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The show opens with SG-1 discussing the findings of a MALP probe sent to P7X-377.
The probe has sent back some pictures of a giant pyramid on an apparently deserted planet.
The pyramid seems to measure over 1000 meters high. Jack's archeological genius shows here
when he asks; 'And as Pyramids go that's big?'
Inside the pyramid, several meters in on a rock walkway a pedestal sits. Atop this pedestal
sits what appears to be a solid crystal skull. Daniel Jackson explains to the group that
several years ago, in 1971, his grandfather, Nicholas Ballard, discovered an identical
piece in Belize, South America.
He explains that according to Nick, (who never wanted
to be called anything else) the skull he found had special powers and could teleport
people to other places. Daniel goes ga ga over the whole Mayan temple thing while
Carter is excited about the leptons (slowed down neutrinos). Neutrinos pass right
through everything. There is no material known that can slow them down. No matter
how thick or dense.
The looks exchanged are priceless when Sam explains to Jack that,
'Something like 500 million billion just passed through you!'
So it doesn't matter how dense Jack can get.
'No matter how dense?' He asks her. The timing of course is impeccable.
When Hammond agrees to the mission, it is Dr Janet that protests because of
this radiation. She insists that the team spend no more than 15 minutes at most in the cavern.
Daniel finds this completely unacceptable and suggests radiation suits.
Ah Jack does pay attention (sort of).
'Hey. If you'd been listening, you'd know that nintendos pass through everything!'
After the little debate, SG-1 visits the planet to investigate the object.
(Of course they did, otherwise there would be no storyline!)
Their time in the pyramid will have to be limited as there are high levels of slow neutrinos
(leptons) bouncing around in there. Daniel approaches the skull to get a closer
look as the radiation levels in the chamber start growing in number.
Daniel's curiosity gets the best of him and he stares into the eyes of the skull.
(His Grandfather had said that was the way to activate the teleportation process)
Everything starts going awry. Specks of light begin swirling around inside the skull
growing in number and size until they envelope Daniel. Teal'c reacts by zatting the
skull which stops the lights and knocks Daniel to the ground unconscious and invisible
to the others. Oh horrors! Teal'c rushes to the skull to look for him but in the process
steps right through him! At the same time, Carter warns the radiation has spiked at 400 percent!
Jack turns to collect his team and sees only Teal'c. Did you notice nobody but Teal'c really even
looks for Daniel?
By this time, Carter is unconscious due to the radiation and Jack isn't doing so well either.
Teal'c and Jack help Carter and they rush back to the gate and escape to the safety of the SGC
leaving an invisible Daniel lying on the ground at the base of the pedestal.
Back at the SGC, Teal'c recovers from the Muon poisoning first. Seems Muon radiation affected
the hypothalamus in their brains. This caused temperature spikes and wreaked havoc with their
respiration and heartbeat. Thanks to the snake in his belly, Teal'c was already feeling better.
He and General Hammond decide that a quick trip to retrieve the skull from the pyramid would be
safe enough and necessary to help figure out what happened to Daniel. Nicholas Ballard believed
the skull do be some sort of transporting device. Teal'c will make the trip by himself as the
others are still unconscious. The interaction with Teal'c and Hammond brings a smile as General
Hammond warns Teal'c that it is dangerous and that he could wind up in the same place that Daniel
did.
The response from Teal'c? 'Than I will have succeeded in finding him.'
Teal'c returns through the gate to P7X-377 to bring the crystal skull back and look for his friend. Daniel awakens as Teal'c is returning back to the gate. Daniel discovers he is invisible as well as immaterial when Teal'c walks right through him. Daniel gathers his thoughts just in time to jump through the gate behind Teal'c as the wormhole is closing and nearly gets caught.
'Hey!' He yells as if someone can hear him. Guess he doesn't realize that if you're invisible,
nobody can see you.
Back in the infirmary, Jack is getting restless and giving poor Dr Frasier a run for her money.
He wants up and she has told him that he won't have his strength back for some time. 'So Relax,'
she tells him, 'Doctor's orders!' We all know how Jack likes taking orders.
'Napoleonic power monger!'
After some banter with Teal'c about the Skull and Rothman not being able to figure out an ashtray,
Jack says that the guy that should be working on the artifact is Daniel (too bad Daniel isn't
there to hear that.)
Teal'c reminds Jack,
'It is he whom we endeavor to locate Oneill'
Jack has had it and attempts to get out of bed even after Teal'c reminds him he is too weak
and manages to fall face first onto the floor!
Teal'c without missing a beat reminds him that, 'Dr Fraisier is usually correct in such matters.'
He bends down and picks Jack up like a rag doll and drops him onto his bed.
Dr Rothman has been put in charge of examining the skull. Daniel
(although no one can see or hear him) is coaxing him along. He's being briefed by Teal'c and
General Hammond. As he nervously examines the skull, he uses his nasal spray reminiscent of
Daniel's Allergies.
Does every scientist have allergies of some kind? He reminds one of Daniel
in his early days before he became Jackified. Teal'c tells Rothman that they believe the skull
to be some sort of teleportation device and that it created some sort of energy field.
