STARGATE SG1
Episode 703
"FRAGILE BALANCE"
By
Damian Kindler
SGC Sam gets off the elevator on level 16 and General Hammond
is waiting there for her.
CARTER
General, what's this all about?
HAMMOND
At 0920 hours this morning, someone
tried to enter the base using this.
He hands her something encased in a plastic sleeve as they walk
through the corridors together.
CARTER
Colonel O'Neill's security ID.
HAMMOND
After the person in question was taken
into custody, he insisted on seeing
you.
They arrive at a doorway that is being guarded by two SFs.
CARTER
Me? Why?
HAMMOND
Well, I was hoping you could figure
that one out, Major. (Then to the SF
at the door) Open it.
Sam and the General enter the room and the camera pans to show
us a teenage boy resting on a bed. He is wearing clothes that
are too large for him...jeans, a t-shirt and a jacket. The boys
sits up when he sees Sam.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Thank you. Now we're gettin' somewhere.
Sergeant, that, uh, coffee I asked for
half an hour ago? You know, any time
you feel like gettin' it...
Hammond nods to the Sgt. and he leaves Hammond and Sam alone
with the boy in the room.
CARTER
He's a boy, Sir.
CO
As it turns out, Carter...yes, I am...for
the moment.
CARTER
(somewhat amused) Do I know you?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Come on...it's me.
HAMMOND
We tried to contact Colonel O'Neill,
even sent someone to his house.
CARTER
Do you understand how much trouble you're
in right now? Impersonating a military
officer is a federal offense. The boy
bends his head in frustration and rubs
the back of his neck.
YOUNG O'NEILL
I am not impersonating anyone. I am
Jack O'Neill.
OPENING CREDITS
SGC Sam, Hammond and Young O'Neill are a still in the room on
the base. Sam is looking at Jack's security ID and for the record,
his name is listed as O'Neill, John J. I can't quite make out
the birth date on the VCR recording...sorry. The Sergeant who
had left earlier, returns and hands the boy a cup.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Finally. (He stands up to accept the
cup and his pants start falling down.
He hikes them back up. He takes the
cup from the Sergeant and then takes
a sip.) Hot chocolate? Are you kidding?
CARTER
(referring to the ID) Where did you
get this?
YOUNG O'NEILL
(sets the cup down on the bedside table)
I didn't... (he has to hike his pants
up again) I didn't get it anywhere.
It's mine.
CARTER
Because you're Colonel O'Neill.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Exactly. (Sam's nods slightly, like
riiightt...) Look, last night, I ate
some dinner, had a beer, went to bed
and woke up like this. Now can we please
just get to the part where you and Fraiser
run some tests, find a cure and make
me big again?
Just then, Daniel walks in and stands beside Sam.
JACKSON
This is the security breach?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Daniel...will you tell them who I am...please?
JACKSON
Okay...love to...who are you?
HAMMOND
This young man claims he's Colonel O'Neill.
JACKSON
It's a joke, right? (Sam smiles and
nods her head no) What's goin' on?
YOUNG O'NEILL
(frustrated) Daniel!
JACKSON
Sounds like him...at least the loud,
grating parts.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Okay...you want proof? Carter, you once
carried a Tok'ra named Jolinar, who
gave her life to save you. Daniel, until
recently, you were an ascended being.
Ya broke the rules. Ya got yourself
kicked outta the Oma Desala fan club
and had your memory erased. (Teal'c
has now walked past General Hammond
to stand in front of Young O'Neill)
And you and Bra'tac both just lost your
snakes in a Goa'uld ambush. Had your
tretonin yet this morning?
Young O'Neill and Teal'c stare at each other for several seconds.
Then Teal'c turns to the others.
TEAL'C
How could this child possess such knowledge?
Sam shakes her head to say no clue. Daniel frowns for the same
reason.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Because...it's...me. (He has to hike
his pants up again.)
Next we see the four heading out of the room where Young O'Neill
is being held.
HAMMOND
Would anyone care to speculate how a
boy could be aware of our most classified
information?
They have stopped in the hall just a short distance away.
CARTER
Well, Sir...it could be him.
JACKSON
There is a physical resemblance.
HAMMOND
But he can't be more than 15 years old.
Are you saying Colonel O'Neill has,
somehow, regressed more than 30 years
overnight?
JACKSON
Stranger things have happened...
TEAL'C
Name but one.
JACKSON
Well, there was the time he got really
old, the time he became a caveman, the
time we all swapped bodies...
HAMMOND
(holding up his hand) Why don't we move
on to the testing portion of this exercise?
SGC - Briefing Room
Janet, Teal'c, Hammond, Sam and Daniel are seated around the
conference table.
HAMMOND
Are you certain, Doctor?
FRAISER
(looking at a report on the table in
front of her) Initial tests show that
within an acceptable margin of error,
the boy's DNA is virtually identical
to Colonel O'Neill's.
CARTER
What size margin of error are we talking
about?
FRAISER
Very small. In a court of law, the DNA
sample we took from the boy would be
considered a high-probability match
to the DNA we have on file from Colonel
O'Neill. There is a...tiny abnormality,
but for all intents and purposes...it's
him.
JACKSON
Tiny abnormality? Like the fact that
he's suddenly quite a few years younger
than he's supposed to be?
FRAISER
To be honest, this is out of my league.
We've got some specialists flying in.
We're going to run more tests, see what
we can learn.
HAMMOND
In the meantime, I suggest we try to
make him as comfortable as possible.
CARTER
I'll go set up a PlayStation.
