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stargÅtefan.com : episodes > season 5 > next episode: the red sky

We open to see a major battle going on. We see Carter running, then Teal'c moving towards an outcropping in front of the Stargate. Carter is using the radio, calling Jack. Tells him Teal'c "took a hit", and they're near the Stargate. Where is he?

O'Neill and a young man are hiding behind a rock, under fire. He tells Carter to get through the Stargate. Carter declares back they are not leaving him behind and Jack makes it an order- go through now!

Back at the SGC, the technician informs General Hammond they've received the SG-1 code and opens iris. Carter, Daniel, and Teal'c come tumbling out onto the ramp. Hammond asks what happened? Carter tells him urgently that Colonel O'Neill and Lieutenant Tyler were trapped and under fire, they need back up immediately.

Tyler? Hammond looks puzzled. Who's Lt. Tyler? The SG-1 team members look stunned. Daniel points out Tyler was assigned to SG-1 a few weeks ago and they've been training him ever since. Tyler was on his third op and with them when they got ambushed.

Hammond declares he has no idea what they are talking about. And on SG-1's stunned expressions, we roll to credits.

Back on the planet, Jack checks out the landscape. No Jaffa. He decides they should move. He helps Tyler to his feet and they leave their hiding place.

General Hammond tells the three remaining members to head for the infirmary. Sam argues they have to go back and help the colonel. But despite their protests, the general won't send more help until he knows what is going on here, and if the team was compromised somehow. There will be no going back through the Stargate until he's sure. Carter argues, help or not, they are going back to help Colonel O'Neill. Hammond orders them to put down their weapons. The three refuse so Hammond is forced to order the airmen to confiscate their weapons and escort them to the infirmary.

Jack carries Tyler over his shoulders into a ruined structure, no roof, barely four walls. He remarks about their hideout that he "Wouldn't buy a time-share, but it's defendable" He asks about Tyler's injuries. Tyler thanks Jack for coming back for him. Jack jokes he couldn't let Tyler die, there'd be a ton of paperwork to fill out. "Paperwork?" Tyler asks. Jack tells him it's a joke to "underplay his heroism."

Doctor Fraiser goes to report to Hammond. Teal'c will recover fine from his injuries. She asks if there is any word yet about Jack. Nothing came back through the MALP, Hammond tells her. She reassures Hammond that the SG members are fine. Fine, Hammond retorts in disbelief. They were talking about a person that doesn't exist. The team may have been compromised or taken over by an alien force. Hammond can't send anyone if it means anyone else could also be compromised on that planet.

In the infirmary, under guard, Sam is pacing, upset. Teal'c and Daniel are seated, also quiet. Daniel wonders out loud if it could be an alternate reality, but Sam discounts it, saying there was nothing like the quantum mirror on 441. Teal'c mentions it could be a malfunction of the gate, but again Sam says there would have been some hint to it, then. Teal'c points out then the problem may be with themselves after all. If there was a Tyler, there would be some record for him. Sam agrees. She sits down in front of the computer to check the personnel files, but finds her access code has been changed. So she hacks into the system instead.

Jack and Tyler on 441 are taking tally of their supplies. Not enough water, or weapons. Things are looking grim.

Sam discovers there are no records for a Lt. Tyler anywhere. "Could it be us then?" Daniel mused. Something else is odd. Sam finds someone else has logged into the SGC database as user 4574, someone from the outside, and has been searching for the exact same thing. Not only that, the user has been searching all their files too!

Jack is checking out the land. No one is around. They're low on water. He's going to check the area. Tyler wonders if it isn't better to wait. Jack said it may take the backup a little longer to get here to help them. But Tyler points out they might not be coming at all. Jack tells him the SGC doesn't leave people behind. He hands Tyler a P-90, tells him to lay low as Jack goes searching. Tyler sets the gun down as Jack leaves and we see the MREs next to the weapon. The camera zooms in and we see the words on the MRE package.

'Made in Tyler, Texas'.

Hammond has another MALP sent in, but it is shot by zat fire. So he has a UAV get launched through the Stargate.

Jack is exploring the area, hears the UAV overhead. His radio goes on and he has just enough time to ask where was the help and that Tyler was hurt, before the UAV loses the signal. Hammond heard the part about Tyler and realizes Jack, too has been compromised. The technician volunteers they could send another UAV when another voice interrupts, suggesting that they don't. UAVs don't come cheap.

It's Colonel Simmons.

