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stargatefan.com : episodes > season 2 > next episode: One False Step

The team enters a room with red-veiled devices. O'Neill comments "Looks like somebody's closed up for the winter!" Carter wonders if it is Goa'uld technology, but Teal'c says they are unfamiliar to him. Sam then discovers what appears to be an electronic data pad, which turns on to her touch. Jackson sees a curtained off room and wonders out loud what might be in there.

"I am in there," a voice responds, the team reacts, guns on the ready as an old man comes through the curtain. He states that he is unarmed.

Jack asks, "Who are you?"

Teal'c recognizes him "You are the one called Machello—are you not?" Teal'c has seen images of him when he was younger. Since before Teal'c was born, he was a fugitive from the System Lords. One of Teal'c's first assignments as First Prime for Apophis was to hunt this man.

Daniel is quite curious, "What did he do?"

Teal'c reveals, "He was developing advanced technology to battle the Goa'uld. He was captured and tortured and marked to become a host in order to retain his knowledge, but he escaped before implantation."

Jack is incredulous; "HE did THAT?"

The old man smiles, "I am not this person you speak of."

Daniel reassures him "You don't have to be afraid, we're not Goa'ulds."

The old man appears confused "We're not? Of course we are not! If we are not Goa'ulds—who are we?"

Daniel continues to answer him "I'm Daniel Jackson, from the planet Earth."

Quite excited now, the man responds "Yes! Yes! That's right! I am Daniel Jackson from the planet Earth! Pleased to meet you!"

Daniel tries to correct him "No, *I* am Daniel Jackson!"

The old man parrots back "No, *I* am Daniel Jackson!"

Sam breaks the exchange, "These are very interesting machines, are they inventions to fight the Goa'uld?"

The man nods yes, "Inventions to fight the Goa'uld!"

Daniel asks him to show them how they work, "Are we sure we are not Goa'uld?" the man asks again. Jack rolls his eyes at the man's apparent confusion.

Now, to Daniel, the man entreats "You! You here quickly! Inventions to fight the Goa'uld!" He uncovers a machine with two sets of handles, on set on each side, and motions Daniel to one side as he holds the other. A whoosh of electronic energy is heard, the men's faces react, and then the old man falls unconscious to the floor.

Sam is worried, "Daniel?"

Daniel responds "I'm fine. I think? Are you alright sir?"

Sam feels for a pulse, it's weak. They decide to leave and bring the old gentleman back with them.

Dr. Frasier examines Daniel, "Everything seems fine!"

Daniel is constantly fidgeting "Good, I feel fine."

Janet tells him that he seems a little out of it, and asks if something is bothering him. He says no, that he's just exhausted. She understands, as he's just received a high-voltage electric shock, "Any idea what that machine was supposed to do?" Daniel simply shakes his head 'no'. Janet tells him to rest and not drive for a few days.

Daniel stops to look at the old man lying in an infirmary bed, hooked up to breathing and monitoring equipment, "How is he?"

Janet answers "Not good. He has severe scar tissue all over his body—electrocuted or burned—my guess is he was tortured."

"He isn't going to live much longer, is he?" Daniel continues to ask.

"I don't think so," Janet regretfully responds, as Daniel leaves.

In the briefing room, Hammond, Carter, O'Neill and Teal'c are discussing the hand held database. Sam feels it codes for Machello's inventions. When she presses the picture, a schematic for each invention appears with detailed notes, but it is written in a dialect Sam doesn't understand. Teal'c doesn't recognize them either.

Daniel enters late. "I apologize," he flatly states as he sits at the table.

Hammond asks, "How are you Doctor Jackson?"

He responds, "Tired! Dr. Frasier says it will wear off in a few days. I'll be fine."

Sam hands him the data pad and asks if he recognizes any of the symbols. He glances quickly at it and simply says, "No." Sam makes a face of disbelief, but doesn't question him further. Finally, Daniel requests if he can go home and rest, the General tells him to take a day.

Daniel is driven to his apartment building, but does not go inside; instead he wanders off down the street—following a pretty woman.

Back in the infirmary, the old man is greeting the rest of the team, "Jack! Sam! Teal'c!...finally!"

Jack asks, "How does this gentleman know our names?"

The old man responds, "As I have been trying to tell the General and the good Doctor here, I am not Machello... I am Daniel Jackson... that machine somehow switched us!"

Dr. Frasier adds, "He knows a lot about Daniel."

The old man persists "Ask me anything, something only Daniel would know."

Sam asks who Cassandra is, and the man responds correctly, even telling them the designation of the planet they found her on. General Hammond asks where the Stargate was found, again a correct response—a dig at Giza. Jack finally asks "Daniel" to "Describe for me the dress your sister wore last week when I took her out!"

Clearly it's Daniel somehow within the old man's body who responds "I don't have a sister, Jack, and if I did I wouldn't let you near her!"

