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EXT. SPACE
A huge ancient ship, the Destiny, jumps out of faster-than-light travel, it is at the edge of a star system with seven planets.
INT. DESTINY
The ship is mostly underpowered, but suddenly lights start to activate among the various corridors.
INT. DESTINY - STASIS CHAMBER ROOM
The stasis chamber room's lonely CONSOLE BLEEPS, several windows and files open rapidly for a few seconds, then it turns immediately BLACK again.
NICHOLAS RUSH's pod LIGHTS UP, the pod is GLOWING BLUE and the cover SLIDS UP, making the occupant immediately wake up.
Rush's knees give out and he CRUSHES on to the floor, momentarily STUNNED by the sudden change of perspective.
He feels a surge of nausea and grits his teeth to prevent himself from puking all over the floor.
He turns when he hears a WHOOSH sound a few feet to his left.
COLONEL EVERETT YOUNG also looks unsteady on his feet for a fraction of a second and then his knees HIT THE GROUND as well, hard.
YOUNG
(with a cracking voice)
I thought you said the pods would freeze us in time, Rush.
RUSH
(coughs)
That's how they're supposed to work, yes.
YOUNG
(mutters to himself, cradling his head)
Uhg-I've got the worst headache.
RUSH
Brody's still was fairly crowded from what I remember.
YOUNG
You need to work on that sense of humor of yours.
RUSH
Noted.
YOUNG
Why do I feel like I haven't eaten in ages?
RUSH
Technically you haven't.
YOUNG
Woke up on the right side of the pod, didn't you?
Rush shakes his head to hopefully get rid of the dizziness, it doesn't work, and stands up on shaky legs, making his way towards the closed door of the stasis chamber room.
RUSH
We've got no way of knowing how much time has passed, but I've got a feeling, it's been more than three years.
YOUNG
Hopefully not much more than that.
RUSH
I've never really taken you for the optimistic one, Colonel.
YOUNG
Eli's the optimist. I'm just hopeful at this point- (a beat, the Colonel suddenly realizes something)
Eli!
Young forces himself to stand up and runs towards the back of the chamber, skipping all the other closed pods and their unconscious occupants, focused on finding his target.
Rush turns around distractedly while hitting the door's opening controls. It doesn't work.
A beat passes and then he notices the Colonel standing silently, almost hypnotized in front of Eli's pod.
He knew what that meant, his instructions to the waking programming were clear, if Eli hadn't been awakened... then it only meant one thing.
RUSH
(hesitant)
Colonel?
He turns around, taking a few steps towards the Colonel.
Rush comes to stand right beside the Colonel only to be welcomed by Eli's bare, empty, cold-looking pod.
YOUNG
Eli's not inside.
RUSH
I can very well see that.
Rush moves towards the pod, slides the lid open to examine it.
RUSH
It's been tampered with. Some energy relays were fixed, others weren't. Seems like Eli was trying to establish a direct connection between the pod's power supply and Destiny's life support energy supply. Not a bad plan, honestly.
YOUNG
What are you saying Rush?
RUSH
Eli was very well on his way to fixing the pod, Colonel. He had installed all the cables and was trying to connect them to the power relays. Don't ask me where he found the spare parts, I have no clue. Why didn't he finish it?
YOUNG
So... Eli's...
RUSH
Probable, Colonel. I don't-
(sighs exhasperatedly, walking away from the pod at a brisk pace)
YOUNG
(gesturing around them to the other pods)
What about the others? Why are we the only ones who woke up?
RUSH
I wrote a little program and added it to Destiny's list of primary directives.
YOUNG
(suspiciously advancing towards Rush who has stopped moving)
And didn't it cross your mind to tell me?
RUSH
It's not that big of a deal, Colonel.
YOUNG
What's it do, then? That program of yours?
RUSH
It just regulates the rate with which the Destiny de-freezes the crew. I instructed it to wake small groups of people, two to three at a time at two hours intervals. We can't have everyone waking up and start panicking all over the place now, can we?
YOUNG
(calmer)
So, who's going to wake up next?
RUSH
It should be Lieutenant Johansen- I figured she should be one of the first people to wake up, in case we encountered some medical complications. Brody, he's the one who worked on the pods in the first place and Greer.
YOUNG
Greer?
RUSH
He's a good shot. Always looking out for trouble.
YOUNG
What about Eli? You didn't include him in that little program of yours, did you?
RUSH
Of course, I included him! He was supposed to wake up with the both of us!
A few seconds of silence pass between the two, who just continue to stare at each other, both sharing a sense of loss.
RUSH
Now excuse me, Colonel, but I've got to figure out what's wrong with that damn door.
INT. DESTINY - STASIS CHAMBER ROOM - CONTINUOUS
As Rush is trying to figure out what is wrong with the door, Young walks towards the console, coming to stand near it.
YOUNG
Rush, isn't this console supposed to be turned on?
RUSH
It isn't?
Rush steps back from the door and approaches the console.
He presses the controls on it but it doesn't light up.
RUSH
Hold on.
After a few more seconds tampering with it, the console's screen finally turns on, revealing a schematic of all the active pods in the stasis chamber room.
RUSH
(confused)
The timer's blocked.
