THE FIFTH MAN

Written by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie

Transcribed By: Dee

TEASER

FADE IN

EXT – PLANET, STARGATE CLEARING (DAY)

CARTER, TEAL’C and DANIEL are running towards the STARGATE as they come under staff weapons fire.  They quickly take cover.

CARTER (into radio): We’re gonna make it to the Gate but we’re under fire.  TEAL’C has taken a hit.

She pauses to return fire and some of the attacking Jaffa go down.

CARTER (into radio): What’s your situation?

EXT – PLANET, CLEARING (DAY)

Two Jaffa run into the clearing and are shot by O’NEILL.  Lying next to him is another man who has been shot in the leg.

O’NEILL (into radio): TYLER’S hit too and we’re cut off so get the hell out of here.

CARTER (over radio): We can hold the Gate.

O’NEILL (into radio): Negative.

CARTER (over radio): We’re not leaving without you!

O’NEILL (into radio): CARTER don’t argue with me.  Get reinforcements.

EXT – PLANET, STARGATE CLEARING (DAY)

More Jaffa are heading towards the STARGATE as CARTER, TEAL’C and DANIEL attempt to hold them off.

INT – CONTROL ROOM, SGC

A klaxon begins to sound as a wormhole opens.

SERGEANT: Sir, receiving IDC, it’s SG1.

HAMMOND: Open the iris.

The iris opens and CARTER, TEAL’C and DANIEL slowly back into the Gateroom.

CARTER: Close the iris!

HAMMOND makes his way into the Gateroom.

HAMMOND: Report Major.

CARTER: We were attacked by several Jaffa.  Lieutenant TYLER went down covering our six.  Colonel O’NEILL went back for him.

TEAL’C: Let us assemble a rescue team and return to the planet immediately General HAMMOND.

HAMMOND: Hold on.  Who’s Lieutenant TYLER?

DANIEL: What do you mean, who’s Lieutenant TYLER?  He’s a member of SG1.

HAMMOND: What?

DANIEL: You assigned him yourself last month Sir.

CARTER: TYLER, Sir, we’ve been training him for weeks.  This was his third mission.

HAMMOND: Major, I have no idea what you’re talking about.

END OF TEASER

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

Three Jaffa are patrolling through the woods.  O’NEILL and TYLER watch them pass.

O’NEILL: We gotta move Lieutenant.  Can you walk?

TYLER: I can try.

O’NEILL: Let’s go.

He helps TYLER to his feet and they head away.

INT – GATEROOM, SGC

TEAL’C: General HAMMOND, we must return to the planet immediately.

HAMMOND: No one’s going anywhere until I find out exactly what happened.

CARTER: Colonel O’NEILL and Lieutenant TYLER were cut off from the Gate.  I already told you Sir.

HAMMOND: And I’m telling you I’ve never heard of this Lieutenant TYLER.

DANIEL: How can you say that?

HAMMOND: I think you should report to the Infirmary.

CARTER: Sir, there’s nothing wrong with us.

HAMMOND: We’ll leave that up to Dr FRASIER.

DANIEL: General, Jack is trapped on that planet.

HAMMOND: SERGEANT.

An Airman walks up.

HAMMOND (cont’d): Escort them to the Infirmary.

CARTER: With or without reinforcements, we are going back Sir.

HAMMOND: The hell you are.  Relinquish your weapons.

Neither CARTER, TEAL’C or DANIEL make any move to do so.

HAMMOND: Airmen!

The airmen in the Gateroom quickly surround CARTER, TEAL’C and DANIEL.

HAMMOND: Major CARTER I will authorised the use of force unless you relinquish those weapons immediately.

CARTER hesitates, then reluctantly unclips her gun and allows it to be confiscated.  TEAL’C and DANIEL also surrender their weapons.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

O’NEILL is carrying TYLER over one shoulder.  They enter the ruins of a building and O’NEILL sets TYLER down.

O’NEILL: You’re heavier than you look.

TYLER: Sorry Sir.

O’NEILL: It’s no problem.

TYLER shifts and is in obvious pain.

O’NEILL: How’s the leg?

TYLER: It’s no problem.

There is a bleeding gash across his leg.

O’NEILL: Yeah, right.

He gazes around the surrounding area.

TYLER: What is this place?