SGC - Cafeteria Young O'Neill is sitting down at a table. He
pours some milk. Teal'c and Sam join him at the table. Both are
smiling.
YOUNG O'NEILL
You know, uh, I think you two are enjoying
this just...a little too much.
CARTER
Well...you are kinda cute.
YOUNG O'NEILL
That's Sir to you. (Sam loses the smile
rather quickly) And being trapped inside
a scrawny little body isn't my idea
of cute, Carter.
TEAL'C
Does possessing a younger body not have
certain advantages, O'Neill?
YOUNG O'NEILL
No. Not seein' it. What do you mean?
TEAL'C
Do you not experience increased health
and vitality?
YOUNG O'NEILL
My vitality was just fine, thank you.
CARTER
I think what Teal'c is saying is valid.
How many of us wouldn't trade everything
for the chance to be young again...live
our lives over?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Yeah, well, I don't plan on staying
like this.
CARTER
Well, in the meantime, may I make a
suggestion? Try enjoying this as much
as we are...Sir.
Jack's House Teal'c, Sam, Daniel and Young O'Neill enter through
the front door. Teal'c heads into the kitchen. Sam and Daniel
walk to the dining table to find the table a mess with old food
containers and beer bottles. Young O'Neill follows them in. Sam
picks up a Chinese food box and sniffs lightly. She wrinkles
her nose and sets it back down.
JACKSON
Well, it's nice to know some things
don't change.
YOUNG O'NEILL
I wasn't exactly expecting visitors.
CARTER
We'll have this stuff sent back to the
lab for analysis. YOUNG O'NEILL: Well,
if they find MSG, I will never order
from them again. (Sam smiles, slightly)
Come on, what are we doing here, exactly?
JACKSON
Well, this is the last place you remember
being...
YOUNG O'NEILL
Older?
Teal'c, who has been looking through the refrigerator, pipes
up.
TEAL'C
Are you conducting some sort of scientific
experiment, O'Neill?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Hey, come on, that salsa's still good.
He heads into the kitchen and takes a container from Teal'c.
He puts the container back in the refrigerator. He grabs a beer
from the frig and twists the top off. Just as he is tipping it
to his mouth, Sam reaches out and takes the bottle away.
CARTER
What was the last thing you ate, Sir?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Four cheese burrito, some guacamole
on the side...
JACKSON
Anything else?
YOUNG O'NEILL
A beer. Then I hit the sack.
CARTER
So, whatever happened to you must have
occurred once you were asleep.
Jack's House - Bedroom Young O'Neill is standing in the doorway
as his teammates are looking throughout the room. Daniel is looking
through Jack's chest of drawers. Young O'Neill rushed to him
when he starts to take the underwear out of the drawers.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Hey! Do you mind?
Daniel puts his hands up in concession and walks away. Young
O'Neill follows him and then veers off toward Teal'c, who is
looking at something on shelves.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Teal'c...
Suddenly, Teal'c turns on a lamp, which shines right in O'Neill's
face. We see a flash of light, some green dots floating around
and then an Asgard face come into the picture. Young O'Neill
has just had a flashback.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Whoa...
Teal'c turns his head slightly toward Young O'Neill. Daniel also
diverts his attention to the boy.
TEAL'C
O'Neill...
JACKSON
What is it?
Sam's attention is now drawn to them as well.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Either I'm...remembering a particularly
bad dream...or the Asgard paid me a
little visit last night.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
SGC - Briefing Room Hammond and SG-1 are sitting at the conference
table. Young O'Neill is tapping his finger on the table and looking
quite bored.
HAMMOND
No offense, but what you're saying doesn't
make any sense.
JACKSON
Jack's account sounds like a number
of UFO abduction case files I've read.
YOUNG O'NEILL
This you remember...my birthday you
forget.
JACKSON
Looks like you'll have a lot more...
TEAL'C
This encounter is incongruous with all
previous contact we have had with the
Asgard.
CARTER
Thor has indicated that the Asgard have
been keeping an eye on human development
on Earth in the past.
HAMMOND
But we're allies now. We've cooperated
with them on a number of missions.
YOUNG O'NEILL
This...I would not have agreed to.
CARTER
What could they possibly hope to gain
from secretly making you younger against
your will?
YOUNG O'NEILL
(thinks for a second, then shakes his
head) I got nothing.
JACKSON
General, uh, I'd like to cross-reference
some of these old abduction accounts.
See if I can find any connection.
HAMMOND
Please do. Major, I believe you had
a briefing to run at 1300 hours...
CARTER
Yes, Sir. I'll be there.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Wait, wait, the F-302 briefing? I though
I was running that.
HAMMOND
Given your current situation, I feel
it would be best if Major Carter handled
it. I'm sure you can impart any information
she needs to know to fill in the gap...
YOUNG O'NEILL
But...I mean, I'm the one...
HAMMOND
(cutting him off) Good. Dismissed.
Hammond gets up and leaves. All but Jack quickly follow.
SGC - Hammond's Office Hammond is looking through some papers
when he hears a knock at the door.
HAMMOND
Come in. (Young O'Neill opens the door
and steps inside.) Jack, try to understand.
Your situation puts me in a very difficult
position.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Uh, General, no offense, but you're
not the one who went to bed watching
CNN and woke up as part of the MTV generation.
HAMMOND
Which is exactly why Major Carter's
going to handle that briefing.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Sir, I've flown the 302 more times than
anyone else.
HAMMOND
Be that as it may, the bottom line is
a room full of seasoned pilots aren't
going to respect the opinion of a boy.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(rubs his hand on his forehead for a
second) Sir, I just look like one...for
the moment...but those men in that room
need my expertise. And plus, you know,
if they're gonna be working here, they're
gonna...have to start gettin' used to...you
know...unusual things happening.