YOUNG
The timer that you set with your program?
RUSH (nodding)
That one.
YOUNG
So they won't wake up?
RUSH
(shaking his head)
There's another program active. It seems that it has the highest priority.
Rush presses the controls on the console.
RUSH
(frustrated)
It won't even let me open the damn door. This console is useless.
YOUNG
Rush, are we in danger?
RUSH
(shaking his head)
I don't think so, but I have no idea why the ship is behaving like this.
Young walks towards the door, hitting the opening command.
The door stays closed.
RUSH
(irritated)
Hitting it is gonna break it even more, don't you think? The mechanism must be jammed.
YOUNG
(sarcastic)
Well, can you fix it?
RUSH
Yeah, just give me a minute. Have you got a flashlight on you by any chance?
Young shakes his head in a negative response, then steps back to let Rush work and nears the empty pod at the back of the chamber.
YOUNG
He was so confident he was gonna fix it.
RUSH
He was on the right track.
YOUNG
I believed everything was gonna be fine. I wanted to believe that we were all gonna be fine. That we would have all woken up once on the other side.
RUSH
We don't always get to see our wishes fulfilled.
YOUNG
(incredulous)
How are you this relaxed?
RUSH
(frustrated)
Believe me Colonel, I'm everything but relaxed but crying about Eli is not gonna solve our problems.
YOUNG
I can't believe my ears. I knew you were an insensitive bastard, but not to this point.
RUSH
And you, on the other hand are too emotional to lead this expedition. I've been saying that for two years now, but did anyone listen to me? Hell no, they haven't.
YOUNG
(infuriated)
Well at least I'm not a bastard who would sacrifice everybody else to save his own ass!
RUSH
(cold)
No, you are just the man who chose a traitor over his own spy.
Young stares at Rush, momentarily without words.
RUSH
Camille told me what you did. She told me how you were so desperate to save your precious Telford friend and-
YOUNG
(stern)
You knew the risks when you volunteered for that mission.
RUSH
(incredulous)
To being undercover! Not to being kidnapped!
YOUNG
It was the only way to reverse what the Alliance did to him, I didn't think you'd be affected by it.
RUSH
It's not a one-way connection the one with the stones, but I suppose you conveniently forgot that tiny detail at the time, didn't you? And you ask yourself why I don't come to you when it's time to make the important decisions.
Rush, who has been tampering with the open lid of the door panel, reconnects one last cable and the door slides open.
YOUNG
(chastised)
Why didn't you say anything?
RUSH
What was there to say? I was your spy and you left me to the wolves. That's all there is to it.
He storms out of the room, Young following close behind, with heavy steps and a heavy conscience.
INT. DESTINY - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Young walks briskly, catching up with his leading scientist as he almost sprints down the corridor.
YOUNG
Where are you going?
RUSH
We need to figure out where we are in relation to our last known position, possibly even find a star to replenish our energy reserves and a planet where we can find food and water. Where are you going?
YOUNG
The Stones Room.
RUSH (confused)
Why is that?
YOUNG
My orders were clear, report the second Destiny came out of FTL.
RUSH
Can't it wait? We've got much more serious problems, like figuring out why the ship is malfunctioning.
YOUNG
I wouldn't be of much help anyways. You're the expert here, like you daily like to remind everyone on this ship. You figure it out.
(sighs)
But before you run off to the bridge, grab a radio. I don't even know how you manage to always loose yours.
RUSH
(nods)
Right.
INT. DESTINY - STONES ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Young finally enters the Stones room, only to find a piece of paper. It only reads two words: CHAIR ROOM.
Young stares at it nonplussed for a few seconds, his hand fingering his radio, then hashes the paper and stalks off to his new destination, a thousand questions in his mind.
INT. DESTINY - CHAIR ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Once inside the Chair room, Young immediately spots the Kino and Eli's pad, sitting a few feet in front of the ancient chair on the floor.
Young picks the objects up and grabs his radio.
YOUNG (into radio)
Rush, this is Young. Do you read?
RUSH (into radio)
Go ahead.
YOUNG (into radio)
I've found a Kino in the Chair room.
RUSH (into radio)
(unimpressed)
So?
YOUNG
(under his breath)
A lot of work.
(into radio)
Can you come down here?
RUSH (into radio)
I'm rather busy now, Colonel. Can't it wait?
YOUNG
(into radio)
I'm afraid not, Rush. Come down here now, that's an order. Young out.
INT. DESTINY - CHAIR ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Rush storms into the Chair room, coming to stand near Young who isn't facing the door but is staring at the chair instead. A Kino and a piece of paper in hand.
YOUNG
Took you long enough.
RUSH
The door panels are all messed up. Some of them work, others I had to force open myself.
YOUNG
The Stones Lab and the Chair Room panels worked just fine.
RUSH
(sarcastic)
Then you are one lucky guy.
Young chuckles.
YOUNG
Would have been nice if I had this kind of luck in the past.
RUSH
(points to paper)
Where did you find that?
YOUNG
Right there. It came with the Kino.
RUSH
What's it say?
YOUNG
Read for yourself.
Young hands Rush the piece of paper.
The scientist reads it, then a look of understanding falls on his face.