O’NEILL: Well, I wouldn’t buy a timeshare but it’s, ah, defendable.

TYLER: Until Major CARTER returns?

O’NEILL: Yeah, Major CARTER and a whole lot of her friends.

TYLER: Colonel, you could have made it to the Gate.  You came back for me.

O’NEILL: What’s your point?

TYLER: I guess I’m grateful.

O’NEILL: Well I wasn’t gonna let you die Lieutenant.  It’s like…a ton of paperwork.

TYLER (confused): Paperwork.

O’NEILL: It’s a joke.  My way of deflecting attention from my own obvious heroism.  You’ll get used to it.

TYLER (nodding): Oh right.  I understand.

O’NEILL: Right.

INT – BRIEFING ROOM, SGC

HAMMOND is looking out at the STARGATE.  FRASIER enters.

FRASIER: General HAMMOND.  TEAL’C is going to be fine.  It’s a bad burn but his symbiote should take care of it.  Any word from Colonel O’NEILL?

HAMMOND: We’ve been trying to raise him using the MALP as a relay but apparently it’s been disabled.

FRASIER: Well I’ve completed my preliminary exams of Major CARTER, TEAL’C and DANIEL and so far I’ve found nothing wrong with them.  I mean they’re obviously agitated, but that’s understandable given the circumstances.

HAMMOND: Doctor, three of my people have just come back from a mission talking about a Lieutenant who doesn’t exist.  You can’t tell me there’s nothing wrong with them.

FRASIER: I can’t explain it sir.

HAMMOND: Some kind of hallucination?

FRASIER: Hallucinations aren’t normally shared.

HAMMOND: There’s never been a TYLER in this Command.

FRASIER: Yes Sir and we’re still waiting for test results.

HAMMOND: In the meantime I want them quarantined in the Infirmary.

FRASIER: Already done that Sir as a precaution.  But they did insist I ask what you’re going to do about Colonel O’NEILL.

HAMMOND: If SG1 has fallen under some kind of an alien influence, anyone I send back to the planet would be compromised as well.  Until we know exactly what is going on, P7S 441 is off limits.

FRASIER: Yes Sir.

She walks away and HAMMOND returns to stare at the Gate.

INT – INFIRMARY, SGC

CARTER, TEAL'C and DANIEL are in the SGC’s Infirmary.

CARTER (angrily): This is ridiculous, we should never have left the damned planet.

TEAL’C: You were ordered to do so by Colonel O’NEILL.

CARTER: He could be dead by now for all we know.

DANIEL: It’s not like there’s anything we can do about.  There are several, heavily armed men just outside that door.

CARTER: Well we have to do something.

DANIEL: Ok.  Let’s think this through.  Why would General HAMMOND say he doesn’t remember Lieutenant TYLER?

CARTER: I don’t think he’s just saying, I think he really doesn’t remember.

DANIEL: How can that be?  Yesterday we were all in the briefing room for two hours going over the mission.

TEAL’C: I do not believe General HAMMOND would lie to us.

DANIEL: So what, he’s suffering from some kind of amnesia, or…?

CARTER: Well if that’s the case, they’re all suffering from it.  I mean, Dr FRASIER didn’t seem to remember him either.

TEAL’C: Perhaps General HAMMOND is correct.  Perhaps there is something wrong with us.

DANIEL: Ok, when I went through the Quantum Mirror on P3R 233 I came back to a base that looked just like this one.  Everything was exactly the same except for no one knew who I was.

CARTER: Because the DANIEL Jackson in that reality never joined the SGC.

DANIEL: Right.  So what if this is a reality where TYLER never joined?  Or…maybe he was killed in an earlier mission.  Maybe he was never even born.

CARTER: I don’t know DANIEL. There was nothing on 441 that even remotely resembled a quantum mirror.

TEAL’C: Perhaps the STARGATE malfunctioned.

CARTER: Well we’ve never had any evidence to suggest the Gate can access a parallel universe.

TEAL’C: If Lieutenant TYLER does exist in this reality there would be a record of him in the Base computer.

CARTER: Yes.  His personnel file.

She crosses to the computer and starts to type.  The monitor displays an access denied message.

CARTER: My access code isn’t working.  They must have decided we’re a security risk and locked us out.

DANIEL: So you can’t get in.

CARTER: I didn’t say that.