HAMMOND
Look, Jack...no one is disputing that
you may continue to be a valuable asset
to the SGC...but under the circumstances,
there's nothing I can do. I'm sorry.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Yes, Sir. I understand. (He walks to
the door and then turns to look back)
Dumb idea... (he pulls the door shut
as he walks out.)
SGC - Daniel's Lab Teal'c is looking at a computer screen as
Daniel looks at some books on a table behind Teal'c.
TEAL'C
It would appear that a great many of
the Tau'ri have encountered beings from
other worlds.
JACKSON
Yep, hmm...little do they know how close
they are to the truth.
TEAL'C
What, exactly, are we looking for, Daniel
Jackson?
JACKSON
Well, any abduction accounts that...match
Jack's story, and, um, obviously, anyone
claiming to have physically regressed
several decades overnight. We just need
to enter our search parameters into
the database...
TEAL'C
It has already been done.
Daniel walks up behind Teal'c to see the list on the computer
screen.
JACKSON
Wow...that's a lot of people.
TEAL'C
Indeed.
JACKSON
Let's see if any of these match Jack's
story exactly...what he said he saw...four
green lights...
Teal'c continues punches in a new parameter and a new list appears
onscreen.
JACKSON
That's a little more reasonable. That's
interesting...of the narrowed down accounts,
the most recent is from...
TEAL'C
19 year ago.
JACKSON
Eight are here in the 'States. You know,
if these addresses are still valid,
we should go talk to these people in
person.
TEAL'C
What do you hope to learn?
JACKSON
I guess we'll know when we learn it.
He pats Teal'c on the shoulder.
SGC - a conference/briefing room Sam walks in. There are a group
of pilots sitting in rows of chairs facing a podium and computer
presentation screen. THe pilots jumpsuits have F-302 patches
sown on the right side of the chest.
CARTER
As your intel packages show, the F-302
is a space-worthy, fighter-interceptor
aircraft reverse-engineered from Goa'uld
technology. You're upcoming mission
has been dubbed operation blue phoenix.
It'll be a live-fire combat simulation
to test how well the 302 fares against
actual death gliders. (One of the pilots
raises his hand.) Captain?
CAPTAIN
Major, according to our mission reports,
you were second seat on the most recent
mission involving the 302.
CARTER
Yes, and that one included close combat.
We'll be covering what was learned in
that encounter in this briefing.
CAPTAIN
Didn't Colonel O'Neill pilot that mission?
CARTER
Yes, as a matter of fact, he did.
MAJOR
(seated next to the Captain) The Colonel
also commanded the X-302 during both
previous hyper-space window missions,
didn't he, Major?
CARTER
What's your point, Major?
CAPTAIN
With all due respect, Ma'am, shouldn't
Colonel O'Neill be running this briefing?
CARTER
Colonel O'Neill is unavailable. However,
I've prepared several computers which
should help you understand how the 302
handles in combat situations.
CAPTAIN
Major, no offense, but those aren't
going to help me when I'm pulling 6
Gs in a dogfight against an alien ship.
CARTER
As you should know, Captain, the 302
has inertial dampening systems... (she
used a remote mouse to start a computer
presentation on the 302, which is being
projected on the screen behind her)
...which I am more than qualified to
explain in detail, so, let's just...
Suddenly we hear voices from outside the room. Sam and the others
are distracted.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(from outside) I just dropped by to
say...Ow!
SF ONE
(from outside) Sir, please do not resist.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Hey, ease up, big guy.
CARTER
...stay focused.
SF ONE
(still outside) Relax, sir.
YOUNG O'NEILL
I'm warning you...
SF ONE
Sir, please, stay there.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Did I just say I'm warning you? Hey!
Oh! All right! That's it! Now, I'm mad!
Sam has given up and has walked to open the door to the hall
where the ruckus is occurring. She opens the door to find Young
O'Neill pinned to the wall by two SFs. One is pulling his arm
back and bending his wrist up while the other is holding his
head up to the wall.
CARTER
You can release him.
They let him go. He pulls his arm back down and puts his hand
up to check the cheek that was smashed up against the concrete
wall. Then he straightens out his shirts and speaks without turning
to look at the two guards.
YOUNG O'NEILL
I'll forgo the charges for assaulting
a superior officer. Carter... (He walks
toward the door and pauses when he is
even with her. He whispers just loud
enough for them to hear) I could've
taken him.
CARTER
(smiles and nods as Young O'Neill continues
on into the room) I'm sure.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Sorry, I'm late. (He stands before the
group of pilots as Sam follows him in)
What'd I miss?
CARTER
We were just covering the 302's flight
capabilities.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(putting his hands in his pockets) Well,
then, I'm just in time. Here's what
you need to know...
CAPTAIN
Major, is this a joke?
CARTER
No...this is... Colonel O'Neill.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(as the pilots look at each other and
smile) I'm only gonna say this once,
so I'd suggest that you listen up.
CAPTAIN
(scoffing) Whatever you say...
YOUNG O'NEILL
Hey! I realize it doesn't actually say
Colonel anywhere on my uniform, but
it should.
The Captain begins to realize that Young O'Neill is the real
deal. The smile disappears from his face and he looks at Sam
again for confirmation. She nods in the affirmative. The entire
groups sits up a little straighter.
CAPTAIN
Yes, sir.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(takes a deep breath) Now...velocity
is key during engagement with a glider.
