Singularity (Stargate SG-1)

"Singularity" is an episode from Season 1 of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.

Plot

The episode begins with the team leaving the S.G.C. through the Stargate in hope of seeing a black hole. Technically, as Carter explains, the black hole itself cannot be seen; rather, they intend to watch the matter spinning towards the hole.

However, after walking through the gate, SG-1 finds that the situation on the planet has changed. They quickly run into the dead body of a native who has been killed by some disease. The team immediately begins searching the village and observatory, only to learn that everyone has died – natives and S.G.C. personnel alike.

At the start of the next scene, Dr. Fraiser explains that the complex has been decontaminated. Carter wants to leave the compound and search for any survivors, but Fraiser insists that the team be examined immediately. Because O’Neill touched the first body found without gloves, he is the first to be examined.

After being examined and released by Fraiser, the team begins searching for and tagging bodies. Daniel begins the scene by talking about what information they had received from the natives three months earlier when the S.G.C. sent its first team to the planet. The natives had said that “with the darkness would come the apocalypse.” Daniel appears to believe it was in part the fault of Earth that the people died – they insisted that it was merely a myth and that the darkness was merely an astrological phenomenon.

The subject is dropped when they find their first bodies. Once Carter tags one, someone in the bushes removes the tag. Believing the person is scared by the protective outfits the team is wearing, O’Neill tells Teal’c to “try to look friendly” and get the survivor to come out from hiding. Teal’c convinces the person to leave the bushes and it is seen that she is just a young girl. The team brings her back to the complex for Fraiser to examine.

Carter attempts to communicate with the girl, but she does not respond to anything. Fraiser calls Carter over and informs her that while not infected, the girl has traces of Naquadah in her blood – perhaps the reason she was able to resist the infection.

Fraiser briefs the team on the problem – the area’s water and ground are both contaminated, but none of SG-1 tested positive for the infection. While Carter attempts to convince O’Neill to allow the team to stay and observe the eclipse, the young survivor comes up from behind and hugs her. O’Neill tells Carter she wont be staying, but that he and Teal’c will.

Carter returns to Earth with the young girl, who appears amazed and intimidated by the gate room. She then takes the girl to the room she will be staying in while at the S.G.C. Carter attempts to leave, assuring the girl she will be back soon but has important work to do, but the girl does not want her to go, so Carter agrees to stay.

Meeting with General Hammond and Daniel, Fraiser explains that Earth may be “indirectly responsible” for the disease. She explains that one of the teams may have brought a harmless bacteria to the planet, where it then mutated into an infectious and deadly strain. Reassuring Hammond that the nobody brought the bacteria back to Earth, she explains that they may have brought back the cure, a young girl who, for whatever reason, survived. She hopes that the girl may have a natural immunity that could be used to prevent other infections on Earth.

Carter, who stayed with the girl, appears to have decorated the room during the briefing. Using paints provided by Carter, the girl illustrates the death all around her. Attempting to convince the girl she is not alone, Carter paints herself into the picture.

Back on PX8 987, Teal’c tries to understand what exactly a black hole is. O’Neill attempts to explain, describing it as a “really big thing,” or a “massive hole” that is “out there.” Teal’c simply responds, “I see.” O’Neill continues his explanation, describing what the black hole actually does; Teal’c matter-of-factly says, “Thank you.”

On Earth, after Carter tries to leave the room, the young girl grabs her arm and speaking for the first time, says, “Please don’t go.” Carter then learns the girl’s name: Cassandra. Complaining of pain, Carter takes Cassandra to Dr. Fraiser, who discovers that the girl has low potassium levels. Cassandra then suddenly collapses. Fraiser immediately begins trying to help the girl, but while listening to her heart, finds an unusual noise. A chest x-ray reveals that something has attached itself to Cassandra. A biopsy reveals that whatever it is appears to be at least partly organic and has the ability to stop Cassandra’s heart.

Carter’s analysis of the object reveals that one side is made of iron and potassium, which accounts for Cassandra’s low potassium levels, and the other side of Naquadah. She performs an experiment to see what happens when potassium and Naquadah react. The microscopic amounts create an explosion large enough to destroy the camera on the other side of the room. Radiation levels in the room were off the charts.

On PX8 987, Teal’c and O’Neill are observing the black hole when they discover a Goa’uld attack vessel.

In a meeting, Daniel and Carter speculate that Cassandra is being used involuntarily as a weapon by the Goa’uld as a means of destroying at the very least the S.G.C. complex and Stargate. Fraiser also reveals that the cellular decay leaves them with only one hour and fifty-two minutes to solve the problem.

While observing the attack vessel, Teal’c sees something leave the attack vessel and insists they must leave for the Stargate. On Earth, Hammond has made the decision to send Cassandra back to her home planet to prevent Earth’s Stargate and the facility from being destroyed. The scene shifts to Teal’c and O’Neill, who are running from Goa’uld gliders. Teal’c explains to O’Neill that the Goa’uld, Nirrti, had before used negotiations as a ploy to destroy opponent’s Stargate’s. O’Neill realizes the girl is another of Nirrti’s attempts to destroy a Stargate.

On Earth, while dialing PX8 987, Cassandra once again collapses. Before the final chevron can be encoded, Teal’c completes the dialing sequence and returns to Earth with O’Neill. Cassandra is moved away from the Stargate. Teal’c believes that if Cassandra goes through the Stargate, the gate will be destroyed. The decision is made to send Cassandra to an abandoned nuclear facility.

On the way to the bottom on the nuclear facility Cassandra wakes up. She notices that Carter is crying, but Carter is unable to explain why. Once the 30th floor is reached, Carter opens the vault where Cassandra must stay and tells her to “rest” there for a while. In tears, Carter explains that she must leave. Cassandra tells Carter she promised never to leave her alone. Carter tells her she is brave, closes the vault, and, still in tears, leaves for the elevator. Once she reaches the 26th floor Carter changes directions and heads back down to Cassandra. Carter declares to O’Neill that she is staying, despite his order to come back up. The time is reached, yet Cassandra has not yet exploded. Carter explains that she simply “knew” that Cassandra would not explode.

The episode closes with Daniel, Carter, and Teal’c walking through a park with Cassandra. O’Neill walks up, carrying a dog. He explains it is a rule on Earth – every child needs a dog. Carter explains that Fraiser will take care of Cassandra until parents were found, and that the object has been shrinking ever since she was taken away from the gate. We also learn that like Cassandra, Teal’c knows nothing of dogs either.

Series continuity

This is the first episode in which Naqahdah is identified by name.

External links

"Official Stargate SG-1 site". MGM. Retrieved 2006-06-08. Most of site requires Flash.
"Screenplay" (PDF). Distributed by MGM. Prepared by Casablanca Continuity. Retrieved 2006-10-28. Also see Google's cache.
"Summary". SciFi. Retrieved 2006-06-05.
"Production". GateWorld. Retrieved 2006-05-07.