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stargatefan.com : episodes > season 2 > next episode: a matter of time

In the briefing room of SGC, the SG-1 team is excitedly telling General Hammond about their latest discovery on planet PX7941, called Medrona by those that live there. Apparently, the inhabitants of Medrona can proactively affect their own climate! Jack comments "That's a bit of an understatement, General. They can call it up - just like that!" Daniel adds "If you have a crop that needs water, order some rain, if you have a crop that needs sun - literally just dial it up!" Sam can barely contain herself "We may have stumbled on the most important piece of technology the SGC has discovered to date!" The best the team can figure, the planet was terra-formed about 900 years ago. The Medronans are technologically primitive, so it was probably terra-formed by another alien race. The Medronans control their weather using what they call a touchstone; an ancient artifact most likely made by that same alien race. They show General Hammond videotapes of a winged statue of a woman, holding the touchstone in her outstretched hand. The touchstone itself is a globe, suspended within concentric rings that turn about it. It sits on a circular base atop a vase-like pedestal. Sam explains, "The high priest turns a series of calibrated rings which seem to determine meteorological conditions over the entire planet surface." SG-1 wants to return to Medrona and try to figure out how it works. Jack now explains "Carter wants to get a closer look with some of her specialized doohickeys." Hammond asks "Doohickeys?" Without missing a beat, Jack responds "I believe that's the technical term, sir!" Hammond wonders if they could simply borrow the touchstone for a few days to check it out. Sam flatly tells him it maintains the weather on that planet, there is no way they can remove it. The General gives them a go to return to Medrona.

The team exits the Gate on Medrona and sees a dark world in the grip of a severe thunderstorm. Clouds are whipping over a darkened body of water in the distance. SG-1 seems confused at first. As the planet's inhabitants approach them, Daniel bows saying "Greetings Roham. Princess La Moor." Roham is dressed in priestly robes and carries a staff with a suspended globe at the top. He is guided by Princess La Moor, as if his vision is failing or gone entirely. The Princess announces "It is the visitors, Uncle! We demand that you return the touchstone!" The team is shocked that the touchstone would be missing, and immediately deny having taken it. As they proceed down the walkway to the building, which houses the touchstone, the Medronan warriors, in tribal dress and headdress, threaten them with arrows and spears. They are lead to the statue, and see her hand is now empty. "Without the touchstone to shield us, we shall soon be overtaken by the elements. It's only a matter of time before we begin to die - because of your theft!" Roham accuses. Jack wants to know why it wasn't guarded. Roham tells him it was guarded, but they let down their guard because of Jack's people. The Princess retorts "We trusted you!" "We did not take it!" is Jack's sure reply. Teal'c adds to the argument "Had we taken the artifact, there would be no need to return." The Princess continues "There were witnesses. They saw a group of people carrying away the touchstone in the dead of night. Dressed much as you are, and carried weapons such as yours." Jack wants to know if she saw where they went. Roham tells him they left by the Stargate. The Princess reminds him that none of her people know how to use the portal. Roham commands "Guards! Disarm the wrongdoers!" As the warriors move to disarm SG-1, Jack draws his gun and yells "Hold it! All right, we came here in peace.. we expect to go in one.. piece that is." Teal'c points out that taking revenge on them will not return the touchstone, as they did not take it. Roham hopes it would lead to those who did. Jack is growing impatient "Only if they care what happens to us!" He starts to lecture Roham about the nature of thieves, at which point Roham turns away, equally impatient. Daniel, hoping to get true dialog going, suggests "If the thieves who took the touchstone left through the Gate, then the only hope it get it back is to let us go back through the Gate." Roham asks, "How do we know you will not use the Gate to escape responsibility?" Jack states "Trust us?" Princess La Moor explains "If my Uncle decides to trust you this day, our entire future will depend on that decision." Jack takes the challenge "OK, that's a little pressure, but we can handle that." As the storm winds intensify, Roham commands to let them go, and pleads for their help.