Hammond is just about convinced, "Let's assume you are Daniel Jackson, then who the hell did we just send home?"

The alien, Machello, is wandering the streets inside of Daniel's body, trying in vain to get the attention of passers by in order to learn about their culture and customs. A panhandler approaches him with a cup and asks for a handout.

Machello asks, "Why does no one answer me?"

The man responds "Cuz you're strange!"

Machello is curious, "Am I? Tell me how I am strange!"

The man reluctantly explains, "You can't go up to people you don't know on the street, acting all strange, asking for stuff!"

Machello points out, "Isn't that what you are doing?"

The man mumbles "Well, ya, but..."

Machello triumphantly responds, "You must be strange as well! I am called Machello!"

"Fred" the man answers back.

Machello is clearly happy now, "Let us feast together, Fred, and celebrate our strangeness and our newfound friendship!"

"On you?" Fred asks.

"If that is the custom! We will feast, on me!" Machello happily answers.

Dr. Frasier gives her report to the team, "Medically speaking, he is an elderly gentleman suffering from acute pulmonary damage with the conscious awareness and memories of Dr. Daniel Jackson. Somehow Daniel's neural networks were remapped onto that old man by that alien device."

Jack comments, "This could be a one way deal, right? We don't know that it went both ways. Daniel could still be Daniel?"

Hammond reveals, "He never entered his building after he was dropped off."

Jack is ready to act, "Let's find him!"

Sam asks, "And what if he isn't Daniel?"

Dr. Frasier needs to consult with neurospecialists. Jack wants to retrieve the machine and "try to slam it into reverse." Hammond Oks the return trip to retrieve the device, but warns that it is hazardous material and they should be prepared as such.

Jack, Sam and Teal'c—all in biohazard suits—return to Machello's planet. Jack and Teal'c prepare to lift the device using special grips locked onto the machine's handles. Sam interrupts them, pointing out a medical device that probably allowed Machello to survive so long. Teal'c proposes putting Daniel Jackson into the hibernation chamber. Sam isn't sure she can figure out how to get it working. Jack decides the first priority is getting the original machine back to SGC. Jack and Teal'c go to lift it on three, again the electronic whoosh is heard. As they exit the Gate at SGC,

Hammond asks, "How did it go?"

Jack responds stone faced "It did not go well, General Hammond."

To which Teal'c responds in very animated fashion, "Ya think?" They also have apparently switched bodies.

Teal'c (now within Jack's body) comments "This is most uncomfortable."

Jack answers "How do you think I feel, Teal'c, I've got a snake in my belly! You have a comfortable, normal body."

Teal'c reminds him, "It is normal for you, O'Neill."

Sam tries to coach them through a reversal process, but no matter how they try, the machine simply will not activate. It makes a firing noise, but no transfer occurs.

Jack suddenly doesn't feel well, and Teal'c reasons that his body has contracted an illness his symbiote must repair. Apparently, the symbiote will repair the problem only if Teal'c's body is placed in a state of kel'noreem, similar to a state of deep meditation—almost hibernation. If not done, it will be as if his body has no immune system, and he will die. They sit beside lit candles as Teal'c instructs Jack how to proceed.

Meanwhile, Fred takes Machello to a diner to eat.

A waitress approaches Machello, "Can I help you?"

Machello gushes, "Hello! This is Fred. I am Machello. We wish to feast, on me! Let everyone here, feast on me!"

The waitress asks, "You celebrating something?"

"Indeed we are!" Machello answers, "Life!"

The waitress says it would be OK, as long as he has a credit card, then she instructs Machello where to find his, in his wallet. He has a gold card, which is fine for the waitress!

Machello is awestruck, "You are one of the most enchanting women I have seen in my lifetime. I would be honored by a kiss!"

"Ya, I bet you would!" she responds.

Daniel lies in the body of the old man, trying to decipher the data pad, "It's useless!"

Sam encourages, "No it's not! You've already figured out it's a mixture of ancient Latin and Greek. We're getting closer."

With very labored breathing, Daniel answers "That's obvious because of the forms. The alphabets may be the same, but it's an entirely original language." He's beginning to get quite agitated now. "No sentence structure...no..." The monitors beep loudly and Daniel falls silent.

Dr. Frasier runs to his side and determines he's lapsed into a coma.

Fred and Machello are eating hot fudge sundaes. Fred asks, "Did you fight in the Gulf?"

"No, but I was a soldier. I fought many battles, I was captured and tortured," Machello recalls.

"That explains a lot!" Fred comments.

"I continued to fight and lost all that I loved and cared for, but I knew I could not surrender. I continued to fight for you. You would all be conquered by now," Machello reveals as he eats his ice cream.

"By whom? Saddam?" Fred asks, half joking.

"He is not a System Lord I am familiar with, but several others would have wiped you out," Machello says with seriousness.

"Whatever you say, man," Fred dismisses him.

