What's going on?
We're getting m.A.L.P. Telemetry from p3x—289.
Atmosphere is completely toxic.
Sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, ammonia...
Well, if there was a gate there,
then chances are good there was life there at some point.
Yeah, I think that's a safe assumption. Look at this.
We got these images two hours ago,
just after the m.A.L.P. Went through.
The dome seems to be the only structure
that's managed to withstand the corrosive effects of the atmosphere.
How big is it?
It's about 2.2 kilometers wide and 500 meters high.
The m.A.L.P.'S giving us a proximity alert.
Three meters, and we're picking up a static charge.
Stop.
Extend the arm.
It went right through.
Well, whatever it is, it's not solid.
Move forward.
We've lost contact. The m.A.L.P.'S not responding.
Bring up that last image.
How is that possible?
I have no idea.
Colonel O'Neill, report.
We're good, sir. Although, there's not much of a view.
What about suit integrity?
According to my readings,
the hazmats could withstand about 12 hours of exposure
before there was any serious degradation.
Shouldn't be a problem, sir.
We can make it to the dome and back inside an hour.
Understood, Hammond out.
Picking up a static charge.
Yeah, I can feel it.
So, what do we do, just walk through?
The m.A.L.P. Encountered no resistance.
Then it disappeared.
It did transmit for a few seconds before we lost the signal,
which suggests it got through.
I'm reading normal atmosphere.
Oxygen, nitrogen...
We're clean too.
It's like the barrier scrubbed the suits when we passed through.
The inside of the barrier seems to be some kind of hologram.
You can feel the resistance.
That combined with the static charge must act as a warning...
So you don't accidentally step through.
The m.A.L.P. Appears to be fully operational.
The barrier must block the signal.
Sir, this is an amazing piece of technology.
Permeable to large solid objects,
but won't allow the poisonous atmosphere in.
We really need to study this further.
All right, come on out. Let's go.
Hello.
We're not gonna hurt you.
You came from outside.
Yes, we did.
What's your name?
What's yours? —I asked you first.
I'm called nevin. —hello, nevin. I'm Jack.
That's Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c.
You wear strange clothes.
Caught us on a bad day.
Nevin, where are your parents?
My father's in the town.
Can you show us? —we just want to talk to him.
Maybe we could trade.
You know, sir, we probably could have found the town without his help.
Nevin?
I found some people in the garden.
Jack, Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c.
I'm Kendrick, nevin's father.
I assume you don't get many visitors in these parts.
We thought we were the only survivors.
Survivors of what, exactly?
You'd better speak to the council.
You say you came from outside the dome.
That's right. —but the atmosphere is toxic.
Anyone who stepped outside would die almost instantly.
We wore protective suits.
But where do you come from, originally?
From a planet called earth. It's about 6000 light years from here.
You came in a spaceship?
Uh, no, we came through the Stargate.
It's that big circular object, with symbols carved on it.
It's right outside the dome.
There must be some sort of historical reference to—...
One moment, please...
The gate of mahg mar. Discovered 563 years ago.
Believed to have been of ritual significance
in the worship of the goddess morrigan.
Taken from the ruins of danaan
and put on display in the national museum of history.
So, you do know about the gate.
We do now.
We've accessed the relevant information through the link.
It's a direct neural interface with a databank.
Ow!
The link contains the sum total of our knowledge and wisdom.
All our history, our culture, our science, everything.
And you can simply call up this information whenever you need it?
Precisely.
You really think this is gonna work?
The signal was lost only when the transmitter crossed the barrier.
We need only maneuver the m.A.L.P. Into the correct position.
Nice.
We have a scheduled radio contact with sg—I, sir.
Dial the gate.
Sg—I, this is general Hammond. Come in.
Yes, sir. We read you, loud and clear.
Loud and clear.
Colonel O'Neill, report.
Well, it turns out this planet's not so dead after all, sir.
I take it the dome's inhabited. —yes, sir.
So far, the natives are very friendly,
if a bit odd, if you know what I mean.
Are they willing to share information?
They're gonna show Carter all the technical stuff tomorrow.
In the meantime, they've offered to put us up for the night.
All right, next contact in 24 hours.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
What?
How many planets have you been to?
I don't know, lots.
More than 10? —yeah.
