ori to dial in?
CARTER: You think that someone knows of the Ori’s plans and is somehow preventing them from achieving a wormhole lock?
MITCHELL: That’s only if what Tomin is saying is actually happening. I’m not saying I don’t believe you, Tomin, but how do we know the Ori have initiated their Armada and plan? They haven’t done so yet.
LANDRY: We’ll need some information on this fleet of stargates and the Armada. I’m going to send the Odyssey to check out the SuperGate and see if there’s been any increased Ori activity. If there has then we know the Ori are planning something big. Mitchell, you’ll be my eyes up there.
ONBOARD THE ODYSSEY. Colonel Mitchell and Colonel Jacobson and his crew are on the bridge. The ship is traveling through hyperspace.
JACOBSON: So the Ori are massing for a final attack to take over the galaxy?
MITCHELL: That’s what Tomin says.
JACOBSON: Can we trust him?
MITCHELL: No, but apparently he doesn’t like the Ori anymore than we do. We’ll find out either way once we reach the supergate.
JACOBSON: If there are Ori ships, then we won’t have much time to move around. We’ll have to move back into hyperspace immediately.
SCIENCE OFFICER: Sir, we’re nearing the supergate.
JACOBSON: Take us out of hyperspace.
(The Odyssey exited the hyperspace window. In front of them is the SuperGate, along with dozens of Ori battleships with fighters flying formation. Thirty Ori battleships were moving off in one direction, a hyperspace window opening. Thirty more were staying near the SuperGate. What appeared to be a large circle of stargates were also positioned in space near the SuperGate. Soon, three Ori ships began to move towards the Odyssey.)
MITCHELL: My God, he was right. It’s an invasion armada.
SCIENCE OFFICER: Sir, they’re charging weapons and aiming at us!
JACOBSON: We’re vastly outnumbered here. Move us into hyperspace.
(The Odyssey re-enters hyperspace, leaving dozens of Ori ships moving around the SuperGate, with more ships continuing to pour out of the Gate.)
P4C-712, INSIDE THE ORI TEMPLE.
BA’AL: We are getting nowhere with your help.
JACKSON: Well forgive me but I still don’t see what help you wanted me to be.
KINSEY: We should just destroy him now.
BA’AL PRIOR: Be silent, all of you! Someone is approaching. I feel his presence.
(From the temple entrance, a shadow blocked the doorway. Then, another Prior emerged from the corridor.)
PRIOR: Impressive. I did not know that others knew of this place. What are you doing here, brother? (turns to Ba’al Prior) You are not one of us.
BA’AL PRIOR: No, I am not. (He stepped forward and his eyes glowed) Your brother was weak. Now I have powers that rival yours. Be gone, before I unleash them on you!
PRIOR: Fool! There are powers that cannot be touched by a parasite like yourself. I am Ademus, and I have the powers of the Orici at my command!
(Ademus raised his staff and an invisible blast moved towards Ba’al Prior. Ba’al Prior raised his own staff to block the attack, but moved backwards ten feet in the process. Kinsey made a move towards Ademus, but Ademus turned towards him. With an invisible hand, Kinsey was thrown backwards into the air. He flew across the room and down into the chasm, screaming as he went.)
TEAL’C: (to Jackson) We must go. He is too powerful for us.
JACKSON: But what if the Clavus Theressa Infiniatis is on the other side of this chasm? We can’t let the Ori get a hold of it!
TEAL’C: If we stay here we will die. I am prepared to die, Daniel Jackson, but we do not know for certain it is here. The only thing the inscription said was coordinates to somewhere else. We must take that information back to Stargate command.
JACKSON: You’re right, let’s go!
(As Daniel and Teal’c run towards the exit, Ba’al Prior shakes his staff and there is a blinding white light that appears from it. It strikes towards Ademus, but Ademus shielded himself and the light bounces off him harmlessly.)
ADEMUS: You are weak!