As the team exits the Gate at SGC, O'Neill tells Hammond they need to talk in his office. In a somber tone, Jack tells Hammond "The touchstone was stolen, sir, by people wearing SGC uniforms. They came and went through the Stargate." An incredulous Hammond asks, "Who was it?" Jack tells him "Everyone involved here would like to know, sir." He stares long and hard at the General. Hammond reacts "I don't appreciate the implication, Colonel. Why would I send your team to study the thing, if I knew it wasn't there?" Jack replies "No implication intended, sir. Could any other of the SGC teams have gone through without your order?" Hammond quickly answers "Not without my knowing about it." Jack is not convinced "Yes, sir. Do you mind if Carter checks the dialing computer to see if there are signs of anyone sneaking through the gate.. covertly? Behind your back as it were, sir." Hammond can only shake his head and repeat that nothing happens without his knowing about it. Jack says he understands, and turns to go. Hammond rethinks the problem and adds "Have Carter check it anyway." A grateful Jack smiles and thanks General Hammond.

Teal'c, Daniel and Sam are busy working on the SGC computers. Daniel and Teal'c have noticed some unusual weather disasters, severe storms and floods in Phoenix, Palm Springs, and other unlikely places. They think it might be attributed to someone trying to use the touchstone, and not knowing what they were doing. Jack reminds them that it might not be on Earth. Sam announces that she thinks it is. Sam goes on to explain "There was a huge, transitory glitch three days ago when SG-2 returned from a routine mission, roughly the same hour the touchstone was taken. This energy spike is off the charts. Remember what happened the last time that the Gate's power supply was overloaded? Daniel answers "It jumped to the second Gate in the Antarctic." Jack quips "Thanks for the memories!" It begins to appear as if someone had used the second Gate a split second after SG-2 used the Gate at SGC, to try to hide the energy spike. Sam begins to search the computer log of SG-2's mission to see if she can find the same electronic signature as the last time the wormhole "jumped its tracks." In both the primary and back up logs there is no match. Sam then calls up a third tier back up, thinking someone might have overlooked it if they were erasing data - and - a match is found. The second Gate had to have been used. The energy signatures are identical. Jackson is very puzzled "I thought the second Gate had been officially decommissioned." Jack agrees "It was - officially."

General Hammond tries in vain to reach the President. He is being stonewalled. Jack tells a dumbfounded Hammond that the second Gate is being used. The General shares a bit of history with him "Back when the SG program began, there was a philosophical skirmish about its mandate. Some people wanted to make sure that any and all discoveries were brought back regardless of considerations as interplanetary diplomacy." Jack wants to know who these some people were. Hammond answers "Truth is I'm not sure who they were. Someone chose not to surface during the debate. Not military. Politicians pulling strings." Jack points out "Whoever these dark side guys are, they can do some nasty damage if they figure out how to work this thing." Hammond tells him he'll do some digging.

Using her monitoring instruments, tied in to two NOAA satellites, Sam has been able to locate the touchstone as being somewhere in the Nevada desert. Hammond asks "Nevada?" Sam answers "Yes sir, something wrong?" Jack knows what the General is thinking, "The second Gate ended up in Nevada, didn't it, sir, Nulles? Well, if the Gate is there, it makes sense that the touchstone has at least been there." Hammond turns to Jack "You're going to love this, Colonel. Guess who just got himself reassigned to Nulles? Colonel Maybourne!" Daniel asks "Nulles.. that's the base we send the technology we bring back through the Gate, right?" Hammond says "Yes, the Groom Lake facility." Jack adds "Area 51."

Sam is viewing MALP images from Medrona. There is an intense blizzard, which if it worsens, will wipe out the entire planet. Sam calculates they have 48 to 72 hours before the terra forming is destroyed. Jack asks for permission to take a trip to Nevada. Hammond wants to call and obtain permission. Jack asks if he knows who to trust. Sam points out they already have the necessary clearance level. Hammond announces "Colonel. I need some documents hand delivered to the Groom Lake facility!" O'Neill inquires "Are they sensitive enough to warrant a three man team with a Jaffa escort?" "Absolutely," the General answers.