Now, your instincts are gonna tell ya
to floor it, because it's faster and
more maneuverable, but you've got to
stay in control. (He turns his head
to see the screen behind him) Uh...oh,
yeah...and the, uh, inertial dampeners
only compensate 90% when pulling negative
Gs. So the real trick is knowing your
enemy so you can anticipate their next
moves. (The pilots are now taking notes.
Young O'Neill walks behind the podium
and picks up the remote mouse. He starts
the computer presentation rolling again)
Okay...Death Gliders 101...
Somwhere in the US. Daniel and Teal'c are speaking with an older
man who appears to be working on a ranch. He is picking up and
stacking wood. Horses can be seen in the background, as can a
wooden structure - a house or barn, perhaps.
MAN
May I ask why the United States Air
Force is taking a renewed interest in
my story after 26 years?
JACKSON
Well, all I can tell you is that we
have some new information.
MAN
Will it prove my story true?
JACKSON
Eventually...maybe.
TEAL'C
Please, tell us what happened to you.
MAN
I was asleep in my bed, and a light
appeared in my room and took me. (We
see a younger man lying on his back,
floating in a white mist. The man is
lit with blue light.)
JACKSON
(we hear him while still seeing the
flashback) Took you where?
MAN
Some kind of space craft I suppose.
I was weightless, floating in mid-air.
(We see a bright white light directly
above and illuminating the younger man.)
And yet...
WOMAN
(the man's voice becomes a woman's voice
while we still see the flashback of
the younger man. A blurry, orange object
is now visible above him.) It was dark,
cold... (Now we see Daniel and Teal'c
speaking with a middle-aged woman. They
appear to be sitting at a kitchen table.)
I couldn't move a muscle even though
I was wide awake.
JACKSON
After the light hit you, then what?
WOMAN
The devices came. (We see another flashback.
A body is floating in a large blue-lit
room. There are spires shooting up all
around and a large circular window,
similar to those we have seen on Thor's
ship, in the background. The body is
hovering under an orange lit device
and four green-lit balls are floating
around the body.) They were these green,
glowing balls that floated around me.
JACKSON
Could you ask Professor Wu if he actually
saw who was speaking to him?
We see the young Chinese man floating again as we hear the interpreter
speaking Cantonese to Professor Wu. Then we see Professor Wu,
present day, nod his head once. We see the young Chinese man
turn his head and look directly at an Asgard. Then we see a flash
of white and then an exterior shot of Cheyenne Mountain.
SGC - Hammond's Office Sam and Daniel are speaking with the General.
JACKSON
(referring to a book he is holding)
All the accounts were basically identical...they
all matched Jack's version of events
exactly.
CARTER
Except none of them experienced any
kind of physical changes as a result
of the abduction.
JACKSON
No, they didn't, but everything else
is bang on. Taken while sleeping, floating
paralysis, out of body experience...now,
admittedly, all of this does sound familiar,
cliché even, if you watch enough TV...but,
um, they all described four green globes
that seemed to defy gravity, buzzing
around them like insects. Now, that's
too specific a detail to be a coincidence.
HAMMOND
The being that abducted them...I assume
they described an Asgard as well?
JACKSON
Short, big eyes, no hair, weird voice...
CARTER
The Asgard haven't responded to our
attempted communications.
FRAISER
(coming in from behind them) Well...if
help is coming, it better arrive soon.
SGC - Guest Quarters Young O'Neill is playing a video game when
Sam knocks at the door.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(without even looking away from the
game) It's open.
CARTER
How are you doin'?
Young O'Neill pauses the game and turns around to face Sam.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Well...I think I'm gettin' another zit...
(Sam smiles, slightly) ...and, uh, oh,
yeah...I'm still a kid. Uh, but beyond
that I'm doin' just peachy, thanks.
Why?
Sam hesitates. It's obvious she wants to say something, but doesn't
exactly know how. She moves to half-sit on the bed. He continues
to slouch in the chair.
CARTER
Well, Janet's just finished going over
the genetic team's analysis of your
test results...
YOUNG O'NEILL
How bad can it be?
CARTER
You're probably not feeling the effects
yet...but, something is happening to
your body at the cellular level. Basically,
your genetic structure is growing more
unstable...
Young O'Neill cuts her off with a sound and a shake of his head.
He holds up his left hand, all four fingers touching his thumb,
to indicate that she needs to compact the story to the most important
information only.
CARTER
(She closes her eyes and looks down
for a second before continuing) Colonel...you're
dying.
The camera pans in on Young O'Neill's face and fades out.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
SGC - Infirmary Janet is taking a blood sample from Young O'Neill.
Sam is close by, helping as she can.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Honestly, I feel fine.
FRAISER
You'll start to notice symptoms as the
condition worsens.
YOUNG O'NEILL
How long do I have?
FRAISER
It's hard to say.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Say it anyway...
FRAISER
Weeks...days...I don't know. You'll
notice fatigue first. In the end, your
bodies vital organs will completely
shut down.
CARTER
It's like something inside you is causing
a total system failure.
YOUNG O'NEILL
I don't get it. We helped save their
skinny asses from the replicators and
as a thanks, they shrink me and leave
me to die.
CARTER
We're exploring every option we have,
Colonel. We just need you to hang in
there. Young O'Neill smiles for a second.
SGC Sam and Jacob are walking up the back staircase from the
control room to the briefing room.
CARTER
Thanks for coming. I'm sure it'll help
coming directly from you.
JACOB/SELMAK
How are Mark and the kids?
CARTER
Good, great, the kids are great. I'll
tell them you said hi.
Jacob pauses as they reach the top and he sees Young O'Neill.