More than 20? —yes.
More than 30? —yeah.
More than 40? —yes.
More than 50? —maybe...
Nevin...
Let the poor man eat.
It's more than 50, isn't it?
Think it's too late to pitch a tent?
Are you sure you've had enough to eat?
Yes, it was delicious.
You obviously don't have any trouble growing enough food.
Everything in the dome is completely self—sufficient.
What about power?
We draw energy from geothermal vents located beneath the town.
Tomorrow I can show you the generators.
Pallan's one of the technicians who maintains the system.
Well, you're obviously very advanced,
but your level of architecture
seems to be out of step with your level of technology.
Technology's what destroyed our world.
The dome was created because industrial growth
poisoned the air and the water.
Our people were dying from disease and starvation,
so the survivors made a deliberate choice to simplify their lives.
We have our own environmental problems.
Perhaps, if we learned about your history,
it might help us avoid a similar fate.
Well, the easiest way for you to learn about our history is through the link.
Is that possible? —of course.
Thousands of historical books are on file.
Uh, maybe that isn't such a good idea.
We have no way of knowing if our brain physiology
is compatible with the technology.
Ah!
Thanks. Maybe later.
Hello, nevin.
I'm not nevin. I'm colonel O'Neill from Stargate command.
All right, colonel O'Neill...
Will you please take off my hood?
Nevin, it's time for school.
Go to your room and access your lessons.
When I grow up, can I be an explorer?
We'll talk about it later.
So none of you has ever been outside the dome?
Not in over 400 years.
We monitor the levels of toxicity,
but we've never actually seen it.
What's it like?
It's not very pretty.
I've seen images on the link of a great city
with tall buildings made ofglass and steel.
I'm afraid there's not much left but rubble.
I suppose... that's why they created this.
So we're not constantly reminded of what happened.
It's a pretty convincing illusion. I'd love to see how it's made.
Well, the control room's underground, but the entrance is this way.
As you can see, major, we haven't abandoned technology altogether.
Yeah.
If using the link is out of the question, then this is your only option.
We don't have much need for books anymore.
These are all that's left from the old world.
It's interesting, the writing's similar to a language we've encountered before.
Can you translate it?
With your help?
Let's get started.
Atmospheric analysis, dome integrity, power utilization.
Very impressive.
If you don't mind, I just have to check the coolant pressure. Please...
Pallan...
This looks like some kind of religious text.
Evaha?
Pahan?
Yes?
You okay?
Of course. Let me see.
Did you see that? —see what?
The screens changed. They were filled with some sort of streaming code.
That's impossible. They always display the status of these specific systems.
I know what I saw, pallan.
I'm afraid you must be mistaken.
So, what do we know?
Well, their technology's incredible. At least what's left of it.
Right now, pallan and I are trying to rig up a computer interface,
so I can download some of the specs.
Do they wish anything in return?
Apparently not.
They seem quite happy with their situation as it is.
See, that makes no sense to me. These people live in a bubble.
Well, they have managed to survive for over 400 years.
Sometimes there is more to life than mere survival.
We could offer them relocation.
Yeah, I suppose.
Are you suggesting we leave the dome?
We're just saying it's possible.
There are many suitable worlds where your people could live.
But we have everything we need right here.
Except room to grow.
We're talking about fresh water, fresh air, mountains, trees...
We can experience all these things through the link.
You gotta be kidding me.
It is a very generous offer, colonel, but this is our home.
What about the other folks in the town?
Some of them have to think differently.
The council speaks for the town.
And the council's decision is unanimous.
Well, what about the other council member?
The woman that was here?
There hasn't been a woman on the council since the last election,
and that was two years ago.
What're you talking about?
There was a woman sitting there yesterday.
Colonel, I can assure you the council has always consisted of three members.
I spoke to pallan.
He claims to have no memory of there ever being a fourth council member.
She was just there yesterday.
Maybe the link has something to do with this?
If it can be used to download information directly into people's brains,
maybe it can also be used to alter their perceptions or memories.
Perhaps the councilwoman opposed the others,
and they felt it necessary to be rid of her.
So they erased her from existence?
That seems a little harsh, don't you think?
Well, the bottom line is we can't trust these people.
Well, sir, I'd still like to finish my research on the dome technology.