RUSH
(exhausted)
I know this handwriting.
YOUNG
(realizing)
For some reason I feel like I know where this is going. It's Eli's handwriting, isn't it?
Rush nods, looks down at the pad, taps on it and frowns.
RUSH
It looks like the databank is full, too.
(to Young)
Where did you find the Kino, exactly?
YOUNG
(gesturing)
On the floor, right in front of the chair.
RUSH
Then maybe...
Rush doesn't finish his sentence and instead just storms off out of the chair room.
YOUNG
Maybe what?
Young asks, turning and following the scientist.
INT. DESTINY - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Young has to sprint to catch up with Rush who is almost running down the corridor.
YOUNG
Rush, what is it?
RUSH
(walking briskly)
Knowing Eli, he recorded everything after we went into stasis. I think I already know what happened to him.
YOUNG
(understanding)
You think he used the chair.
RUSH
(nods)
You found the Kino there, didn't you? It's fairly possible, but we'll find out soon enough.
INT. DESTINY - ELI'S QUARTERS - LATER
After some tampering with the door panel, Rush forces Eli's room open and connects the Kino to the computer, sitting on the stool, Young right behind him, watching the screen as it comes to life with Eli's face on it.
Footage on the Kino shows Eli contemplating Young's pod as the last lights turned off, the only illumination coming from the minimal life support lights.
ELI (into monitor)
That's the last of them.
A screeching sound can be heard from the monitor.
ELI
Destiny entered FTL just now. It's official, off to the next galaxy we go.
(turning to Kino)
All my friends are in stasis now and, I'm the only one still out. But there's a reason for it.
Eli reaches for his pad and gives some directives to the Kino.
ELI (O.C.)
So, I suppose I should start working right away but... being stuck on an ancient ship on my own.
(directing the Kino towards him again)
The only good thing I can think of is that now no one's gonna stop my blabbering, which is good, it helps me think.
INT. DESTINY - STASIS CHAMBER ROOM - FLASHBACK
Eli closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and starts talking again, walking towards the broken pod and sitting down beside it.
ELI
Doctor Rush always says I'm extremely disorganized... As if he's not the one losing his own radio 24/7. Let's prove him wrong. I should start from the beginning.
Eli grins and if someone didn't know the situation at hand, they might think he was just a playful young man, goofing around with a camera.
ELI
This is Eli Wallace and you guys are on Destiny's Big Brother Kino-show. We currently have only one channel available and it's probably going to bore most people to death- anyways, Day 1!
Eli gestures with his hand in a wide motion towards the pod he's sitting beside of.
ELI
Let's introduce the main characters first. You see this pod right beside me? It's the broken one and I'm the one who's gonna fix it... hopefully. Right after Scott, Chloe, Greer, Camille and TJ went into stasis, Rush and I ran a final diagnostic on the three remaining pods and one of them just died on us. Rush volunteered to stay and fix it. Can you guys believe it? Young didn't trust him enough to-
INT. DESTINY - ELI'S QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS
Rush and Young are still watching the Kino footage.
ELI (O.C.)
-do what needed to be done if he failed or if the time ran out so...
Young taps Rush gently on the shoulder to get his attention.
Rush turns and Young makes a movement with his hand, indicating to skip the footage.
RUSH
Right.
Rush opens another window on the screen and checks the video file.
A metal screeching can be heard and then the door to Eli's room slides shut making both Rush and Young jump and turn around towards it.
YOUNG
Creepy.
RUSH
I don't know why the ship is behaving like this. It's like everything is hotwired.
Rush turns towards the console again, pressing on the controls.
RUSH
This file lasts days, Colonel.
YOUNG
We can't watch 'em all now.
RUSH
(agrees)
I'll just skip to the last one.
Rush gives the computer a few commands and the video footage starts moving quickly, skipping to the last bit of the file.
INT. DESTINY - CHAIR ROOM - FLASHBACK
Eli is standing in the Chair room, a mess of cables and utensils scattered all over the floor.
He activates the Kino and adjusts it to make sure he's being recorded and then, after exhaling, he starts speaking.
ELI
Okay guys, this is day 14 of Destiny's Big Brother Kino-show. I've got good news and bad news.
(lifting one finger)
The good news is that I'm almost done with the repairs. I've managed to take a few spare parts here and there. I've pulled some of the cables from other consoles, most of them were useless anyways. I had to pull some from the chair too.
Eli chuckles mirthlessly for a few seconds, rubbing at his red, tired eyes.
ELI
(grinning widely)
Rush's gonna be so mad when he finds out. It's a complete wreck... maybe I should hide it... How am I supposed to hide an ancient chiar? It's bolted to the floor.
Eli thinks for a few seconds, trying to come up with a plausible plan.
ELI
Jamming the door panels? That'd be an idea... What am I even saying? Rush's too stubborn to be stopped by a door, especially if there's the ancient chair on the other side of it. I swear, the man is in love with the thing. And for my plan to work those cables had to go anyways...
After that, the smile fades and Eli takes a deep breath, sitting on the stool in front of the lonely console in the chair room.
ELI
(lifting second finger)
Now, the bad news is... I've got no more time left. I can't hope to finish the repairs in-
Eli looks down to the console, tapping on it.