JACOB/SELMAK
I'm sorry...Sam told be what was going
on, but...what could anyone possibly
hope to gain from this?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Can we just, uh, get on with it? I'm
not gettin' any younger.
JACOB/SELMAK
Well, as I told Sam, our options are
pretty limited.
YOUNG O'NEILL
You come all this way just to say goodbye?
JACOB/SELMAK
At this point, I'm here to recommend
we put you in stasis until we better
understand your condition.
YOUNG O'NEILL
You want to freeze me.
CARTER
Colonel, we're not talking about cryogenics
as we know it here on Earth. The risk
involved is minimal.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Yeah, well, I've been down this road
with the Tok'ra before. No offense,
Jacob, but the last time you guys helped
me out of a jam... (He uses his fingers
to make quotation marks around jam)
...I ended up rescuing an old girlfriend
I'd never met before.
JACOB/SELMAK
We would never subject you to another
blending without your express permission.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Good...because it's never gonna happen.
JACOB/SELMAK
(stepping a little closer) No pressure,
Jack...but you need to make a decision.
We have a team standing by, but if you
wait too long, we may not be able to
reverse the cellular breakdown.
CARTER
Colonel, please.
HAMMOND
(when Jack doesn't answer right away)
It's your choice, Jack.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Can I have five minutes to think about
it?
HAMMOND
You can have 10, Colonel.
Young O'Neill walks down the stairs that Sam and Jacob has ascended
moments before.
SGC - The corridor outside the guest quarters Sam and Daniel
are walking to the quarters to find Young O'Neill.
CARTER
You think he'll do it?
JACKSON
If I have to drag the little tyke, kicking
and screaming, through the 'gate myself.
I didn't come all this way to watch
him die like this...
Sam knocks on the door just prior to opening it. We see an unconscious
guard on the floor and no sign of Young O'Neill. Daniel takes
off running back down the hall. Sam picks up a handset next to
the door.
CARTER
We have a security breach. Level 25.
Guest quarters.
We see Young O'Neill swipe a key card to open the elevator doors.
He ducks in the elevator and the doors close just as Daniel runs
around the corner. We see nothing so he continues on back toward
the briefing room. We hear alarms and see guards running as one
of them orders, Go, go, go... Some guards pass by a vent grating
in the wall. Seconds later, Young O'Neill emerges from behind
the grating and walks a short distance to the door that grants
access to the surface via a small ladder. They have used this
way into the facility on a couple of other occasions. He closes
the door behind him and begins his climb up the rungs.
Later, we see Sam, Daniel and General Hammond walking in the
SGC corridors.
HAMMOND
Security teams have swept the base three
times in the past six hours, inside
and out. They found nothing. I think
it's safe to assume he's no longer here.
CARTER
Well, Colonel O'Neill knows the SGC
as well as anyone. If he wanted a way
out, I'm sure he'd find one.
HAMMOND
Well, I've notified state and local
authorities. With any luck, they'll
find him soon.
Just then, Janet walks up from behind.
FRAISER
Sir...there's something you all need
to see.
Colorado Springs (presumably) Young O'Neill is exiting a liquor
store. The clerk follows him to the door.
CLERK
Go on home, kid, before I call the cops.
It's a school night, for cryin' out
loud.
YOUNG O'NEILL
How about light beer?
CLERK
Give me a break... (he heads back into
the store.)
Young O'Neill walks to a post near the sidewalk and parks his
rear on it for a minute. Then he notices a guy in an Air Force
jacket get out of a pick up and walk by.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Harley?
The guy turns as he hears his name.
HARLEY
Excuse me?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Yeah...Harlen Beck. You served in operation
prove force out of Incerlik, right?
HARLEY
Yeah, during the Gulf...how'd you know
that, kid?
YOUNG O'NEILL
What? Are you kidding? I ran... (He
stops himself as he sees the questioning
look on the Harley's face. He scratches
his cheek and tries another approach.)
I mean, uh...my uncle knew a Lt. Beck
from the war. Yeah, said he was a stand
up guy. Flew an AC-130 gunship over
Baghdad.
HARLEY
Well, then, you're uncle had to be in
the special ops.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Yeah, he was...Colonel Jack O'Neill?
HARLEY
You're Jack O'Neill's nephew? I didn't
know he had a sibling.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Uh...used to. Uh, yeah...Uncle Jack's
been like a father to me. You know,
since my folks died.
HARLEY
Ah. So, how's old Jack doin' anyway?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Uh, he's fine...and he's not that old,
either.
HARLEY
Well, tell him...tell him Harley said
to watch his six. Harley turns to walk
into the liquor store.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Hey, yeah, uh...speaking of six... (Young
O'Neill jumps forward to catch Harley
before he enters the store. He holds
up a monetary bill of unknown denomination.)
...Look, uh, seeing as how you know
my uncle and all...you think you could
do me a little favor?
Harley shakes his head, smiles and heads inside.
SGC - Infirmary Janet is showing General Hammond, Sam and Daniel
some information on the computer. Jacob is sitting at the computer.
FRAISER
Selmak has had a chance to digest some
of the DNA test results we've been collecting,
and it seems Colonel O'Neill's condition
isn't what we first thought.
CARTER
He isn't dying?
FRAISER
He is dying, but we think we know the
cause. When we first compared Colonel
O'Neill's DNA samples to the ones we
had on file, the match was almost perfect.
JACKSON
Almost...you said there was a tiny abnormality.
FRAISER
That's right...Selmak thinks he knows
why...
JACOB/SELMAK
(Selmak is actually speaking) This is
not Colonel O'Neill.
CARTER
But...