Yeah, maybe there's something in the archive
that can shed some light on this.
The behavior of the townspeople does seem odd,
but they don't appear to be an immediate threat.
All right, see what you can find out.
How's it coming? —well,
I still can't find any historical reference
to the time period when the dome was first created.
By that time our people had begun using the link.
It's possible not much written material survives from that era.
Let me ask you something, um...
If you had the chance to—to leave the dome, and, uh...
And go live on another planet, would you take it?
Pallan told me about the conversation you had with the council.
And? —we have everything we need right here.
That's what they said.
We hope that someday the poison in the outside atmosphere
will dissipate and we'll be able to reclaim the planet.
But not in your lifetime. —no.
What about children?
I mean, don't you and pallan want to have a family?
Of course.
But there must be some sort of population controls.
Each couple's allowed a maximum of two children.
And you're okay with that?
Limited resources dictate that we maintain the population at a certain level.
How many people are we talking about here, exactly?
At this precise moment? 1,373.
And what would happen if someone,
you know, decided to break the rules and have more than two children?
I don't know. No one ever has.
Try the interface now...
We got it.
You believe this technology will be useful on your world?
Why don't you and your wife come back with us and see for yourselves?
Oh!
Just for a visit.
Do you have oceans? —oceans, deserts, rainforests...
It would take a lifetime to see it all.
It sounds wonderful.
Wait a minute...
You said these were the power utilization figures, right?
That's right.
What's a normal variation?
Between .01 and .07%.
Well, then we've got a problem.
These levels are least 2% lower than when we first came down here.
No, that can't be.
No, you're mistaken. These figures are within normal range.
Do you have the readings from this morning?
Of course.
You see? No variation.
This is wrong.
These measurements are foreign to you.
Well, it doesn't mean I can't recognize a relative drop.
Major, I can access 400 years of recorded power utilization figures on the link.
There's never been more than a 0.1 % variation.
Hypothetically speaking, if there was...
Would it threaten the integrity of the force field?
I suppose it might. But it's never come up.
Colonel O'Neill!
Colonel, is it true, what they're saying?
You've offered to take us through the gate to another world?
Yeah, that's right.
Then nevin and I will come with you.
I see the way he is with you and I realize that nevin
deserves the chance for much more than this world can ever offer.
Are you certain?
This is not a decision to be taken lightly.
I want my son to grow up in a world
where the sky and the clouds aren't part of an illusion created by a computer.
Well, that's good enough for me.
- Colonel, come in. - —Go ahead.
Sir, I've been running some calculations here
and I've discovered something.
O'Neill...
Sir, are you reading me?
Carter, the m.A.L.P's gone.
Say again? —the m.A.L.P.
Is no longer parked where we parked it.
It would appear someone does not wish us to communicate with Stargate command.
Well, that's not our only problem.
The dome is losing power.
I noticed a discrepancy with the output levels,
but I wasn't sure because the computer record showed no change.
So, I converted the unitsand compared the current levels
with the readings I took yesterday when we first came through.
And?
In the last 24 hours, there's been almost a 4% drop.
Sir, if this continues, the dome will fail.
How much time?
It's hard to say.
But when it does, everyone here will die.
Evaha?
Sir, the computer's giving me new information.
The power level is definitely dropping.
Major Carter, should we not warn the townspeople?
I'm not sure we're going to be able to convince them.
The only evidence we have are the computer readings,
and for some reason, pallan couldn't see that they were changing.
Maybe he's in on it.
I don't think so.
I think his memories are being altered and it's possible
that the same holds true for everyone in this town.
Evalla!
And I called out to her and shejust ignored me.
It was like she was in some sort of trance or something.
Perhaps she was under the influence of the link.
There's no telling what level of manipulation is possible.
So, brainwashing?
Yeah, that's one way of putting it.
We have to help these people.
I mean, they're being held against their will, they don't even know it.
Well, as long as they've got those things on their faces,
they're not gonna be convinced of anything.
Is it possible to disable the link?
It's part of the same computer system that controls the dome.
If we tamper with it, we risk bringing the whole force field down.
On the other hand, if I could use the computer to access the link,
maybe I could reprogram the information that's being sent out.
You mean do a little brainwashing of our own.