He's been sent here to investigate the SG-1 story about Tyler. Hammond doesn't like it; a man is out there waiting for their help. Simmons remarks that then Hammond should welcome all the help he can get to clear the situation up. He points out Hammond could use the red phone, but reminds him that he can't always rely on it to help matters.

In the briefing room, Daniel walks in and finds Simmons waiting. Simmons has some questions about his report.

In the infirmary, Janet sees Teal'c's damaged uniform being bagged and spies a residue on the sleeve. She touches it and gets a vision suddenly of Tyler walking by, smiling at her. She asks one of her aides to have it analyzed.

Simmons shows Daniel a tape of SG1's mission briefing prior to going to 441. There is no Tyler there with them. Daniel mutters 'this was all a waste of time'. Simmons keeps insisting Tyler isn't real, and he isn't the real concern. Suddenly, he pulls out Sarah's picture and asks Daniel to explain her. Daniel doesn't understand. Simmons tells him he is here to investigate potential alien influences in the SGC. And he knows Daniel was close to her. He demands to know Daniel's relationship to her. Daniel theorizes that because "lost someone I care about again" Simmons thinks it makes him more sympathetic to the Goa'uld? Simmons says no, but it makes Daniel too emotionally involved in this for a man of his position.

Janet goes into Sam's room and asks her to describe what Tyler looks like. She thinks she may remember him now. But how? Janet thinks she needs to report to General Hammond with this. Sam begs her not to report yet and to get evidence.

Hammond stands over the red phone, picks it up and begins a whole series of calls to everyone he can to find out more about Simmons.

It's now nightfall on the planet. Jack is on watch. He glances back to Tyler to check on him and casually asks where he's from. Tyler replies "Texas, mostly. Around other places." Jack tells him he was born in Chicago, raised in Minnesota. Tyler looks surprised. Jack remarks that's what the Goa'uld really want- Minnesota, for the fishing. For the fishing? Tyler jokes. Yeah, Jack said. He'll take him there. Tells Tyler to ask Teal'c, he can't get enough of it.

Simmons is now interviewing Teal'c. He asks how does it feel for Teal'c to have betrayed his friends. Teal'c responds he hasn't. It was under Apophis' influence making him believe he was a double agent. 'And now?' Simmons asks.

Teal'c declares he is still loyal to the people of the Tau'ri. Simmons asks why should he believe Teal'c? Because, Teal'c tells him coldly, if he were still working for Apophis he wouldn't hesitate to kill Simmons where he sits.

Simmons has no other questions.

Morning comes and a death glider zips over where Jack was hiding. It turns around and heads back. Jack rushes out of their hideout and takes his grenade launcher. The glider is firing, coming closer and closer and closer, but Jack doesn't move. He finds an opening, takes a shot and it strikes at the glider's wing! It flies a bit, burning before crashing into the hill behind him.

Tyler gasps out "Nice shot" as Jack returns. O'Neill is puzzled, wondering where the hell that glider came from. Tyler reminds him they saw it before when they were escaping, remember? Puzzled, Jack slowly nods like he does, but only after Tyler said so.

Simmons is questioning Carter now. Asks her why is Tyler's name not on any of her reports. She returns Daniel's name is not always on her reports but doesn't mean he wasn't there. Tyler doesn't exist, Simmons insists. So? Carter counters. Colonel O'Neill is still out there waiting for their help. Simmons thinks its too risky, Sam volunteers that SG-1 go alone then. He says no. Daniel is too emotionally invested, Teal'c "switches sides more times than I change the oil in my car", and Sam?

She was briefly a host to a Tok'ra, was taken control by an alien force, and just the week before harbored an alien in her home. And, Simmons stresses, she was tracked breaking into the computer systems. He could have her up on charges right now.

Sam stares at him and suddenly says, "You're user 4574." Simmons has been the one searching through their databases. Where is he getting his orders from? Simmons doesn't respond and has no further questions for her either.

Meanwhile, Jack is burying C4 and grenades near the ridge around their hiding place. He sets up a trip wire and wheels it back to where Tyler is. Hopefully it would buy them time til help arrives. Tyler blurts out he cannot let O'Neill do this. He cannot let Jack die protecting him.

Simmons and Hammond walk into Janet's lab. Fraiser shows them an MRI of a brain and tells them she found traces of a foreign chemical resembling a neurotransmitter, which affects the area of the brain controlling facial recognition. The memories of Tyler might have been the result of a chemical implant. The reason why SG-1 checked out fine was because the chemical fades fast. She's confident the implant can be removed without contaminating the rest of the base. Simmons points out if that was the case, how did Janet get this MRI? Janet reluctantly confesses it was her own MRI. She had accidentally touched the residue on Teal'c's uniform. Simmons tells them she has been compromised and warns Hammond she can't be trusted.