SG-1 travels to Area 51. Major Reynolds, NID welcomes them. He tells the team it is an honor to meet them. They are a bit of a legend around there. He adds, "If it wasn't for you and the other SG teams, we'd be out of business here." They tour the facility looking for Colonel Maybourne. Reynolds points out the medical research area, where they are working on an Alzheimer's cure brought back by SG-5. The artifacts study area is pouring over Jackson's notes from the Heliopolis place "meaning of life stuff" adds Reynolds. Daniel almost winces - as he's not too pleased to think about how his notes are being used there. The entire team seems ill at ease, suspicious, and certainly not enthusiastic about the place that is putting their discoveries into action. Behind a keypad locked door is revealed damaged death gliders being poured over by technicians. "That's where we're studying the Goa'uld death gliders you were in after you did your hero thing," Reynolds points out. The team is subdued, concerned. What is going on in there? They move along, no time to think of that now. The tour ends in the Bioresearch lab. Jack jokes "This is where you're keeping the little green men?" Reynolds is not amused and responds defensively "There are no alien life forms at Area 51." Jack looks at Teal'c and comments "Present company excluded, of course!" Now, Colonel Maybourne enters. After greeting Jack, he turns to Teal'c saying "Teal'c! It's good to see you well." Teal'c moves threateningly to Maybourne's side "In my culture, I would be well within my rights to dismember you!" Maybourne, shaken, but not wishing to appear so, merely says "Well that's interesting."

Jack and Sam ask Maybourne where the touchstone is.. the weather controller from Medrona.. PX7941? He denies knowledge of the device, other than reading their report. Maybourne asks for less cryptic questions if they want direct answers. Having no problem being direct, Jack asks "Where's the damned touchstone?" The team begins to pressure Maybourne about the second Gate. He guarantees it has been dormant since they went through it. They insist on seeing it. In a large hangar, the Gate is packed in a box, lying on the floor. As they examine it more closely, Sam discovers the Gate is plastic. Maybourne seems surprised and worried. Is he shocked that the real Gate has been moved, or is he concerned that someone has now discovered it. SG-1 demands to know where the real Gate is. Jack tries to intimidate Maybourne "You tell me the punishment for losing a Stargate!" Maybourne coolly responds "That presumes there was no authorization to move the Stargate." Jackson asks who authorized it. Maybourne can only say that is classified. Jack yells "We have the highest clearance." Maybourne adds "Within the military you do." This information sinking in, Jack leans forward and asks "Are you telling me this is a civilian operation?" Maybourne does not answer this. He tells Jack to drop it, and offers an armed escort back to their vehicle. Reluctantly, they must leave.

Back once again at the SGC, Hammond tells SG-1 that no one will confirm nor deny anything. Meanwhile the readings on the touchstone have dropped to zero. Whoever has it, has stopped using it. Sam proposes a way to find the second Gate "We use our Gate to go to Medrona, then we do a quick 180 and return through the second Gate here on Earth." Teal'c wonders how they could avoid coming back through the SGC Gate if Earth's coordinates are input on Medrona. Sam hells him they need to intentionally overpower the Gate. Realizing it would likely be a rough ride, Daniel proposes sending the MALP robot. "Perfect," says Sam "the GPS could give us an exact position as soon as the MALP is through." Jack and Daniel volunteer to bring the MALP and equipment to modulate the Gate to Medrona.

The blizzard rages as they exit the Gate. Hammond comments in the SGC control room "Here we are transporting our people across the galaxy to find something we lost in our own backyard. Incredible." The Medronans come out to greet Jack and Daniel, hopeful the touchstone is being returned. Daniel tells them they don't have it, but they are still trying to help. In despair, they retreat to shelter, as Jack and Daniel continue preparing the MALP. The Gate supercharges as Jackson inputs the address. The Gate at the SGC begins to vibrate. It works! The MALP arrives in a dark area on Earth. The MALP reveals the inside of a building, then someone holding a gun, and the image stops. The MALP was blown away. Sam didn't have time for a full set of coordinates, and must tell O'Neill she has it narrowed down to southern Utah. O'Neill is exasperated, but Daniel, ever hopeful, offers "Well, it's a start." Hammond thinks of one last marker he can call.

