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Four space-suited astronauts are walking across a cratered surface. Daniel Jackson’s voice can be heard, "It may as well be the moon out here!…If there ever was anyone home they’ve been gone one hundred thousand years or more." Teal’c observes that life there is now extinct, however Carter reminds them that the probe picked up an EM source from somewhere.

They discover a slightly larger than softball sized metallic orb, set in an upright formation of cylinders. Sam is amazed, "If Daniel is right, this has been sending out a signal since Neanderthals were a dominant species on Earth!" "Oh, that takes me back!" Jack whimsically quips. They all begin to make observations. Daniel notices tiny, unreadable writing along the surface of the globe. Sam remarks that it maintains an internal temperature of 33 degrees Fahrenheit, emits creates an electromagnetic field and emits small amounts of radiation. In order to do a "threat assessment" O’Neill asks everyone why the object would be doing all of that. Sam is mystified, "I don’t know what it is, sir…but it has a power source more advanced than anything we’ve found – more advanced than the Goa’uld!" Jackson offers, "A time capsule is an educated guess!" Teal’c proposes a more dangerous possibility, "The Goa’uld sometimes leave behind the means to destroy a conquering civilization." Carter asks, "You mean a booby trap?" Teal’c, now mystified himself asks, "Booby?" Daniel is much intrigued, "Whatever civilization there was, went to great pains to leave this behind, like a message in a bottle." Even Teal’c must concede that the benefit may outweigh the risk, and Sam points out that Earth could use a power source that lasts thousands of years! Jack is finally convinced and orders, "OK! Pack it up! Let’s go home!" As the object is placed into the MALP, it begins to glow softly inside the cracks at the top, unseen by SG-1.

Back at SGC, O’Neill informs Gen. Hammond that the object has been acquired and recommends level three precautions. Sam requests full spectral analysis and Daniel asks for a detailed imaging of the surface into the computer. Gen. Hammond wants to know if it all went as planned. "You know, one small step, one giant leap! That sort of thing, sir!" smiles Jack. Later, the probe is being held in an analysis apparatus in a laboratory. Sam notes that 2 more elements can be added to the periodic table. She glances over her shoulder to a nervous co-worker, and tells him to relax… it will be a long day. Daniel whispers to Sam, "He gets nervous whenever he’s around you…maybe a crush?" The lieutenant interrupts the discussion and shyly remarks, "We are recording now!" "Thank you, lieutenant!" Carter responds. Daniel can only manage a "Oops! Hey! The artifact!" All seems well for the moment.

Daniel’s initial analysis of the writing on the surface is that it "appears to be a set of instructions…on how to open it…and much more! There are over 1,000 pages of text on the exterior surface alone!" The team is informed that the NID wants a look at it, but Teal’c and Jack want to keep it near the Stargate until Daniel’s theory that it is not harmful is confirmed. General Hammond is only willing to give them 24 hours to study the artifact. Daniel and Sam stay up all night analyzing. Daniel’s mind is racing as he has discovered "what might be an exponential progression of alien numbers…and that’s…information I can’t use!" A well-rested and chipper Jack enters to remind them that SG-1 has to ship out soon to P4G881. Daniel is much annoyed, "A primordial world that does not need an archeologist!" Jack patronizingly reminds Daniel that SG-1 is a field unit and he can’t have it both ways. "When we return you can…visit," he offers to a none-too-pleased Jackson.

Lt. Simmons interrupts their discussion, nervously announcing that there is an EM spike from the artifact and that the interior temperature is rising. Daniel quips, "Maybe we woke it up?!" When the alpha particle generation hits 600% and internal temperature 100 degrees, Sam insists they must return it to P5C353. As Jack goes to remove it, the orb opens slightly, revealing a glowing interior. "I think we can rule out a time capsule!" he astutely comments. Jackson informs Gen. Hammond that something is wrong with the artifact and the Gate needs to be opened. Jack has determined there is no time to put on protective suits. He and Teal’c will simply throw the orb through the Gate, but as they try to remove it from the analysis stand, barbed spikes shoot out from the sides! "It does not want to be removed!" Teal’c exclaims. The Gate cycles as the chevrons are encoded. Teal’c and Jack bring the artifact into the embarkation room. The Gate engages, and as it does, new spikes shoot out anchoring the orb to the ground and others to the wall. One narrowly misses Teal’c. The last spike impales O’Neill through his shoulder to the wall, several feet off the floor. He reacts in great pain, choking out, "God! Oh, God!" Teal’c runs to his side, helplessly seeing there is nothing he can do to free Jack. He runs for his staff weapon as Daniel, Sam and the others join Jack in the embarkation room. Dr. Frasier is amazed at how clean the wound is! There is no blood!