FRAISER
He's a clone.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
SGC - General Hammond's Office SG-1, minus O'Neill, walk in just
as the General gets off the phone.
HAMMOND
(into the phone) I see. Keep me informed.
(He hangs up the phone.) No word yet
on...what, exactly, do we call him at
this point?
CARTER
(when it appears no one else has an
answer) Duplicate O'Neill?
JACKSON
Sir, we think we might have a clearer
idea of what might be going on.
HAMMOND
Please, enlighten me.
TEAL'C
We know that the Asgard clone themselves.
JACKSON
Their very existence depends on their
ability to clone their bodies and then
transfer their consciousness from one
to the next.
CARTER
But they suffer from grave medical conditions
due to thousands of years of cloning.
JACKSON
Which will ultimately lead to the fall
of their civilization if they can't
solve the problem of diminishing return
in their cloning technology.
HAMMOND
What does this have to do with Colonel
O'Neill?
JACKSON
We had the abductees DNA that Teal'c
and I interviewed scanned for the same
abnormalities as...duplicate O'Neill.
As far as we can tell, none of them
are clones.
HAMMOND
Which means?
CARTER
Well, in all likelihood, the Asgard
responsible, took the original people
and replaced them with duplicates so
as not to arouse suspicion.
JACKSON
They studied the original for a period
of time and then switched them back.
HAMMOND
You think whoever took the real Colonel
O'Neill is going to return him?
CARTER
It's all we've got, Sir. We're hoping
the fact that Colonel O'Neill's clone
didn't fully mature is a mistake.
HAMMOND
What makes you think that?
TEAL'C
The previous actions of the Asgard responsible
indicate his desire to remain covert.
JACKSON
Jack's clone's condition is a dead giveaway.
CARTER
So it's a good bet the Asgard doesn't
even know there's a problem or else
he would have tried to fix it.
HAMMOND
Well, they'll figure it out when they
try to switch him back.
CARTER
I they try to switch.
HAMMOND
Are you saying if we don't track down
the young duplicate, we may not get
the real Colonel O'Neill back?
CARTER
Well, no, we're sure the Asgard would
be able to find him, if he wants. That's
not the real issue.
TEAL'C
We wish to apprehend the Asgard responsible.
JACKSON
Intercepting the next switch may be
our only shot.
The phone buzzes. The General pushes a button on the phone.
HAMMOND
Hammond.
VOICE OVER PHONE
General Hammond, Sir...I have a Lt.
Colonel Beck from the 10th Air Base
Wing at the Air Force Academy on the
line for you. He says it has to do with
Colonel O'Neill.
HAMMOND
Patch him through.
VOICE OVER PHONE
Yes, Sir.
A wooded area. We see a river and Young O'Neill sitting on a
large boulder on the river's edge. He is holding a fishing pole.
The rest of SG-1 and two guards start down the bank from the
road above.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Unless you brought beer, that's close
enough.
Sam turns to look at the guards and they turn and go back the
way they came.
CARTER
(yelling to be heard) Colonel, we need
you to come back with us.
YOUNG O'NEILL
How'd you find me?
JACKSON
A Lt. Col. Beck called General Hammond
and placed you in the area.
TEAL'C
A man from whom you recently bought
bait said he recommended his river.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Tell Jacob thanks for trying, but I'm
not interested in the deep-freeze deal.
JACKSON
Look, we're not here to take you to
the Tok'ra. There may not be much time.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Never is, is there?
JACKSON
Okay, well... (sighs) There's no easy
way to tell you this so...Sam's just
gonna come right out and say it.
Sam gives him a look.
CARTER
Well, sir...as you know, the Asgard
depend on cloning technology...
YOUNG O'NEILL
(cutting her off again) Oh, for cryin'
out loud...
Sam closes her eyes, dreading the job of telling him more bad
news...so Teal'c steps up.
TEAL'C
You have been cloned, O'Neill.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(whipping around) What?!
JACKSON
We think the Asgard took the real you
and made a copy. An unstable one, at
that.
YOUNG O'NEILL
The real me?
JACKSON
(growls) Yeah...the original. That's
not your real anything. I'm...I'm sorry.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Where's the original?
CARTER
Well, that's what we hope to find out.
But we need your help.
SGC - Briefing Room SG-1 and Hammond are back at the conference
table.
JACKSON
We calculated approximately a seven
day gap between abductions which puts
us at tonight.
YOUNG O'NEILL
This plan sucks. Look, I know you don't
think I am ...who I am...but, as far
as I'm concerned, I am...who...I am.
CARTER
The switch is the only chance we have
of capturing whoever's behind this.
YOUNG O'NEILL
What about the fact that this body is
dying? I mean, has anyone even thought
about that for a second? (No one speaks
up.) Oh...I see. You don't care as long
as you get the original back.
CARTER
We just...we don't know what else to
do for you.
TEAL'C
Perhaps the Asgard responsible can correct
his mistake.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Fine. Give me a 9-mil. I'll get it outta
the sucker.
JACKSON
We don't know who or what we might be
facing yet.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Exactly why you can't just use me as
bait and hang me out to dry. You're
never gonna to intercept one of those
Asgard beams. The only chance you have
of capturing this guy is me. (He looks
at Hammond, who has been listening intently
the entire time.) Come on...
HAMMOND
A zat gun.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(smiling slightly and relaxing a bit)
Thank you, Sir.
Jack's Bedroom Young O'Neill is lying on the bed, reading a magazine.
He picks up a radio that is on the bed side table.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(into the radio) Carter, you still got
your ears on?
CARTER
(who is standing a ways outside the
house, but still in visual range) Yes,
Sir.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Daniel, Teal'c?