Machello is determined now, "I wish to fight no longer. I wish only to eat hamburgers, fries and ice cream sundaes with good people like you, Fred."

"All good things come to an end," Fred reminds him.

"Only evil things must come to an end! For good things such as ourselves, it is possible to go on forever!"

"Cool!" Fred exclaims.

Jack finally succeeds in healing Teal'c's body. He comes out of the trance to find Teal'c attempting to shave "Jack's" head. Jack is not happy and orders him not to do that. He then goes to see Hammond, asking to help in the search for Daniel. Hammond denies his request and tells him "You're not exactly yourself!"

Machello and Fred are walking the street as Machello asks how one courts a wife. Police are approaching from behind. Fred responds "Time, energy and credit cards." The police confront Machello and he tells them he will not go back, and that it is impossible. As he is subdued, handcuffed and placed in the police car he comments to Fred "You were right, all good things do come to an end!"

Sam waits with Daniel still in a coma, begging him to hold on and wake up. "Daniel, you can't die on me now!"

A weak voice answers "It's nice to know you don't just like me for my looks!"

Janet smiles "It is good to have you back Dr. Jackson! They're on their way in." They ready the machine.

Hammond confronts Machello, "Reverse what you have done to my people!"

Machello informs him, "I can not do what is impossible."

"Then you won't cooperate?" the General asks.

"On the contrary, I am telling you the truth, it is not possible. The device encrypts the transference blocking any reversal," Machello reveals.

Hammond orders, "Reprogram it so it will be unblocked!"

Machello cruelly answers "You do not have the necessary technology. Even if I wanted to change it, I could not."

Daniel, lying expectantly in bed, reacts by closing his eyes tightly.

Machello is pacing in a locked cell as Carter and Hammond enter. Sam comments, "Hope you're enjoying the scenery it's the only view you'll have for the rest of your life!"

Machello wants to negotiate. He is willing to teach Carter his code and promises that with the knowledge gained they will be able to effectively defend themselves against the Goa'uld and defeat them as well! He further informs them that the cost for this knowledge is his freedom. He feels Daniel is not an issue, he was a "solution" to hiding Machello's face permanently. He is to be considered a casualty of war. "I am offering you the salvation of your planet! Isn't that worth the life of one archeologist?" Machello implores.

"Here on Earth, the value of a life is priceless," Hammond tells him, shutting down the negotiation.

Sam decides to take him to meet "his casualty." He sits next to Daniel looking at him without emotion. "What would you wish me to say? I am sorry? That I wish I could undo it? I do not!"

Daniel wants to know why. Machello explains he has earned it because he sacrificed his life for the people of Earth. The least they can do is compensate him with another.

Daniel reprimands him "What right do you have to judge the value of my life?"

"I have suffered more than anyone should have to suffer in a lifetime," Machello states vehemently. He tells how he fought for years until he was betrayed by his wife who was turned into a host. Daniel tells him his wife was taken as well, and is still with them.

"At least you have a planet and friends! Two billion of my people were destroyed rather than hand me over to the Goa'uld!" Machello painfully tells him.

Daniel is not swayed, "You have made great sacrifices. We owe you gratitude. But still it does not give you the right to take another's life."

Machello yells "If you had the technology, you would do the same."

Daniel counters, "No! I wouldn't! If I did, I would become no better than the Goa'uld."

Machello is highly offended at the implication "I am not a Goa'uld, I hate the Goa'uld."

"Goa'uld take hosts because they think they are better than humans, because they believe they deserve it. You're a Goa'uld, Machello. I am nothing but a host to you!" Daniel continues.

Machello is certain "I am not a Goa'uld!"

Daniel is practically begging now "My wife is still alive. There is a chance I could still save her. You are stealing that chance!"

Machello again coldly responds, "Even if you still had this body, you will never find her."

Daniel, full of emotion, chokes out "I will find her...I will find..." a tear falls from his eye, and his heart stops beating. The monitor flat lines and Dr. Frasier starts CPR. She gets a faint heartbeat, but she's not certain for how long.

Machello goes to Sam, "If I could trade places with him again, I would—but I am the only one who can not."

Sam realizes "You are the only one?"

Machello now realizes as well, "Yes."

Sam has an idea to get everyone back to where they belong by doing multiple body switches, a kind of musical chairs with bodies. Machello expresses regret before he finally transfers back to his own body, that he doesn't have time to explain the symbols. He wants his work to go on fighting the Goa'uld. The team (except for Sam) has moments within each other's bodies, until finally everyone is where they belong.

The final switch is between Jack and Daniel. Once Jack is back in his own body he exclaims "Yes! Yes!" and goes to Teal'c's side asking "Shave my head?"

Daniel softly says "I'm back" and he goes to Machello's side—who has briefly regained consciousness.

"Thank you for my holiday," Machello says to Daniel, who nods 'yes', then Machello dies.

Hammond greets a somber team "Welcome back, SG-1!"

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