She continues typing.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

O’NEILL is taking an inventory of everything they have.

O’NEILL: Where’s your weapon Lieutenant.

TYLER: I’m sorry Sir, I dropped it when I got hit.

O’NEILL: Alright, we still got four mags, two clips, a little C4, some grenades and a launcher.

TYLER: Is that enough?

O’NEILL: It’s a start.

INT – INFIRMARY, SGC

CARTER is still working at the computer terminal.

CARTER: There is no record of a Lieutenant TYLER on active duty at the SGC.

DANIEL: That’s impossible.

CARTER: Even day pass visitors are logged in.  There is no way he could have been on the Base and not in the computer.  I configured a search for the name TYLER anywhere in the database.  Nothing.

DANIEL: Well obviously someone is wrong here.  Could it be us?

CARTER: I think we have to admit the possibility.

TEAL’C: In either case, O’NEILL remains in danger.

CARTER: Wait a minute, this is weird. Somebody else configured an identical search less than an hour ago.  Somebody outside the Base.

DANIEL: Someone outside the Base?  How do you know that?

CARTER: Because it’s not a Base ID, it’s just a user number.  4574.  (She brings up a list of data) Wow, he’s been busy.  Over the past two weeks he’s accessed a number of secure files.  Mission logs, briefings, personnel files.

DANIEL: Uh, whose personnel files?

CARTER: Ours.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

O’NEILL: Listen up.  We’ve got a couple of MREs left but we’re running low on water.  I’m gonna check the area.  Keep the P90.

He hands the gun to TYLER.

TYLER: Wouldn’t it be safer just to wait?  Major CARTER and the others should be coming soon.

O’NEILL: Well, the truth is they should have been here by now.  Something must have happened.

TYLER: Are you saying they’re not coming for us?

O’NEILL: Nope.  I'm just saying it might take a little longer than we thought.

TYLER: What if they never made it back?

O’NEILL: Then General HAMMOND will send someone else.

TYLER: How do you know?

O’NEILL: Because, Lieutenant, we don’t leave our people behind.  You should know that.

TYLER: Yes Sir.

O’NEILL: Good.  Stay off the radio.  (He tosses it to TYLER) Keep the channel open.  I’ll give you three clicks when I’m on my way back, so don’t shoot me.

TYLER: I won’t.

O’NEILL heads off and TYLER sets the gun and radio to one side.

INT – CONTROL ROOM, SGC

A group of technicians are working in the Gateroom.

HAMMOND: SERGEANT?

SERGEANT: I’m sorry Sir.  The second MALP was struck by zat fire shortly after reaching the planet.

HAMMOND: Launch the UAV.

SERGEANT: Yes Sir.

There is an alarm and a warning, before the UAV is launched through the open STARGATE.

SERGEANT: UAV is airborne and beginning search pattern.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

O’NEILL is heading through the woods.

INT – CONTROL ROOM, SGC

HAMMOND: Try to raise Colonel O’NEILL.

SERGEANT: SG niner, this is STARGATE Command, please respond.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

SERGEANT (over radio): SG niner, this is STARGATE Command, please respond.

O’NEILL (into his radio): We’re still here, over.

He sees the UAV fly over head.

HAMMOND (over radio): This is General HAMMOND.  What’s your situation?

INT – CONTROL ROOM, SGC

O’NEILL (over radio): We could use some backup Sir.  TYLER’S immobile and there’s Jaffa all over the damn place…

He is cut off and they lose the UAV’s signal.

SERGEANT: Sir, we lost the signal.

HAMMOND: We sit tight.  Obviously he’d been affected by the same hallucination as the rest of SG1.  It rules out sending a retrieval team until we know more.

SERGEANT: Well Sir if you like, we could try sending a second UAV.

Colonel SIMMONS enters the Control Room.

SIMMONS: I don’t know if that’s a good idea General.  Those things aren’t cheap.

He hands HAMMOND a file.

HAMMOND: Colonel SIMMONS.

SIMMONS (nodding at the file): I think you might want to take a look at that.

HAMMOND: My office.

They walk off.

INT – HAMMOND’S OFFICE, SGC

HAMMOND and SIMMONS head into the office.  HAMMOND drops the file onto his desk.

HAMMOND: Colonel I understand you’ve been ordered to investigate a security problem.