TEAL'C
(who is standing with Daniel in another
area with a view of the house) Everything
appears to be normal, O'Neill.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(over the radio): Yeah? Not to me.
CARTER
You wanna go over the instructions I
gave you again?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Don't worry, Carter, I'm sure I'll figure
it out... Just then an Asgard beam takes
him off the bed.
We see Sam outside still listening on the radio. She sees a flash
of light through the bedroom window. She starts running toward
the house. We see Jack lying face down on the bed as Sam, Teal'c
and Daniel enter the bedroom. Sam rushes to check on Jack.
CARTER
(shaking his shoulder lightly) Colonel,
you all right? No movement from Jack.
JACKSON
Jack! Jack! Still no movement.
TEAL'C
O'Neill. Jack stirs.
O'NEILL
(taking a moment to wake up) What are
you all doing in my bedroom?
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Space We see what appears to be an Asgard ship in orbit. Then
we see Young O'Neill floating in the same room we saw during
the flashbacks with the other abductees. Young O'Neill takes
the zat out from under the magazine. An Asgard comes into the
room.
ASGARD
Hello, do not be afraid.
Young O'Neill zats the Asgard. The Asgard falls. Then Young O'Neill
zats the object directly over head. The object turns dark and
he immediately drops to the ground. He appears to be knocked
out.
Meanwhile, back in Jack's bedroom, Jack is now sitting on the
edge of his bed, rubbing his eyes. He stands up.
O'NEILL
I assume this is...important?
CARTER
Just a little, Sir.
Back on the ship, we now see the Asgard strapped to his chair.
Young O'Neill is walking to one of the control panels.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Okay... (he looks at the panel) ...wrong
console.
He walks to another nearby console.
YOUNG O'NEILL
(he blows out a breath) Far right jewel
thingy...up. (He picks up one of the
Asgard controllers and puts it on other
spot on the console. He waits, but nothing
happens) ...ah, and 3:00 (He rotates
the controller)
BACK IN THE BEDROOM
O'NEILL
Yeah, I was having the weirdest dream...
Then we see all four of them beamed out of Jack's bedroom and
onto the ship.
YOUNG O'NEILL
There, you see, Carter? Told you it
was no problem.
Young O'Neill walks up and stands in front of Jack. They are
checking each other out. Young O'Neill is still holding the zat.
They are dressed exactly alike.
O'NEILL
(looks at his teammates) What's goin'
on?
They all look away.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Wow, uh, you know, I'm really much taller
than I think.
O'NEILL
Carter?
CARTER
Colonel O'Neill, meet...Colonel O'Neill.
Jack looks at Young O'Neill again...and then back at Carter.
O'NEILL
What's goin' on?
JACKSON
We're pretty sure this...Asgard over
here... (points in the direction of
the subdued Asgard) ...kidnapped you
and attempted to replace you with a
clone.
Jack is looking thoroughly confused now.
O'NEILL
How long was I asleep?
CARTER
Seven days.
O'NEILL
That's a record. (Then he turns back
to Young O'Neill) So you're... (he points
back and forth between them then Jack
and Young O'Neill speak simultaneously)
...me.
YOUNG O'NEILL
you. (Then he continues alone) Yeah,
uh, believe me, if you think it's weird,
imagine how I feel being the copy.
Just then, the Asgard stirs.
TEAL'C
He is awakened.
Daniel and Sam walk toward the Asgard. Young O'Neill looks toward
the Asgard. Jack is still looking Young O'Neill over.
ASGARD
What's happening?
CARTER
We were kind of hoping you could tell
us.
ASGARD
No, no, no...this is all wrong.
O'NEILL
Hey! (Jack walks over to stand beside
Carter at the Asgard's side) I'll tell
you what's wrong. I just woke up, haven't
had coffee, let alone a pee in seven
days...and I find out you stole my ass
and made a...mini me. (He looks at Young
O'Neill for a second. Then he turns
to Sam) Carter...I should be irked,
currently...yes?
CARTER
Yes...I-I would be.
JACKSON
Why don't you tell us who you are?
ASGARD
Loki.
JACKSON
According to Norse mythology, that's
the god of mischief.
CARTER
What did you want with Colonel O'Neill?
LOKI
I have nothing more to say to any of
you.
O'NEILL
Hey! We just saved your flat little
white asses from the replicators. This
is the thanks we get?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Hey, at least you're gonna live.
O'NEILL
What?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Maybe you're a little put out...but
this guy didn't hit all the right buttons
on the Xerox. (Jack still looks confused)
This body is gonna fall apart if he
doesn't fix me.
LOKI
I cannot. All the clones suffer the
same fate.
O'NEILL
Okay...I'm going back to my original
question...what's going on?
LOKI
I am a scientist...a former geneticist
with the Asgard Ruling Council.
CARTER
Former?
LOKI
I was stripped of my stature after I
was caught performing unsanctioned experiments
on humans.
O'NEILL
What? You've got sanctioned ones?
LOKI
I merely had the courage to do what
was necessary to advance our cloning
technology.
CARTER
Instead of courage, some might call
it a lack of morality.
LOKI
Our population cannot withstand the
duplication process for much longer.
CARTER
Well, how can experimenting on humans
change that?
LOKI
Your bodies are similar to our original
form thousands of years ago. Using your
physical makeup as a template, I had
hoped to find a way to construct a clone
that could contain our massively superior
intellect. My research was unsuccessful.
YOUNG O'NEILL
So much for massively superior intellect.
O'NEILL
I was gonna say that.