ELI
-less than eighty minutes.
Eli exhales and shakes his head with a rueful smile.
ELI
I should have known. But! I've got an idea, which is why I'm not in the stasis chamber room.
Eli gestures around him, his excitement temporarily replacing his hopelessness.
ELI
As you can obviously see, I'm in the chair room. And it might sound crazy to anyone who doesn't have Rush in their name, but I swear it's a genius plan... if it works. If it doesn't, I die and the ship doesn't lose any power so... still genius, except the, uh, dying part.
Eli rubs his neck, releasing the tension in the muscles there and then resumes his monologue.
ELI
So, uh, after about... a week of repairs I realized that I wasn't gonna fix my pod in time, so- after having a mental breakdown for two days- I realized that my only way of getting out of this mess alive... or somewhat alive, was to use the chair. Actually, Doctor Franklin game me the idea. He showed up and helped me with... all of this.
He said, gesturing to the mess behind him.
ELI
Apparently he also showed up to talk to Rush a bunch of times, that actually explains a few things. Brody, Park and Volker had a bet going on that Rush was actually losing his mind for good. Come to think about it, they were probably right. The dude's a hot mess on his good days. Oops... I shouldn't have said that. Anyways Rush and Brody modified the Chair's interface to slow down the data transfer a while back... well I erased that program. Now the chair is as powerful as when Doctor Franklin sat on it. You might be asking yourselves: "Eli have you gone bonkers?"
Eli chuckles, walking around the console and tapping the Kino.
ELI
I assure you guys, whatever is wrong with Rush's mental health didn't affect me as well. If I successfully establish a connection with the Chair, the system requires one condition to be functional. That I live. But a human body can't possibly stay alive for three whole years, or however much Destiny requires to jump and show up on the other side. Franklin told me that without that interface, my conscience will be downloaded directly into Destiny's systems. I'll be fully connected to it. Which sounds kinda cool, but also kinda scary. Who am I kidding? I'm shitting my pants here.
Eli laughs nervously, then looks back down onto the console again, checking the data.
ELI
Less than sixty-five minutes. I guess that's it, guys.
Eli taps on the console, setting a ten second timer and walks over to the chair, sitting on it.
ELI
As Rush once said: "For a moment there, I thought we were in trouble". See ya on the other side!
The chair activates, it traps Eli's ankles and wrists, the electrodes connect to Eli's scull and after a flash of light, his body is gone.
INT. DESTINY - ELI'S QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS
Rush and Young are very still as the last bit of the video explodes in a bright flash of light.
Then it fades, and Eli's body is gone, only the ancient Chair remains in the empty room.
For a few seconds the recording goes on, then Rush shuts it down.
RUSH
I think that's your cue, Colonel Young.
Rush said, finally standing from the stool and going towards the door.
YOUNG
(visibly confused)
What are you talking about?
Rush stops in the corridor but doesn't turn around to face the Colonel.
RUSH
You said you needed to report to the SGC, well now you actually have something to report about.
Having said that, Rush resumes walking.
Young takes a few brisk paces, reaching Rush and grabbing his shoulder.
YOUNG
Aren't you coming as well?
RUSH
And risk having some incompetents roaming around an ancient spaceship? Not a chance. Send my regards to General O'Neill.
YOUNG
At least have the decency to tell me where I can find you.
RUSH
The bridge, if the doors decide to cooperate.
After that, Rush turns the corner and is gone.
Young takes a few seconds to contemplate the right course of action, then turns around and walks through the corridors until he finds the Stones Room.
He enters and closes the door behind him. Young opens a metal box, taking a console out of it and positioning it onto the table. Then he looks back inside and fishes out a tiny blue stone and puts it onto the console.
After that, Young closes his eyes and feels his consciousness leave his body.
INT. DESTINY - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE BRIDGE - LATER
Rush is kneeling besides the Bridge's door panel and is fumbling with it.
After what feels like hours later, he screws the panel back onto the wall and pushes the controls.
The door whines as it slides open and Rush enters the Bridge with a sigh.
Rush sits on the commander's chair and presses a few buttons. The Bridge's lights turn on, the overhead monitors begin to slide down and the Bridge itself starts to slide up from Destiny so that Rush is able to see the outside space.
Immidiately after that, Rush takes a quick look outside and frowns.
EXT. SPACE - DESTINY - CONTINUOUS
Destiny is in the middle of a seven planets star system, the light coming from the sun is bright.
The ship is dangerously close to the 4th planet and it seems to be on a collision course onto it.
The ship continues on its course, undisturbed.
INT. DESTINY - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Rush stands up from the commander's chair and walks towards the central station, sitting on the chair there and accessing Destiny's systems directly.
After a few minutes Rush presses a final button onto the console and then turns around in his chair, raising his head, looking around momentarily.
The Bridge is totally empty, except for him, so Rush turns back around towards the console, staring at the monitor.
RUSH
(unsure)
It should have worked.
FRANKLIN (O.C.)
It did.
Rush turns back around startled and stares.
FRANKLIN
Hello there, Nick.
RUSH
Franklin.
FRANKLIN
(chuckles)
It's hard to get rid of me.