SIMMONS: Well Sir when three members of your best team voices concerns about their imaginary friend, it does tend to raise some eyebrows.  Your own report suggests that there might be some sort of mind control.

HAMMOND: I have people working on it.

SIMMONS: I’m sure you do, but we think an independent investigation is called for.  I’m sure we’ll have your full co-operation.

HAMMOND glances at the red phone on his desk.

SIMMONS: You can use the red phone if you’d like Sir, but one day you’re gonna play that card once too often.

HAMMOND: Colonel I have an officer trapped offworld and there’s nothing I can do for him until I get to the bottom of this.

SIMMONS: Well then Sir you should welcome my help.

HAMMOND looks frustrated.

INT – BRIEFING ROOM, SGC

SIMMONS is leafing through a file.  DANIEL enters the room.

SIMMONS: Oh Doctor Jackson.  Sit down.

DANIEL: Why?

SIMMONS: Well, I thought I’d give you an opportunity to explain what happened on that planet.

DANIEL: I…filed a report.

SIMMONS: Yes, you did.  And a very interesting read it is.  Full of amazing events and fictional characters.  Sit down.

DANIEL slowly takes his seat as SIMMONS turns on a tape recorder.

INT – INFIRMARY, SGC

An orderly is bagging the uniforms of the returned members of SG1.

FRASIER: Wait a minute.  Let me see that.

She takes the bag and rubs her hand over the plastic, noting a strange stain.

A nurse enters the Infirmary.

NURSE: Dr FRASIER?  We got the blood work and DNA results.  No anomalies detected.

FRASIER: Thank you.  I found this residue on TEAL’C’S jacket.  I want to have this analysed.

She gives the Nurse the bag.

NURSE: Yes doctor.

The Nurse leaves.

FRASIER suddenly experiences a flash of Lieutenant TYLER, smiling at her as he passes down a corridor.

FRASIER appears shocked.

INT – BRIEFING ROOM, SGC

SIMMONS is showing DANIEL a video.  On it are SG1, Dr FRASIER and General HAMMOND sitting in the Briefing Room.

SIMMONS: This is a videotape of your briefing before the mission to P7S 441.  I see four members of the SG1 team, I see Dr FRASIER, I see General HAMMOND, but I don’t see any Lieutenants.

DANIEL: This could be any briefing.

SIMMONS: Take a look at the time code.

DANIEL does so.

DANIEL: This is a waste of time.

SIMMONS shuts off the video and tosses the remote onto the desk.

SIMMONS: This is not a waste of time.  This is an official investigation.

DANIEL: Oh no, I mean I get it.  We obviously have Lieutenant TYLER issues.  I say he exists.  You say he doesn’t.

SIMMONS: This is not just about Lieutenant TYLER.

DANIEL: Someone else doesn’t exist?

SIMMONS holds up a picture of Sarah Gardener.

SIMMONS: I’d like you to explain your relationship with, uh, Dr Sarah Gardener.

DANIEL takes the picture and frowns.

DANIEL: What does that have to do with this?

SIMMONS: Dr Jackson, I’m here to investigate potential alien influences over Stargate Command.  The fact that a Goa’uld has taken your ex-girlfriend as a host has everything to do with this.

DANIEL (confused): What?

SIMMONS: You were very close at one time.

DANIEL: That’s none of your business.

SIMMONS: Your entire life is our business.

DANIEL: Do I need to call an attorney or…?

SIMMONS: Serious questions have been raised concerning your viability with this command.  I am giving you an opportunity to respond.

DANIEL: Ok, respond fine.  I lost someone I care about.  And not for the first time, I might add.  You think that makes me sympathetic towards the Goa’uld?

SIMMONS: I think that makes you someone whose judgement can be easily clouded.  And for a man in your position that’s…unacceptable.

DANIEL: What’s your position again?

SIMMONS smiles.

INT – CORRIDOR, SGC

FRASIER hurries down the corridor to the room where CARTER is being held.

FRASIER (to the guard): I need to speak to Major CARTER.  (He opens the door) Thank you.

FRASIER enters the room and closes the door.  CARTER is sitting at a desk, writing.

CARTER: What’s going on Janet?

FRASIER: I need to ask you something.   This Lieutenant TYLER you keep talking about.  What does he look like?

CARTER: African American, mid twenties.