Jack is becoming frantic. He orders Teal’c to shoot the orb. Teal’c suggest everyone else observe from the control room. Jack is sweating and shuddering in obvious pain. Sam is afraid it is a mistake to fire upon the artifact. She wonders how much staff energy will go through the object and be passed on to the colonel. Jack has no time to think and yells, "Do it!" He reacts in pain as the staff energy moves up the rod holding him in place. "Again!" Jack screams in pain. No change is seen in the artifact! Sam tells Gen. Hammond "Sir! It just absorbed the energy!" She is afraid they might be feeding it just what it wants! The General wants to try cutting the rod. Carter cautions that it is most likely several hundred times stronger than steel. Gen. Hammond announces to Jack, who is writhing in pain, that it is likely to take some time.

Gen. Hammond informs Sam and Daniel that the NID people want the artifact, especially knowing what it’s done to Col. O’Neill. They hope it is a weapon to use against the Goa’uld. Daniel, full of pain and guilt, and realizing his optimistic dream is falling apart, remarks "I wanted the artifact to be something wonderful!" The General tells him not to feel guilty, "We’ve brought things back from all over the galaxy – this time one finally snapped us in the ass." As Sam and Daniel get to work on further analysis, Gen. Hammond orders a lock-up on the mountain, as he initiates "wildfire". The loudspeaker booms "Level 4 quarantine is now in effect."

In the embarkation room, Dr. Frasier administers a shot to Jack, as a soldier attempts to cut the rod with a blowtorch. Jack is sweating profusely, "Hot!" he mumbles. He has a fever, caused by infection, and Dr. Frasier is giving him antibiotics. Teal’c is not happy with the progress of the blowtorch and informs the sergeant. He explains he can go no faster, "It’s the hardest stuff I’ve ever come across!"

Jackson and Carter assemble a team to work toward a solution. Dr. Frasier shows Carter what she has learned about Jack’s infection. "It is mobile, like a bacteria, but small like a virus, and slightly radioactive. It is definitely alien, and appears to bond in chains." Oddly, it appears to have infected Jack’s clothes as well and seems able to metabolize them! "It’s behaving like an indiscriminate form of necrotizing fasciaitis, flesh eating disease!" As ultraviolet units are moved to the Gate room, the bacteria become visible. They are seen traveling down the rod into Jack. They are also on his uniform and the wall behind him. Lt. Simmons asks "What’s happening to me?" as he holds up his hands to reveal glowing bacteria covering them! The organism eats through everything, including concrete. It also has a taste for wiring, and Carter imagines it won’t be long before it attacks the computer system as well.

Frasier is concerned that, although tetracycline slows the organism, Lt. Simmons is allergic. She has nothing to treat him with, and asks the General for outside supplies. He absolutely forbids this, due to the quarantine of the base. The Gen. then asks Sam if they can beat this thing. She’s not sure. They debate whether or not to evacuate the base to another world. "Evacuate to where?" Sam asks. "We don’t have the right to infect another world!" They also aren’t sure what the orb would do if they tried to activate the Stargate again. "Very well, we make our stand here," the General resolutely determines.

Jack is slipping in and out of consciousness as he calls for Teal’c. "I am here, O’Neill" Teal’c responds. Jack tells him "It’s hot…you?" "The symbiote I carry appears to protect me" Teal’c answers. "Way to go junior!" O’Neill faintly offers. Teal’c tries to reassure Jack that Dr. Frasier will find a cure, as he wipes Jack’s brow. Jack tells Teal’c he doesn’t have to stick around, to which Teal’c responds "Undomesticated equines could not remove me!" Jack tries to correct him, "Wild horses, Teal’c, it’s…that’s a joke! You told a joke?!…Don’t make me laugh!" Jack looks appreciatively at Teal’c, "You’re a good man, my friend!" "As are you, my friend," Teal’c offers. The blowtorch is just about through, but the rod extends further, causing Jack more pain! He begins to weep. Teal’c can’t believe that nothing is working, "It will not allow is to free you, O’Neill!"

Sam and Daniel continue to study diagrams of the orb’s surface. Daniel thinks out loud, "Perhaps it’s a warning. This organism will continue to grow exponentially until…what?…we die?…what’s the point of saying that?" "Try turning the page," Sam suggests.