INT. DESTINY - STONES ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Colonel Telford opens his eyes to find himself inside Destiny. He looks around and then lowers his head and catches the military badge on the uniform this body is wearing.
"Young" it says.
Telford stands up from the chair and taps gently onto the radio, contemplating on using it or not.
He then shakes his head and walks towards the closed door, hitting the opening panel.
INT. DESTINY - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
On the Bridge, Rush is staring at an amused hologram of Doctor Franklin.
FRANKLIN
From that look on your face, I take it you know what's going on.
RUSH
(exasperated)
Not really. Care to enlighten me?
FRANKLIN
(jokingly)
Hey now. Aren't you able to figure it out on your own?
Rush sighs and turns the chair back around towards the console.
RUSH
The systems are malfunctioning all over the ship.
FRANKLIN
(chiding)
You can do better than that.
RUSH
There is a program directive active. It seems to have the highest priority over all the other programs but I can't access it.
FRANKLIN
(smiling)
We're making progress.
Rush stands up and walks towards Franklin who is standing directly behind the commanding chair.
RUSH
I don't have time for this. Do you see that?
Rush gestures annoyed towards the outside view. The planet is coming closer by the minute.
RUSH
Destiny is on a collision course with that planet. I need to find a way to access this primary directive and change it's parameters or everyone on this ship, alive or frozen, is gonna die. So stop messing around and help me, will you?
FRANKLIN
(calm)
No.
RUSH
No? What do you mean "no"?
FRANKLIN
Believe me, you don't need my help, Nicholas. In fact, you don't need to do anything.
Rush smiles ruefully, shaking his head and sitting onto the command chair.
RUSH
You're not Franklin. You're the AI, aren't you?
Franklin's hologram touches itself into the chest and shakes its head.
FRANKLIN
Nope. I'm pretty sure I'm myself all right.
RUSH
The real Franklin would have given me something to work with. I'm completely shut out of the systems. I can't do anything!
Franklin walks around the chair and comes to stand right in front of Rush, temporarily blocking his outside view, both to distract him and make him listen to him.
FRANKLIN
I grant you that under different circumstances, I would have helped you. But believe me, and this is not the AI speaking, it's me, you're gonna be fine. Just let the program run it's course.
RUSH
(realizing)
We're not on a collision route, are we? We're gonna land on that planet.
FRANKLIN
(smiles)
See, you figured it out. You didn't really need my help after all.
RUSH
(shakes head)
I'd throttle you if you weren't a hologram.
FRANKLIN
(chuckels)
Oh, I know. My wife used to say the same thing.
Rush slides down onto the chair, resting his aching neck onto it and sighing heavily.
INT. DESTINY - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Telford finally arrives at the bridge, but he doesn't walk inside, instead he positions himself behind one of the pillars so that he's still able to hear what the other occupant of the room is saying.
Telford still moves his head to take a look inside the bridge, apparently Rush is talking on his own.
Telford smirks.
He did lose his mind after all.
INT. DESTINY - BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Franklin is still watching Rush as he slupms onto his chair with a look of utter misery.
FRANKLIN
From my calculations, it will take approximately 8 minutes for Destiny to reach that planet, 2 more minutes to fully land onto its surface and I'm only telling you this because I can't stand that depressed pout you have on your face.
Rush sighs again, covering his eyes with his hands.
FRANKLIN
I know this is a very unusual question, especially if it's directed towards you but, have you, by any chance slept before going into stasis? It's not a cure-all machine, you know?
RUSH
Oh, believe me I know. And, what kind of question is that? With all there was to do-
Franklin interrupts Rush mid-sentence, waving a dismissive hand in his face.
FRANKLIN
(sarcastic)
Yes, yes. I know, tons of work, is that right?
RUSH
Sounds right.
Franklin, still standing right in front of Rush, crosses his arms and smirks.
FRANKLIN
Well, ask away.
RUSH
(confused)
Excuse me?
FEANKLIN
Come now, I am still connected to Destiny's systems. Isn't there anything that you want to know? Don't you want to find out if the drones have somehow managed to find Destiny again, or something?
RUSH
(confused)
How would you know that? Eli put you into quarantine together with Doctor Perry and Gin inside the database.
FRANKLIN
(nods)
Well, yes that's true but once you released me justa few minutes ago, I just had to take a look at all the kino footages Eli saved into the memory banks.
A moment passes, Rush's thoughts dwell on Eli.
RUSH
So tell me, is Eli's consciousness inside Destiny now?
FRANKLIN
Oh yes, it's there in quaratine. But you can't release it even if you tried.
RUSH
Why?
FRANKLIN
I don't know for sure...
(confused)
What are you doing?
RUSH
I'm running a quick diagnostic onto the systems. It says here that there was a power discharge exactly the moment before the chair got deactivated when Eli used it.
FRANKLIN (nods)
Destiny compensated for that, but Eli's consciousness was hit right in the moment it got inside the system. Destiny had to put him into quarantine to avoid any further damages.
Rush turns his head back up from the console and stares Franklin right in the eyes.
RUSH
Any further damages?
FRANKLIN
There's no need to panic here. As I already said before, he was safely inserted into the system and he is now in quarantine, but he's sort of stuck there for now. You can actually release the consciousnesses of Doctor Perry and Gin though.