FRASIER: About five ten, five eleven?  I’m not sure, but I think I remember him.

CARTER: Two hours ago you said you’d never heard of him.

FRASIER: I know, I can’t explain it, but I can remember his face.

CARTER: Does anyone else remember?

FRASIER: I don’t know.

CARTER: Ok.  Maybe something did happen to us, but you were never even on the planet.

FRASIER: I have to report this to General HAMMOND.

She starts to leave.

CARTER: Janet wait.  If you come forward now, they’ll start suspecting you as well.  You need to find evidence.

FRASIER (shaking her head): Sam…

CARTER: As long as we’re locked up in here, we can’t do anything to help Colonel O’NEILL.  It’s up to you.

FRASIER appears uncertain.

INT – HAMMOND’S OFFICE, SGC

HAMMOND is standing in his office, looking out at the STARGATE.  He turns and picks up the red phone to make a series of calls.

HAMMOND (into phone): I would like to speak to General Peaceman…

HAMMOND (into phone): I would like to know who this man is working for.  I appreciated that Sir.  I need to know…

HAMMOND (into phone): I wouldn’t be making this call if I didn’t consider the matter of the utmost importance.  Yes I know he’s in a meeting with the Joint Chiefs.  Do you have any idea of when he might become available?  I see.  Alright.  Thank you.

He finally hangs up.

EXT – PLANET (NIGHT)

O’NEILL and TYLER are still hiding in the ruins.  O’NEILL is keeping watch.

O’NEILL: Where you from TYLER?  Texas?

TYLER: Mostly.  We moved around a lot.  You?

O’NEILL: Born in Chicago, raised in Minnesota.

TYLER: Is it nice there?

O’NEILL: Is it nice there?  You know what Goa’uld really want from us?  Minnesota that’s what.  For the fishing mostly.  I’ll take you sometime.

TYLER: Fishing?

O’NEILL: Oh yeah.  Ask TEAL’C, he can’t get enough.

He takes a swig of water from his bottle.

TYLER: When do you think we’ll get out of here Sir?

O’NEILL: Well if not tomorrow, we’ll head up into the hills and wait until the Jaffa lose interest.

TYLER: They’ll never stop hunting us.

O’NEILL: What makes you say that?

TYLER: Is it…not the way they are?

O’NEILL: That may be the way they are.  But we’re the way we are so…there you are.  Get some sleep.

He returns to his position to keep watch.

INT – BRIEFING ROOM, SGC

TEAL’C is sitting at the table while SIMMONS questions him.

SIMMONS: Tell me TEAL’C.  How does it feel knowing you betrayed your friends?

TEAL’C: I betrayed no one.

SIMMONS: You led APOPHIS into the mothership which was occupied by SG1 and the Tok’Ra SELMAC.  You could have gotten them all killed.

TEAL’C: At the time, I was made to believe that my time with the Tauri was a subterfuge.

SIMMONS: And now?

TEAL’C: I am loyal to the Tauri.

SIMMONS: Why should I believe you?

TEAL’C: If I were still loyal to the Goa’uld you would know it.

SIMMONS: Really?

TEAL’C: It would be immediately apparent, as I would not hesitate to kill you where you sit.

He gives SIMMONS a satisfied smile.

SIMMONS doesn’t reply and appears taken aback.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

TYLER is asleep while O’NEILL remains awake.  O’NEILL looks up as he hears an engine noise.

A Goa’uld glider flies over head, slows down, turns and starts to come back towards the ruins.

O’NEILL: Ah crap.

TYLER: What is it?

O’NEILL: Glider.  Stay here.

He grabs the grenade launcher and runs out of the ruins, taking aim at the glider.

The glider heads towards him, firing but misses and O’NEILL fires the launcher.  The grenade hits the underside of the glider and it passes overhead and crashes into the mountains beyond.

O’NEILL runs back to the ruins.

TYLER: Nice shot.

O’NEILL: Where in the hell did that come from?

TYLER: It might be the glider we saw leaving the area when we where checking out the crashed ship transport.

O’NEILL appears confused by this.

O’NEILL: Right.  Anyway, it’s made our position.  Can you move?

TYLER: Not yet.

O’NEILL: Not yet.  Alright, time to dig in.

He starts sorting out their equipment.