LOKI
I was going to say...it was unsuccessful
prior to my being caught and banished.
I would have found what I needed eventually.
JACKSON
Why risk coming back here and breaking
the law after 19 years?
LOKI
Because...I thought he was the one.
O'NEILL
and YOUNG O'NEILL: (simultaneously):
Me?
LOKI
I believed his genetic code contained
the key.
O'NEILL
and YOUNG O'NEILL: (again, simultaneously)
Mine?
O'NEILL
Stop it.
LOKI
He was physiologically advanced enough
to carry and utilize all the data from
the ancient repository of knowledge.
That would not be possible for any human
one generation ago. He is a significant
step forward on your evolutionary path.
JACKSON
You just found this out recently?
LOKI
I learned about it when all the Asgard
did. O'Neill is legendary. (There are
looks of amazement from Daniel, Jack
and Sam) Most recently, the Asgard fleet
has been distracted by the war with
the replicators and the subsequent relocation
of our people.
O'NEILL
So, you took the opportunity when no
one was looking to sneak back here.
LOKI
I do not regret my actions. I am trying
to save my people.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Look, I know this isn't all about me...but
come one, seriously...I'm dying here.
LOKI
I cannot reverse your fate. Nor can
I explain why you did not mature to
the proper age as you should have.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Well, easy to see why they kicked you
out of the science club.
O'NEILL
All right...I've heard enough. (He walks
back to the control console.) Carter...
(Sam follows him. He picks up one of
the control jewels) Can you call Thor
on this thing?
Sam walks to the console Young O'Neill used to beam them up.
LOKI
Please...do not.
CARTER
(as she's moving jewels around) We've
already tried contacting the Asgard
a number of times...
YOUNG O'NEILL
You know, you'd think if Thor knew about
this...
CARTER
Okay...pretty sure that's it.
We see shots of Carter, Loki, Teal'c...as nothing happens. Then
Young O'Neill scratches his head.
YOUNG O'NEILL
All right, how long are we go... (he
stumbles slightly, closing his eyes
like he's fighting dizziness.)
O'NEILL
You all right?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Actually, no.
JACKSON
Uh, what do we do if Thor doesn't show
up? (Just then, Thor beams in.) Never
mind.
O'NEILL
Well, it's about time...
THOR
(as he walks to where Loki is restrained)
I apologize for not coming sooner. Loki,
what have you done?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Yeah, it seems he's been playing Dr.
Moreau behind your back.
O'NEILL
Yes...Dr. Moreau.
THOR
You know why I am here. You should have
known that O'Neill's genetic code was
safeguarded for his own protection.
O'NEILL
Excuse me?
THOR
A marker was placed in your DNA to prevent
any attempts at genetic manipulation.
JACKSON
The abnormality.
CARTER
That's why the clone didn't mature.
THOR
Yes. Loki will be punished for his actions.
CARTER
Is it true that Colonel O'Neill is the
key to solving your cloning problems?
THOR
No.
O'NEILL
But I thought I was advanced.
THOR
Indeed you are O'Neill, but our scientists
have already determined that while you
are an important step forward in the
evolutionary chain, the missing link
we have been searching for still eludes
us.
O'NEILL
I'm sorry.
THOR
Again, I apologize for any inconvenience
Loki may have caused.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Yeah, that's what I'd call it.
THOR
Unfortunately, the eventual genetic
breakdown of the clone is not my doing,
but rather the result of Loki's inept
methods. (Loki seems none to pleased
with that statement.)
LOKI
There was no need for the clones to
survive.
O'NEILL
Look, Thor...is there anything you can
do for him? The whining's starting to
grate.
THOR
You wish your clone to live?
YOUNG O'NEILL
You can't just let me die...
O'NEILL
He's just a kid...
THOR
Are you certain, O'Neill?
Jack doesn't answer right away and a few seconds later, Young
O'Neill slaps his arm.
O'NEILL
I'm thinkin'...yeah.
THOR
Very well. I will attempt to repair
his DNA. If successful, he should continue
to mature at a normal human rate.
All seem relieved to hear that news...
O'NEILL
Thanks.
Thor bows.
A school in Colorado Springs (presumably) Jack is driving his
truck up to the curb. Young O'Neill is sitting on the passenger
side.
O'NEILL
You're sure about this?
YOUNG O'NEILL
I've thought a lot about it. You know...you...me...I
mean, we...never really did embrace
high school. I don't know. Haven't you
ever just wanted to go back and do it
all over again? I mean, especially with
all you know now?
O'NEILL
No.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Well, from here on in...you and me are
different. Which is why I'm going to
do this. (He climbs out of the truck
and closes the door. He stops at the
window as Jack yells.)
O'NEILL
Hey, listen, do me a favor, huh?
YOUNG O'NEILL
Don't worry, I wasn't gonna keep in
touch.
O'NEILL
Yeah, it'd just be a little...
YOUNG O'NEILL
Weird.
O'NEILL
Weird, yeah.
YOUNG O'NEILL
Yeah.
O'NEILL
But look, if you need anything just...you
know...
YOUNG O'NEILL
The Air Force has set me up...I'll be
fine.
O'NEILL
You're sure about this? I mean it's...high
school... He turns and sees three girls
looking at him. They giggle to each
other when they see him noticing them.
He looks at Jack as if to say...Duh!
O'NEILL
Yes...go forth, young man.
Young O'Neill pulls out a pair of hip shades and puts them on.
He pats the window of the truck and backs away. Jack drives away.
The school bell rings and Young O'Neill begins walking to the
school. He shakes hands with a girl on the way into the building.
They strike up a conversation.
THE END
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