RUSH
Amanda's program might have lost priority the moment this Primary Directive activated, along with all the other programs in the system. Wait, don't tell me they were all deleted?
FRANKLIN
No, no they weren't deleted. They're all still there, but the Directive has the priority at the moment, so everything else was either shut down or rendered useless.
RUSH
Well, that's actually the first good news someone gives me in a long while.
FRANKLIN
Our time is almost up. Remember Nick, just let the ship do what it needs to do. Don't interfeer, it's part of the journey.
As soon as Franklin finishes that statement, everything starts to shake, alarms flaring on the consoles.
INT. DESTINY - CORRIDOR OUTSIDe BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Telford grabs the nearest pillar as the entire ship starts shaking.
With no other option and scared out of his mind, Telford grabs his gun and steps inside the bridge.
TELFORD
(panicked)
Rush! What the hell have you done?
RUSH
This is all part of the Directive- (notices gun pointed at him)
Colonel Young?
TELFORD
(smirks)
Guess again.
RUSH
(realizing)
Telford.
TELFORD
(menacing)
Yeah, now stop whatever you're doing or I swear to God, I shoot you right here on the spot.
CUT TO BLACK
INT. STARGATE COMMAND - EARTH
John Sheppard and Rodney McKay are inside what ones was General O'Neill's office in Stargate Command.
Rodney is leaning against the desk, hands set onto the metallic surface and staring at Sheppard.
MCKAY
(petulant)
Oh, come on, John.
SHEPPARD
I already told you, Rodney. You're not going.
MCKAY
(petulant)
But they might use my expertiese.
SHEPPARD
I'm pretty sure Doctor Walker has it covered.
MCKAY
Yeah, like he had the P9-G13 problem covered? Oh wait, no, he most certainly did not!
Someone knocks onto the door.
SHEPPARD
(whispers)
Thank God.
MCKAY
I heard that!
SHEPPARD
Come in.
PYKE
Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt you, General.
SHEPPARD
No, it's alright. Doctor McKay was just about to leave.
MCKAY
(sarcastic)
Oh, was I?
SHEPPARD
(smirks)
Definitively.
PYKE
Actually Sir, you better come down to the gate room. You too, Doctor McKay.
SHEPPARD
What is it, Pyke?
PYKE
You won't believe your eyes.
Sheppard and McKay follow Pyke down the stairs and make their way to the control room, ...
TELFORD
Hey, you people? Where is General O'Neill? I want to speak to him!
MCKAY
(confused)
What's this now?
SHEPPARD
Colonel Telford, what's gotten into you?
TELFORD
Sheppard? Aren't you stationed on Atlantis? Never mind. What's going on here?
SHEPPARD
Well, for one, it's General now and SG-1 was scheduled to go to P1H-759 five minuets ago. And I hate to punctualize, but you guys are still here.
TELFORD
I've been trying to explain for the past five minutes, Sir, I'm not Telford.
MCKAY
Oh yeah? And who might you be, pray tell?
YOUNG
I'm Colonel Everett Young.
Sheppard, Mckay and all the other technicians in the control room remain speachless for a few seconds.
MCKAY
(confused)
That's not possible.
YOUNG
It is possible! We woke up! Now, would someone tell me what the hell is going on? And since when you're Brigadier General... General?
SHEPPARD
Alright... Let's just all try to calm down here. There's been a few chages since your last visit, Colonel.
YOUNG
Yeah, I can see that.
SHEPPARD
(to Pyke, gesturing towards the stargate)
Shut it off, Pyke. Mission aborted.
The stargate shuts down.
SHEPPARD
Alright, let's get up to my office, we'll talk there in private.
INT. SGC - STAIRS LEADING TO CONGEREMCE ROOM - MINUTES LATER
Young, Sheppard and McKay start walking up the stares, Young can't help but stare at the new kind of technology, which seems pretty much integrated with Ancient technology but still retaining a very Earth-y feeling to it.
YOUNG
You got some new tech while we were gone, Sir?
MCKAY
(nods)
Things have changed quite a bit in the last 13 years.
Young stops in his tracks, too stunned to continue putting one foot in front of the other on the stairs leading to the conference room.
SHEPPARD
(elbows Rodney on the shoulder)
Rodney!
MCKAY
(flinching and rubbing the sore spot)
What? He was gonna find out either way, and there's no way to suggar coat this, John.
SHEPPARD
This might come as quite a shock, but when you guys didn't show up after three years, the Icarus project and all related research were shut down. Let's just say, we weren't expecting you at all. And don't give me that look Colonel, I wasn't in charge back then.
Once Young came back to his senses enough to resume walking up the stares again and having reached the top, he finds himself able to ask.
YOUNG
And who was?
SHEPPARD
Tecnically it was General Landry, General O'Neill finally retired-
MCKAY
About time I might add. He was alwasy going on and on about how much he wanted to get a new house near a new lake.
(Rodney raises his hands making a quoting gesture)
Emphasys on "new" lake; apparently there weren't any more fishes in the one in front of his old house. Don't ask me how he managed to fish all the fish out of that lake.
SHEPPARD
Anyways, the order came from high up.