INT – BRIEFING ROOM, SGC

It is CARTER’S turn to be interrogated by SIMMONS.

SIMMONS: You have a problem here Major.  You say this was your third op with Lieutenant TYLER, but based on your own report of SG1’s last mission, you makes absolutely no mention of his name.

CARTER: DANIEL’S name doesn’t appear on all of my reports.  Doesn’t mean he wasn’t there.

SIMMONS: And don’t you think it’s odd that not a single person on this Base can corroborate your story?

CARTER: Yes I do.  But what difference does it make?  Colonel O’NEILL is still out there.

SIMMONS: And you want us to send out a rescue team based on your word alone that he hasn’t been compromised.

CARTER: We’ll go ourselves.

SIMMONS: I’m afraid I can’t trust you to do that.  You see Dr Jackson’s motives for being here are coloured by his emotions and they always have been.  TEAL’C changes sides more often than I change the oil in my car.

CARTER: What about me?

SIMMONS: Well let’s see.  (He opens a file) You were briefly taken over as a host by a Goa’uld.  Once you fell under the control of an artificial intelligence of alien origin.  The last time we met, you harboured an alien in your own home.  Now I’m beginning to wonder whether all this might have some sort of residual effect, because just yesterday for example you violated Base security by trying to get into one of the mainframes.  I could nail you on that alone.

CARTER (smiling): You’re user number 4574, the one who’s been accessing our personnel files.  You don’t care about TYLER, you’ve just been waiting for something to use against us.  Who are you getting your orders from Colonel?

SIMMONS closes the file.

SIMMONS: This interview is over.

He turns off the tape recorder.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

O’NEILL is planting various explosives, mines and tripwires in the ground beyond the ruins.

He runs back to the shelter.

O’NEILL: Alright, trips are set.  Take the 9 mil.  (He hands TYLER the weapon) If we get into it, make every shot count.

TYLER shakes his head, looking at the gun.

TYLER: I cannot let you do this Colonel.

O’NEILL: Do what?

TYLER: I cannot let you die protecting me.

In the distance they hear a horn sound.

INT – INFIRMARY, SGC

HAMMOND and SIMMONS enter the Infirmary.

HAMMOND: What have you got for us Doctor?

FRASIER: Sir, I think I may have figured out what’s been happening to SG1.  I found traces of a foreign chemical on TEAL’C’S uniform and I’ve completed my analysis.

She calls up an image on the computer.

HAMMOND: What is it?

FRASIER: Well, I’m not a hundred percent sure, but its chemical structure closely resembles cortical acetacolene, which is a neural transmitter that helps to regulate and process human memory.  I believe that Lieutenant TYLER, or the idea of Lieutenant TYLER is nothing more than a chemical implant.  Here, take a look.  (Another image of a CAT scan appears) You see, the effect is greatest here, in the temporal lobe associated with face recognition.  I think it’s possible SG1 encountered someone on the planet who exposed them to this compound in order to convince them that he, she or it was somehow familiar.

HAMMOND: We’re not talking about a vague sense of recognition.  We’re talking about detailed memories that go back weeks before they ever set foot on that planet.

FRASIER: Yes Sir.  And obviously they’re own minds provided the details necessary to complete that illusion.

SIMMONS: Didn’t your first report say that their MRI’s were clean?

FRASIER: They were.  The chemical dissipates fairly quickly.

SIMMONS: So what’s that?

FRASIER: That…that’s me.  I was exposed.  The chemical passed through a layer of plastic, which is probably why I experienced only a diminished effect.  But this is how I figured it out.

SIMMONS: You were exposed to an alien chemical and now you claim to have figured it out?

FRASIER (to HAMMOND): Sir, knowing that the contamination requires close proximity, I am confident that SG1 could return to the planet and avoid further contamination.

SIMMONS: You can’t trust her.

He walks away.

FRASIER: General please.  This could be Colonel O’NEILL’S last hope.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

O’NEILL comes running back to the shelter.

O’NEILL: I counted fifteen.  Could get interesting.

TYLER: Colonel, I am not what you think I am.  I am not a member of your team, I never was.  I am not even human.  My race is called the Riol.

O’NEILL: Take you position.

TYLER: I exposed you to a chemical that made you think I was one your own.

O’NEILL: Whatever, get back there.