Dr. Frasier gives Lt. Simmons pain medication, as he asks to see Captain Carter. Dr. Frasier agrees. Sam is correct, the staff blast gave the organism the energy it needed to reproduce. "We fed it!" Sam exclaims. She compares the organism’s consumption of material and fuel to that of a fire, and proposes slowing its growth by cutting the oxygen supply. Meanwhile, the computers go haywire, as the organism has infected them. Teal’c is trying to slow the spread of the organism with the blowtorch. Jack continues to suffer horribly. Carter asks Gen. Hammond to order Teal’c to stop. She insists the General must trust her, and adjust the oxygen levels to 8 percent, in order to slow the reproduction of the organism.

Meanwhile, the self-destruct counter has started on its own! Under the wildfire protocol, if containment failure is noted, auto-destruct kicks in! Sam and Gen. Hammond can’t enter the abort code because the organism has invaded the computers and they can’t recognize the code. In just under 3 hours, Sam predicts, the organism will be fed enough energy from the self-destruct blast to be spread over the face of the earth!

Jack is certain he caused all of this, "I screwed up!" he tells Teal’c. "I also believed we should retrieve the object," Teal’c responds. "It was my decision" says Jack, barely able to speak. Teal’c doesn’t want to hear this, "If we are to meet the challenge of the Goa’uld, and further your race, risk must be taken. Your decision was correct!" Jack shakes his head in a silent no.

Lowering the oxygen has slowed the growth 80%, Sam informs Dr. Frasier as she receives her antibiotic booster. Sam then visits Lt. Simmons bedside. "Before I…I just wanted to say how much…" he coughs, struggles and manages a weak smile. "How am I doin so far?" Sam tells him he’s doing great, as he passes out.

An obviously fatigued Jackson struggles to stay awake and make sense of all the diagrams before him. He notices an odd image flashing occasionally across the computer screen amid the rest of the garble. He concludes that the organism is trying to communicate with them! The General wants to know what it is trying to say. In frustration, Daniel remarks "It could be saying take me to your leader for all I know! I have no idea!…The point is, it is trying!…We haven’t considered we might be dealing with an alien intelligence!…Not once have we stopped to listen!" "How do we do that?" Gen. Hammond asks. "We let it grow!" Sam incredibly responds! She wants to give it more oxygen, more energy, and let it do what it was trying to do. A much-frustrated General Hammond explodes "That is the exact opposite of your advice so far! Which is it Captain?" Sam reminds him that they both know what will happen if they don’t try something!

Jack has passed out. Daniel points out that even if it grows to the point where it tries to communicate, it will be in a language he can’t begin to translate without a point of reference. Sam wonders if Jack didn’t just happen to get in the way. What if the organism impaled him on purpose? She decides they must take Jack off of the antibiotic. Sam is certain the organism has been trying to communicate through Jack all along. She tells Jack he might mot survive what they are about to do. His only response is a weak grasp of her hand as she removes the antibiotic needle. She signals to Teal’c to send a staff blast. Jack groans. Another blast. The organism is all over Jack and the room now, as Sam discovers Jack has no pulse. Suddenly, in robot-like fashion, Jack opens his eyes and in a mechanical voice announces "Good morning campers!" The organism speaks through Jack, telling SGC that O'Neill is still present inside. The alien life tells them it can not return to where it was. It wants to live. Daniel and Teal’c try to explain that they meant not to harm the alien, they simply feared it. "And your fear would have destroyed us!" the organism responds through Jack. Daniel and the organism begin to discuss what is written on the orb, as the self-destruct counter reaches 4 minutes. The General tells the organism it can not stay on our world. It feels as though it has no alternative. Again the General explains how the complex is about to explode. The organism reveals that it will not be harmed. It will be nourished and spread throughout the Earth, consuming everything. Daniel excitedly blurts out "P4G881! It is a primordial world…We’ll take you there ourselves!" Jack falls silent and passes out. The computers shut down, then begin to reboot. "God help us!" the General prays. The counter reads 2 minutes! The Gate begins to cycle as the computers come back up. The final chevron engages as the counter reaches 42 seconds. Jack walks to the orb, it is glowing intensely. He places it through the Gate, and passes out once again. Sam and The General enter the abort code as one second remains on the count down!

Jack sits up, a bit disoriented, and says to SG-1 "Nice work!" Teal’c answers first "It is good to see you alive and well O’Neill." Daniel offers "Welcome back, Jack!" Sam tells him "We thought you were gone for good, sir!" Jack weakly jokes "Wild horses, Captain!" as they help him up.

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