BA’AL PRIOR: (to Ba’al) He is right. Somehow, he is stronger than I am.
BA’AL: We must fight him together.
(Ba’al ran towards Ademus.)
BA’AL PRIOR: Stop! He is too powerful!
(Ba’al ignored the plea and charged the Prior. Ademus tossed Ba’al into a wall, who crumpled into a ball, unconscious. Then, Ademus slid across the floor towards Ba’al Prior. He grabbed Ba’al Prior by the throat. Ba’al Prior’s eyes glowed but not in strength rather in fear.)
ADEMUS: The Ori are eternal, and so are their followers. You, however, are not a follower. These are your final moments. Savor them, for the unbelievers will burn in eternal fire.
BA’AL PRIOR: This is impossible! I am your equal!
ADEMUS: No one is my equal!
(Ba’al Prior began to glow, and he let out a scream. Then, Ademus threw him into the chasm. A few seconds later, a ball of blue-white light appeared from Ademus and chased Ba’al Prior down the chasm. A few seconds passed, and then there was a loud explosion from the chasm.)
P4C-712, OUTSIDE THE ORI TEMPLE. Daniel Jackson and Teal’c are running through a snowstorm trying to get away from the Prior.
JACKSON: Teal’c! It’s too cold out here and the stargate is miles away. We’re never going to make it.
TEAL’C: Come on, Daniel Jackson! We have to try.
(Daniel Jackson and Teal’c hurry through the snow for a while, but the heavy snow made their progress slow. Soon, the temple behind them is lost in the snow.)
JACKSON: Teal’c! I’m not sure how much further I can go!
(Jackson slows down and then suddenly fell in the snow. Teal’c goes back to him)
TEAL’C: Daniel Jackson! (Teal’c slung Jackson’s unconscious body over his shoulder and continued on through the snow.) Stay with me! We must find shelter.
(No shelter from the blizzard is visible and soon even Teal’c is tiring from the cold. He collapses into the snow. Around them the blizzard rages as no help is visible in any direction. Just as it seemed they would die in the snow, a white light enveloped them and they were transported away.)
P4C-712, NEAR THE STARGATE. Daniel Jackson and Teal’c awoke to find themselves back in the forest near the stargate. SG-4 has awoken near them as well.
TEAL’C: Daniel Jackson, are you alright?
JACKSON: Yeah, I’m just – uh, a little groggy is all. You?
TEAL’C: I feel fine, however I do not know how we can to be here. Last I remember we were in the snow outside the temple.
JACKSON: Yeah, me too. Dreyer, are you ok?
DREYER: We’re ok, Doctor Jackson! Last I remember we got hit by some Ori stun weapons being carried by a group of Jaffa.
JACKSON: It was Ba’al. He was looking for the Clavus Theressa Infiniatis.
DREYER: Did he get it? (Jackson, unsure, shook his head.) Let’s dial the gate, gentlemen, and get out of here!
(One of the members of SG-4 dials the dial home device, but the wormhole does not connect.)
SG-4 Soldier: It’s not connecting, sir!
JACKSON: Oh, this day just keeps getting better and better.
(As Teal’c and the other members of SG-4 head towards the dial home device, Jackson spots a bright white light in the trees nearby. He thought about calling out, but instead he went over to it, feeling that it was not a threat)
JACKSON: Who are you? (The white light coalesced into a figure, an old yet strong man wearing grey garb) I know you somehow.
OLD MAN: I was on Langara with you and your companions.
JACKSON: No I – not that’s not what I meant.
OLD MAN: (nodding) You were ascended before. You know me.
JACKSON: What’s going on? How come the stargate won’t work?
OLD MAN: We are preventing the system from allowing any connections at this time.
JACKSON: What happened to all that talk about non-interference?
OLD MAN: We have not interfered but rather simply delayed. (paused for a few seconds) I will send you and your team home through the stargate but then the system will still not work after that.