General Hammond meets with a man named Whitlow on a golf course. Whitlow owes him a favor, but does not have the information Hammond seeks about the second Gate or the weather device. He has seen something about southern Utah, however. A request for a C-5 airplane, for a classified pickup at an NID landing strip. A C-5 is big enough to hold a Stargate. Whitlow tells Hammond where the airstrip is.

Hammond gives final orders to SG-1 at the SGC briefing room "This NID airstrip doesn't officially exist, therefore I don't think there's a jurisdictional issue, but even if there is, the C-5 is air force property and it is our jurisdiction.. A chopper will take you to Hill AFB, then you're on your own. One more thing, we don't know if the people who took the Gate and touchstone are friend or foe, therefore, under no conditions are you to fire on them, understood? Jack repeats "Under no conditions, fire." He can't believe what he is hearing. Hammond tells him that's right. As Jack and Sam begin to protest, Hammond won't hear of it "I don't want my people mortally wounding another American who may just be following orders." "Yes, sir!" is Jack's dutiful reply.

The team approaches the perimeter of the hangar at the NID landing strip. Their guns are drawn, and they use hand signals to communicate. Using a periscope to look in a window overhead, O'Neill sees several men and a large box - presumably the Stargate - in the middle of the room. Out of the back of a truck, a man jumps carrying a metal box - about the size of the touchstone. The C-5 plane is landing. SG-1 enters silently and advances across the hangar floor undetected. O'Neill commands "Stand to, gentlemen! Keep those hands visible!" One of the men asks who they are, and Jack tells him "No one's damn business. Step away from the crate." They do as they are told. O'Neill moves to check the crate and hears a DHD being activated. Someone in the truck has entered an address and the horizontal Stargate fires up, shooting the energy stream into the air. The vibration knocks everyone over. The man in the truck runs for the touchstone box as O'Neill warns him off with a shout, then a hail of bullets. The man jumps into the Stargate. The rest of SG-1 is recovering, as the other three men run for the Gate. Daniel moves toward the truck. Two men dive into the Gate, while the third tries again to grab the touchstone. O'Neill tells him not to do it, and fires again, this time wounding the man in the arm, but he is still able to jump through the Gate, but without the touchstone. Daniel arrives at the DHD just as it turns off "AHHH.. I missed the address!" As Sam removes the touchstone from the box she comments "At least we have this."

They return to Medrona, and give the touchstone to Roham. Responding to his touch, the artifact begins to glow and emit orange, triangular glowing lights. The snow lessens and the wind lightens. They proceed to the statue building, and the touchstone is replaced. Roham offers his thanks. Daniel says to the Princess "We hope the faith and trust between our two worlds has been restored." Princess La-Moor gushes "You have lived up to your promises. Let there always be peace between our worlds." She opens the doors revealing an idyllic sunrise behind the Stargate.

At the SGC, no one seems to know anything. The investigation has been taken out of General Hammond's hands. Meanwhile, all SGC teams are to be on the lookout for four NID guys wandering around another planet. Hammond is making certain a permanent iris be welded to the second Stargate and it will be placed under round the clock guard by troops under command of the SGC. They are all to witness the shutting down of the second Gate.

At Area 51, Jack can't resist talking to Maybourne, who is in attendance along with Reynolds, "This put you out of a job, Maybourne?" Maybourne craftily answers "You'd be surprised. Strange things happen in high places, Colonel. People get reassigned. So does property. Artifacts get misplaced. Orders changed. Every day is a new day." Jack and the rest of SG-1 are left to stare at the welders, as the Gate is *permanently* closed?

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