As soon as Simmons leaves, Janet pleads with General Hammond. This could be Colonel O'Neill's last hope. Hammond thinks hard.

Jack looks through his scope and sees lot of Jaffa heading their way. Tyler desperately tells Jack he is not who Jack thought he was. Tyler isn't a member of his team. Jack doesn't listen, concentrating on the Jaffa. Tyler tells him he is Re'ol and can prove it to him. Tyler reaches out and touches Jack on the temple. Jack sees an alien staring back at him. He's startled, sitting back. Tyler tells him this is his true form. The chemical they produce is a natural defense. The Jaffa have been hunting his people because of this. He was captured, to be dissected for the chemical- the ability to blend in seamlessly. He escaped and crashed a glider onto 441 where he had encountered SG-1. Tyler didn't know if he could trust them, thus implanting the memory that he was friendly before they were ambushed.

The tripwire is stepped on and the Jaffa are thrown out by the explosions. Jack tells Tyler to blow the C4 as he fires his rifle at them. Some manage to sneak into their hideout and after a brief hand to hand combat, Jack is down. They're captured. Jack could only stare as a Jaffa aims his staff weapon on him and then...

Someone fires a staff weapon on the Jaffa!

Jack ducks at the noise. Gunfire and staff weapon shots and the Jaffa are defeated. It's the remainder of SG-1. They rush to Jack. Teal'c sees Tyler and aims his staff weapon at the alien until Jack tells him it's okay. He knows, Tyler told him, and Jack tells Teal'c to lower his weapon.

The team, back together again, are heading back to the Stargate with Tyler. Jack asks why Tyler didn't just ask for his help? Tyler tells them his kind never embraced technology and are poor warriors. This chemical was developed instead as their defense. Because of this ability, the Jaffa had been hunting them to extinction. Only a small group remain in a far distant corner of the galaxy. Once he goes there and rejoins the others, Tyler will bury their Stargate so no one can follow.

As they draw near the Stargate, Teal'c tells everyone to hide. He sees many reinforcements are milling about the Stargate. Too many.

Tyler volunteers to surrender. Jack doesn't want to hear it. He argues he doesn't want the Jaffa to get this ability either. He decides to leave Daniel with "What's your name anyway?" to which Tyler responds "Aiaiel". Jack pauses and goes on saying Daniel stays with..."Tyler", Carter's zat given to Tyler. He, Teal'c and Carter are going to salvage some more weapons.

The three of them find the crashed glider. The glider cannon may still work if they can take it apart.

Back near the Stargate, Tyler miserably bemoans that this was all his fault. Daniel murmurs no one was blaming him. Then Tyler asks Daniel to tell Jack he appreciates everything Jack has done for him. Puzzled, Daniel turns around and Tyler zats him!

Back in the SGC, Simmons is packing up. Hammond tries to tell him based on the numerous phone calls he made, he'd found out Simmons' assignment and orders were politically motivated. Simmons doesn't care. He leaves before Hammond could have security escort him, telling him he knows when to leave gracefully, cryptically adding he hopes Hammond knows how to as well.

The rest of SG-1 finds Daniel. Sam shakes him and he comes to as Jack demands where is Tyler? Daniel dryly remarks he would have asked if Tyler hadn't shot him with the zat Jack told Sam to give him! They check out the Stargate area and there is Tyler, firing his zat at the Jaffa, drawing them away. Only four guards remain at the gate now as Tyler runs off "to be a hero" as Jack mutters. SG-1 could easily take the other guards now and escape, Sam observes. It's their best chance.

Tyler is running. We see him in his true alien form. Too slow, he is caught easily by the Jaffa and is marched back to the Stargate when...

A blast out of nowhere takes out a few Jaffa. SG-1 surrounds the Jaffa and takes them down easily. They help Tyler back up to his feet. "You're lucky you're not really a lieutenant under my command," Jack tells him, "or I would have your ass kicked for that stunt!"

"You could have escaped," Tyler argues.

"We do not leave our people behind," Jack interrupts him.

Tyler is stunned. He smiles, pointing out "But I'm not one of your people."

Jack grins back. "Could have fooled me...actually, you did."

Tyler dials up his world. Jack tells him that not all people would want to hunt his people down; they could be allies. Tyler promises he will tell his people about what happened here, and who knows? Tyler goes up to the Stargate and smiles as he adds then maybe Jack could take him fishing.

The team watches as he walks through and we fade out into...

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