TYLER: You don’t believe me.  Look at my leg.  It’s almost healed.  Would this be possible if I were human?

He stands up.

O’NEILL: Will you get down?

He grabs him and pulls him down.

TYLER: I’ll show you.

He touches O’NEILL’S temple and O’NEILL suddenly sees an alien instead of TYLER.

O’NEILL: Jeez.  What the hell is that?

TYLER changes back.

TYLER: A glimpse of my true nature.

O’NEILL: You mean what you really look like?

TYLER: It’s a natural defence mechanism, a chemical we produce in our bodies.  That’s why I was a prisoner of the Jaffa.  They were taking me to be dissected and studied.  I managed to break free of my cell and damage the guidance system of the transport ship.  We crashed on this planet.  That’s when you found me.  I didn’t know if you could be trusted.

O’NEILL: You’ve picked a hell of a time to tell me.

TYLER: Please, understand Colonel.

A staff weapon blast hits close by and O’NEILL ducks.

A group of Jaffa are moving in on their position.  One hits a tripwire and is blown up.  Others trigger the wires as they run towards the ruins.

O’NEILL: Hit the C4.

TYLER does so and there are more explosions, killing the Jaffa.

O’NEILL: Again!

TYLER blows the C4, killing more Jaffa.

O’NEILL returns fire, shooting any Jaffa who get close.

TYLER: Behind you!

O’NEILL turns in time to shoot a Jaffa that has jumped over the wall.  Another runs round a corner and O’NEILL shoots him too.  As a third enters the ruins, O’NEILL runs out of bullets and the Jaffa hits him.  O’NEILL strikes him across the face with his gun and the Jaffa draws a knife.

Another Jaffa runs up, pointing his staff weapon at O’NEILL, who is still struggling with the first Jaffa.  TYLER shoots the Jaffa with the knife, but is struck by from behind by another Jaffa and goes down.  O’NEILL quickly raises his hands in surrender.

However, one of the Jaffa charges his staff weapon and prepares to execute O’NEILL.  Before he can fire, he is struck by a staff weapon blast.

The surrounding Jaffa are quickly shot with automatic fire.

CARTER, DANIEL and TEAL’C come running over.

CARTER: I think we’re all clear.  Are you alright Sir?

O’NEILL (jumping out from cover): Fine.

TEAL’C sees TYLER get to his feet and points his staff weapon at him.

O’NEILL: TEAL’C!

TEAL’C: Lieutenant TYLER is not who he appears to be.

O’NEILL: I know.  He told me.  Stand down.  (They lower their weapons) Let’s go.

They head back towards the STARGATE.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

TEAL’C has taken point and is leading SG1 and TYLER along a trail.

O’NEILL: Why didn’t you just ask for help?

TYLER: I’m sorry, but I couldn’t take the chance.  For generations the Riol have met nothing but fear and mistrust.

O’NEILL: Well sure if you go around tricking people.

TYLER: My kind do not embrace technology.  We have never been good fighters.  Our ability to disguise ourselves is our only advantage.  Now the Goa’uld are trying to learn our secrets.  We are being hunted to extinction.

O’NEILL: You got someplace to go?

TYLER: A group of us have started a new colony on a planet in an isolated part of the galaxy.  After I return, we will bury the Gate and no one will ever hear of us again.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

TEAL’C signals to the others and they all stop.  Keeping low, he moves to the edge of the cliff and gestures for O’NEILL to come forward.

O’NEILL: What have we got?

TEAL’C: We are not alone.

O’NEILL looks through his binos and sees dozens of Jaffa guarding the Gate.

O’NEILL: It looks like they’re gonna be there a while.

TEAL’C: We must act before further reinforcements arrive.

O’NEILL: I don’t think so TEAL’C, there’s too many of them.

TYLER: I’ll surrender.  Once they have me, they’ll leave.  I’m the one they’re after.

O’NEILL: That’s…very brave of you and all, but the last thing we need is for the Goa’uld to figure out how you do that…thing you do.

TYLER: Then I won’t surrender.  I’ll just lead them away from the Gate.  That will give you a chance to get through.

O’NEILL: You said yourself they’d never stop hunting you.  Now we’ve trusted each other this far.  We could use a little more firepower however.  DANIEL, stay with…what is your name anyway?

TYLER: Yayayeii.