YOUNG
The President?
SHEPPARD
(nods)
The President.
YOUNG
What about the stones?
SHEPPARD
We shut them off 10 years ago.
MCKAY
Which begs the question: How are you even here right now?
YOUNG
I just... connected with the stones like normal. You're one of the smart guys, aren't you? Figure it out.
Sheppard and McKay look at each other.
MCKAY
You're thinking what I'm thinking?
SHEPPARD
Let's find out. Colonel, would you empty your pockets for us, please?
Young does so and deposits onto the table all that he finds.
A cigarette pack and lighter, some old toothpicks and then his hand grabs something smooth and solid.
He puts it onto the table.
MCKAY
Uh, go figure. I always knew that Telford guy was onto something.
SHEPPARD
(sarcastic)
Really?
McKay ignores Sheppard and resumes.
MCKAY
He's probably taken the console as well; the stones on their own don't do much, they require a terminal to patch the consciousness through.
YOUNG
(ignores McKay)
What's the date?
SHEPPARD
You might want to sit down, Colonel.
YOUNG
(angry)
Don't give me that crap, tell me!
SHEPPARD
It's October 18th 2024. 20.32 PM American Standard Time.
MCKAY
It's Wednesday, by the way.
Now Young's knees can't find the strenght and he actually sits down onto the chair. Shock building up in his chest.
After a few more minutes he asks.
YOUNG
You mentioned that the Icarus project was shut down?
SHEPPARD
Yes, it's a long story.
YOUNG
I don't know how much time I've got, so you better start from the beginning.
INT. DESTINY - BRIDGE - SOME TIME HAS PASSED
Young blinks, Destiny's bridge coming back into view.
Young notices his outstretched hand, his M19 pistol pointed right at Rush's chest.
RUSH (O.C.)
(furious/scared)
...that's what military men do, isn't that right, Telford? Coming in, guns blazing, punching people in their faces before even assessing what the hell is going on!
Young slowly lowers it and rehashes it into its' holder.
Then he takes a step forward, his empty hand outstretched towards the scientist who is still clutching his face, red blood flowing down his hand.
YOUNG
Rush-
RUSH
How clever of you. And you might want to check that hand of yours, Colonel. I have a pretty thick nose!
Young crouches down in front of the scientist, hand still outstretched.
YOUNG
Rush, listen to me-
RUSH
(flinches)
Don't touch me!
Young flinches back, retreating his hand.
YOUNG
(gentle)
Rush, it's Young.
After a few seconds of calculating observation, Rush narrows his eyes.
RUSH
(blinks)
Colonel Young?
YOUNG
(nods)
Yeah, Young! Calm down. What's wrong with your nose?
RUSH
Telford's gone mad. That's what's wrong.
YOUNG
Believe me, we say that about you all the time. And your nose looks even more uneven than usual.
RUSH
(a beat)
Very funny, Colonel. I think you broke it.
YOUNG
(helps Rush off the floor)
That tecnically wasn't me and you know it.
RUSH
Semantics, it was still your fist that connected with my face.
YOUNG
What did Telford want? And what the hell is going on here?
RUSH
He wanted me to stop whatever he thought I was trying to do in order to destroy this ship.
Young stars around the shaking ship with concern in his eyes.
YOUNG
I don't mean to sound insulting, Rush, but that's precisely what it looks like you're doing right now.
RUSH
Oh, give me a break, will you? We've spent enough time on this ship that by now I would expect you to know me better than to assume I'd actually want to destroy Destiny.
YOUNG
It seems to me that we're on a pretty tight schedule, so you might want to explain this one to me, and fast.
RUSH
That Primary Directive I found, it's a landing sequence.
YOUNG
Landing?
RUSH
Destiny came out of hyperspace in range of a solar system and if everything goes according to plan, the landing sequence will be complete in less than 1 minute.
YOUNG
And is it safe? What about the shields?
RUSH
Our energy reserves are practically non-existent. We only have enough power to get through the descent in the atmosphere.
The two men turn to look out of the hull, the trembling ship is approaching a large mountain structure.
Rush has to get a hold of the nearest console in order not to fall face first onto the floor after a not so gentle shake of the ship.
Young, steadies him, grabbing him by the arm and balancing himself with his other hand on top of the backrest of the captain's chair.
YOUNG
That's... we're headed for that mountain?
RUSH
Apparently. Do you see the structure up there? Well, the design seems Ancient from what I can see.
YOUNG
Deja vù. One of their bases?
Rush shakes his head. He doesn't know. The ship shakes one last time.
YOUNG
Touchdown.
After they touchdown, the ship comes to a full stop, Rush turns to one of the consoles, which starts bleeping as he presses buttons.
YOUNG
So, what are the odds of being eaten alive by alien bugs?
RUSH
Pretty slim, actually. The atmosphere is mostly made up of nitrogen and oxygen with the minor presence of carbon dioxide, helium, water vapor and other inert gasses, mainly argon.
YOUNG
So... an M-class planet.
RUSH
(exhasperated)
Not you too.
YOUNG
(grins)
I've listened to Eli babbling enough about Star Trek references that I think I've learned 'em all by now.
RUSH
That sounds horrible.