Rothman is skeptical but is ordered to see what he can find.
Teal'c and Hammond leave Rothman, Siler and the skull with one warning.
'Do not look directly into its eyes.'
Poor Rothman doesn't know where to begin and when he turns to Siler and asks him what he thinks,
Siler isn't much help.
'I think you're going to get fired.'
Later, Carter comes in and catches Rothman still examining the skull, looking directly
into its eyes. (Wasn't he warned about that?) Carter yells for him to stop and some discussion
ensues as to what the skull might be. Rothman is so frustrated that he hasn't been able to help
find his friend that he has all but given up.
It's a skull (nothing more)
Sam suggests finding Nicholas Ballard.
Maybe he has some answers. It seems Daniel has been keeping secrets.
He neglected to tell his friends that Nicholas was now in a mental institution.
He had quite a story to tell about his encounter with the crystal skull he found in Belize.
It seems Nick (Daniels name for his granddad) had told the archeological world that the skull
had transported him to a huge cavern where he was met by 'giant aliens' who spoke an ancient
Mayan language. His fellow scientists ridiculed him and he became an outcast in his field.
After suffering a severe breakdown, Nick had himself committed to a psychiatric institution in
Oregon and refused to talk anymore about the skull. Their only hope was a man in an asylum.
They decided to go talk to the man, but that nothing would be said about where the skull was found,
Daniel or the Stargate in general.
Daniel, who had followed along to the hospital sat and listened as his friends tried to convince
Nick that they needed his help. He tried to persuade Nick to talk to his friends saying it was
okay, but Nick doesn't acknowledge his presence in the room. Daniel is invisible to everyone-
isn't he? Nick wouldn't help. He insisted on seeing the crystal skull himself and that was that.
Nick is eager to share his thoughts about Daniel. (Much to Daniel's chagrin) You can tell there
are unresolved issues between them. Nick talks of Daniel following in his footsteps. How made a
fool of himself and ruined his career pressing his theories about the great pyramids and aliens.
Daniel (still invisible mind you) argues right back at Nick that he was right and it wasn't
nonsense.
We find out here that neither scientist believed the other. This caused a lot of friction between
the two men ending in an argument approximately 4 years ago before Daniel joined the SGC. That was
the last time the two saw each other.
The team bring Nick back to the SGC according him restricted access only. He isn't given any
information about the Stargate nor told anything about where the skull was found. Daniel hangs
at his grandfather's side begging him to help his team mates. Once alone in his quarters with
Daniel, Nick reveals that he can see Daniel and has been able to all along. Daniel isn't dead;
he's out of sync somehow. He was 'Out of phase.' Why can Nick see him? Perhaps 'grandpa' can
see because of his similar experience in Belize. Nick didn't let on that he could see Daniel
because he didn't think the others would believe him. The two discuss past issues.
Nick apologizes for not being more of a grandfather after the death of Daniel's parents
and some old wounds are healed. He apologizes for being so enthralled with his work that
he didn’t have time to adopt Daniel. They discuss the fact that Nick didn't believe in
Daniel when he was being outcast from the archeological community for his beliefs about
ancient Egyptians. The two reconcile their differences and all is forgiven and forgotten.
Nick takes his discussions with Daniel to the rest of the team. After much discussion,
Nick proves he has been talking with Daniel by bringing up things only Daniel could know
and by mentioning General Hammond's telephone discussion with his granddaughter. No body
could have known that, it was a private conversation in his office.
Convinced that Daniel
is there and that his theory is sound, General Hammond allowed the team to go back to the
planet and to take Nick with them. Daniel believes that Teal'c interrupted a teleportation
procedure when he used his Zat on the skull. This is what left Daniel in his limbo.
In order to get him back, he must try to finish the procedure. Nick persuades Jack that
Daniel feels it necessary that he accompany the team. We see Daniel scold his grandfather.
'I didn’t say that!' But Nick is determined to use this to his advantage and goes with the team.
The team arrives at the pyramid and Teal'c replaces the skull on the platform. It isn't long
before the energy lights swirl up encompassing the group. Everyone but Teal'c disappears.
Teal'c returns through the gate after a brief look around for his friends.
The others can now see Daniel and the group reunites. A giant figure appears to the group.
He's a towering ominous creature somewhat translucent. Seems he's the Mayan God Quetzalcoatl.
He speaks to the group in low thundering voice. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' he says.
Nick recognizes him at once as his 'giant alien' from decades ago.
Daniel realizes that the aliens must be enemies of the Goauld.
This is the reason Teal'c wasn't transported with the others in the group.
They must have sensed his symbiote. Daniel exclaims, 'We are the enemy of the goauld!'
The alien tells the group that they are friends and are willing to exchange information.
'you may stay', he points to Nick. There is a touching moment as Nick and Daniel say good bye,
hoping to see each other again one day.
To see Teal'c play the straight man more than once in an episode is a treat.
He gets the best of Hammond and O'neill.
This episode is one of the best as far as humor goes even with its serious nature.
I personally enjoyed watching Daniel try to interact with everyone even though he 'wasn't there'.
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