O’NEILL: Ok DANIEL, you stay with…TYLER.  CARTER give him your zat.  Keep an eye out for patrols, stay out of trouble.

CARTER hands TYLER her zat.  DANIEL and TYLER remain behind as the others move off.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

CARTER is examining the wreckage of the glider O’NEILL shot down.

TEAL’C: The glider’s cannon might still be operational.

O’NEILL: Like the attitude TEAL’C.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

DANIEL is looking through his binoculars at the Jaffa around the Gate.

TYLER: This is all my fault.  If I had revealed myself to you from the beginning, this could have been avoided.

DANIEL: Well, we understand.  No one’s blaming you.

TYLER: Please tell Colonel O’NEILL, I appreciate everything he’s done for me.

DANIEL: What are you talking about?

TYLER zats him and walks away.

INT – BRIEFING ROOM, SGC

HAMMOND emerges from his office to find SIMMONS waiting for him.

HAMMOND: I take it you’re waiting to see me Colonel.

SIMMONS: Yes Sir.  For the better part of an hour in fact.

HAMMOND: What about?

SIMMONS: I’ve come to believe that you allow your personal feelings to influence your command decisions.

HAMMOND: How I run my command is none of your damned business.

SIMMONS: Security of this country Sir.

HAMMOND: This investigation has nothing to do with the security of this country and you know it.

SIMMONS: Offworld teams have been compromised.  Existing safeguards are ineffective.  SGC is an accident waiting to happen.

HAMMOND: I don’t know who issued  your orders SIMMONS, but I’ve got a pretty good idea.

SIMMONS: General, with all due respect , it doesn’t matter who issued my orders.  What matters is that in carrying out my orders I have found things to be very, very wrong here.

HAMMOND: You’re being used Colonel.  I let this investigation go on long enough to make a few phone calls.  I learned enough to know your orders are politically motivated.

SIMMONS: Sir, I think you’re missing my point.  I don’t care.

HAMMOND: If it’s a fight you’re looking for, Colonel, my Washington connections go a lot higher than yours.

SIMMONS: Administrations change, Sir.

HAMMOND: So do orders.  Now do I need to have you escorted off my Base?

SIMMONS: That won’t be necessary General.  I know how to leave gracefully.  I only hope you do.

He leaves the room.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

DANIEL is lying on the ground.  CARTER grabs him and helps him to sit upright.

CARTER: DANIEL.

DANIEL (dazed): Ah.

O’NEILL: Hey, where’s TYLER?

DANIEL: You know I would have asked him but I was too busy being unconscious after he shot me with that zat you gave him, so…

O’NEILL looks through his binos and sees TYLER zatting the Jaffa at the Gate.

The Jaffa shoot at TYLER and he runs, drawing the guards away from the Gate.

O’NEILL: Oh for crying out.  He’s trying to be a hero.

CARTER: There’s only a few Jaffa left.  We could take them out.

TEAL’C: This may be our best chance of escape O’NEILL.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

TYLER is still running from the Jaffa, this time in his natural form.  He hesitates briefly and a Jaffa jumps him from behind.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

A troop of Jaffa are leading a captured TYLER down a path towards the Gate.  They come under fire from TEAL’C, who is carrying the downed glider’s cannon.

The rest of SG1 emerge from the bushes and shoot the remaining Jaffa.

O’NEILL approaches TYLER and helps him to his feet.

O’NEILL: You’re lucky you’re not really a lieutenant under my command.  I’d have your ass for this.

TYLER: You could have escaped.

O’NEILL: We don’t leave our people behind.

TYLER: But…I am not one of your people.

O’NEILL: Could have fooled me.  Actually, you did fool me.  Come on, let’s go

TYLER: What about the Jaffa at the Gate?

O’NEILL: They weren’t a problem.

EXT – STARGATE CLEARING, PLANET (DAY)

TYLER is dialling up the Gate and it opens.

O’NEILL: You know, before your people go and bury your Gate or anything like that, you should know that not everyone you meet is gonna try and hunt you down.  We could be allies you know.

TYLER: It is not my decision to make, but I will tell the other what happened here.  It might just convince them we don’t have to hide forever.

He walks up the steps and looks back smiling.

TYLER: Maybe then you can take me fishing.

He disappears into the STARGATE.

FADE OUT

THE END