YOUNG
I'll try to restrain myself when in your royal presence, uncle.
RUSH
Let's go.
YOUNG
Where are you going?
RUSH
I instructed Destiny to open all the necessary doors and lead us to the hangar.
YOUNG
We have a hangar?
RUSH
So it would seem. Now that we're no longer in space, we have complete access to the sections that were previously sealed due to structural damage. The entire ship is now available for us to explore.
YOUNG
Well, hold your horses for a second there, genius. What about the others? You said the timer stopped. Don't you think that maybe you should try to restore it?
RUSH
There's no need for it. As soon as Destiny docked, the Primary Directive deactivated, thus reinstating all previous programs and directives. The first group will wake up in less than two hours.
YOUNG
That's good.
(rubbing his knuckles)
You were right, by the way.
RUSH
I'm usually right about a lot of things, Colonel. You might want to specify what you mean.
YOUNG
You've got quite a thick nose.
RUSH
(smirks)
So, shall we continue?
YOUNG
I'll meet you there, I've got to go grab something first.
INT. DESTINY - HANGAR BAY - MINUTES LATER
Young comes back with an M17 Pistol and a P90.
He hands the M17 to Rush while the last door opens revealing a large hangar bay, with another two shuttle similar to the ones attatched to the ship's hull, but slightly smaller.
YOUNG
Here. We don't know if we'll encounter some kind of resistance.
RUSH
(not taking the gun)
Please Colonel, I don't think there's anyone left inside the temple, besides Destiny's computer didn't locate any other life signs.
YOUNG
Better safe than sorry, Rush. You of all people should know that. Besides, how do you know that's a temple?
RUSH
The structure recalls those of ancient Greek temples.
YOUNG
So, Greek architecture with lots of fire machines? Sounds charming. Do you remember your training?
He is met with an annoyed look by the scientist but starts explaining nonetheless.
YOUNG
Point the gun always in front of you in direct line with your eyes. Finger off the trigger unless you're sure you wanna fire on the target. Mind the recoil.
RUSH
(takes the gun)
Fine. You've been very quiet about your visit to Earth, Colonel.
Young grimaces.
RUSH
(sighs)
That bad, huh?
YOUNG
You can say that. The Icarus project was shut down ten years ago, when they couldn't establish a connection three years after our last meeting. It's been thirteen years, Rush. We've slept for thirteen fucking years and they had given up on ever finding us.
RUSH
(a beat, blinks)
So... it's 2024?
YOUNG
September the 19th, yes. For some reason the stones worked though.
RUSH
They shut the stones as well?
YOUNG
Apparently the cost to maitain the project active outweighed the benefits of the research. The order came from high up and O'Neill had his hands tied. Sheppard was so shocked when I told him who I was, McKay as well.
RUSH
Sheppard and McKay were there?
YOUNG
Sheppard is Brigadier General. SGC's commanding officer, and McKay... I think he's the lead scientist there? I didn't really pay that much attention. Those two didn't seem to have aged at all. Anyways Telford had one of the stones in his pocket.
RUSH
He must have nicked the control console as well, or maybe found a way to use the stones without it.
YOUNG
(nods)
Yeah, that's what McKay said. Sheppard was about to get onto the phone with Area 51, pull some strings and see what they can find, but then I woke up on the bridge.
RUSH
(nods, pensive)
It's no secret Telford has been wanting your job ever since he set foot in the SGC, Colonel. Maybe he wasn't happy about the shut down and wanted to continue the research on his own.
YOUNG
Yes, I've thought of that, but that was after the brainwashing incident.
RUSH
You are forgetting something: the Alpha site incident, the one that almost cost Greer to be court martialed. Telford was involved in it but the detailes were conveniently obscured by SGC. Not even Camille has a clue about what transpired.
YOUNG
Maybe because that has nothing to do with all of this?
RUSH
It most certainly has something to do with all of this. We don't know by that time if Telford had already been compromised.
YOUNG
(shakes head, resolute)
He wasn't with the Alliance back then.
RUSH
How can you be so sure? It was awfully convinient that the Lucian Alliance showed up when it did though, don't you think?
YOUNG
I see what you're doing here, Rush, but it won't work. It was your decision to dial the Destiny and not Earth.
RUSH
(exasperated)
How many times do I have to repeat myself? Earth's core would have been destroyed along with the Icarus planet itself! We've already been over this, Colonel.
YOUNG
Why didn't Destiny blow up, then? I was there when the planet exploded and barely came out of it alive. Why didn't the explosion come through the wormhole and incinerate us all?
RUSH
Destiny is a ship built by the Ancients, it doesn't matter how old it is. The Ancients ten thousand years ago were still more technologically advanced than us today. Destiny must have had some failsafe built into the gate. You weren't quite conscious to notice, but as soon as you came through, the gate shut down on it's own. I couldn't risk the wellbeing of an entire planet only for a few hundred people.
After having said that, the hangar bay door opens on it's own, a clanking followed by the straining of the metal door sliding to reveal a big round platform connected to the main structure by a long large corridor mimetized in the nature.
The two men look at each other, surveying the landscape before stepping off the ship after 13 years of reclusion, eager to discover what new planet they have landed onto.
ENDING CREDITS