JACKSON: And when the Ori come in their ships, what will happen then? (The Old Man did not respond). Help us. Help us access the Clavus Theressa Infiniatis. I know it’s across that chasm or the way to it is across that chasm, but we can’t cross it without an Ascended’s help.
OLD MAN: (paused again, as if considering how much to say. Then he knelt to the dirt ground and drew a straight line) The Ori and their followers draw strength and power from their belief and faith, correct?
JACKSON: Yes in a slave-master system where the believers are slaves and the Ori takes that faith and strengthen themselves with it.
OLD MAN: Have you ever asked yourself where this power comes from? If the Ori could take faith and use it as a weapon, what would happen if people put their faith in something or someone else?
JACKSON: Then you just would have the same situation. Instead of the Ori you’d have the Goa’uld or some other false god.
OLD MAN: And why do they have to put their faith in something else? Why can they not (drew a circle around the straight line in the dirt) put their faith in themselves?
(As Jackson stared at the dirt drawing, the Old Man disappeared in front of him. The stargate lit up and SG-4 beckoned for Jackson to hurry. He left the area and walked through the stargate.
STARGATE COMMAND. GATE ROOM. A wormhole opened and soldiers stood guard, awaiting visitors. Daniel Jackson, Teal’c, and SG-4 arrived. The wormhole closed behind them.
LANDRY: (arriving from the side door with Mitchell) What happened? How were you able to go through the gate?
JACKSON: We had some help. (Landry waited for a further explanation, but received none.)
LANDRY: Where’s Kinsey?
JACKSON: Kinsey set a trap for us. It was Ba’al pulling the strings all along.
LANDRY: Ba’al?
TEAL’C: He lured us to the planet with a fake distress call by Kinsey. It turns out that Ba’al was able to implant one of his symbiotes into an Ori Prior.
LANDRY: What?
JACKSON: He found an Ori temple on P4C-712 and needed a Prior to access it, but he was unable to get over the chasm.
MITCHELL: You’ve lost me. Ba’al now has a Prior at his command? A half-Goa’uld, half Ori, half Ba’al clone is out there on the loose now?
TEAL’C: Not anymore. A real Ori Prior arrived and killed Kinsey. He was about to destroy Ba’al’s Prior and Ba’al as well. We were able to escape.
LANDRY: Did you find anything out about the Clavus?
JACKSON: Only that wherever it is, the key to finding it is beyond that chasm.
LANDRY: Then we need to go back.
TEAL’C: We cannot. To cross the chasm we need the help of an Ori or Ancient.
LANDRY: That might be a problem.
JACKSON: Yeah, more than you think. What’s been happening here?
LANDRY: Tomin has given us information regarding an Ori final attack across the galaxy. It seems that the stargate has been unable to create wormholes because the Ori are launching an all-out final push.
MITCHELL: Any word on Tomin?
LANDRY: Since his information checked out at the SuperGate, I think we’ve got enough evidence to keep the suits in Washington from taking him away and locking him in a cell. For now.
P4C-712, INSIDE THE ORI TEMPLE. Prior Ademus and Ba’al are the only two near the chasm. Ademus leaned over Ba’al, who was wounded and unable to stand.
ADEMUS: Pathetic fool. Did your arrogance lead you to believe that you could deceive the Ori.
BA’AL: The Ori are dead. The Orici told me so. I searched her brain.
ADEMUS: You were told only what she wanted you to know. The Ori are alive. They devolved. It is only a matter of time before they learn to Ascend again. When that happens, the Ori themselves will move into this galaxy, and no one will be able to stop them. Only the faithful will survive.
BA’AL: Do not waste your breath. I would know more about false Gods than anyone, Prior.
ADEMUS: You like taking over my Priors, Goa’uld? No matter. You will find Origin in the end. While my brothers may be gentler, I have more persuasive measures at my hands. (whispering) You will know pain, you will know hate, and I… shall forgive you. Hallowed are the Ori.
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