The only problem is, I don't think I could do it without pallan's help.
If I can find historical evidence in the library
that directly contradicts information available on the link,
that might prove to at least some of these people that they're being lied to.
Like records of the council meetings.
They would show that there used to be more than three members.
Exactly.
All right, you two do what you do.
Teal'c, you and I are late for a radio contact.
Colonel O'Neill!
Where are you going? —we're going back to the house.
We need those special outfits we had. —the house is this way.
You are mistaken. It is in that direction.
There's nothing over there. That's the edge of the dome.
Come on, I'll show you.
Here it is. See? Right where you left it.
Hey... is this where we slept last night?
It is not.
What's going on here?
Colonel... are you going back to earth now?
No. We were just gonna send a message.
Don't worry, we're not leaving without you.
Excuse me?
Anyone who wants to leave is welcome to come with us.
Why would I leave?
You have expressed a desire to live in a world where the sky was not artificial.
You must have me mistaken for someone else.
Nevin, you wanted to be an explorer, right?
I'm going to be a gardener, like my father.
You are under the influence of the link.
What are you talking about?
Those things on your head, you gotta lose them.
No, no.
Yes.
They're messing with your mind somehow. You've got to get rid of them.
The link gives us everything we need.
Look, just take it off for a minute. Just flick it off.
I can't. To be disconnected from the link would cause instant death.
Now, see, that's something you've never said before.
Colonel, I think you should leave now.
Carter, what's your status?
I'm on my way to the control room now.
Well, watch yourself. They got to Kendrick.
Major, I've almost finished downloading the generator design.
Pallan, we need to talk. —all right.
Do you remember earlier today, I told you I noticed a drop in the power levels?
I remember you being mistaken.
What about now? Do you notice any change?
Power levels are constant. —no, they're not.
It's just that every time these screens are updated,
the information on the link is updated as well.
It alters your memory, so you don't see what's happening.
Major, this is absurd.
Pallan... the dome is failing.
I told you you're mistaken.
No. I am not mistaken.
Now, if you don't help me warn the others,
then you and evalla and everyone in this city will die.
Who? —evalla, your wife.
Major, I don't know what's come over you, but I've never been married.
I need you to disconnect yourself from the link.
That's insane.
I know you believe that removing that node
from your forehead will kill you.
I've known that since childhood.
But last night, evalla removed hers and nothing happened.
Who is this evalla?
- —I told you. She's your wife. - Oh!
Your memories of her have been altered in the same way
that you've been kept from realizing that the dome is deteriorating.
Major—— —at first,
I thought it was somebody on the council who was responsible,
but the changes are happening too quickly.
I think it's automatic.
The computer makes changes,
and then updates the memories of everyone in this town so no one's the wiser.
Pallan, you have to disconnect.
That would be suicide.
No. That's just a lie that's been planted by the computer.
We need to reprogram the link to convince the others of what's happening,
but I can't do it without you.
No. — Sam!
Got it. —what is that?
They're legal documents.
All I can say is thank god for lawyers.
When everyone else was converting to the link,
they were still using good old—fashioned paper.
See, when the dome was first created,
everyone signed a contract establishing communal land ownership rights.
Look at the number.
No, that can't be.
There were originally over 100,000 people living here.
That's impossible.
The dome isn't big enough to sustain that many.
Not anymore. —oh, my god.
All this time, I thought the power loss would cause the dome to fail.
But the computer found a way to compensate,
the dome is shrinking.
See, that's what happened to the m.A.L.P. It didn't go anywhere.
It's right where we left it, except for now it's on the outside.
Now, wait a minute...
If there were over 100,000 people living here,
where did they all go?
O'Neill.
There are other remains here,
but the bones have been eaten away by the corrosive atmosphere.
I understand why you're reluctant to believe us, pallan.
You've got things in your head that must seem like
memories of a lifetime, but they're not.
Just yesterday, you'd never even heard of the idea
that disconnecting from the link could be fatal.
You're lying. —look at these documents.
They're over 400 years old, they're written in your language.
How could we fake this? Why would be fake this?
The only reason they still exist
is because the computer did not foresee outside interference.
To anyone on the link, they're completely irrelevant.
But why?
The computer is programmed to maintain the community.
Individuals had to be sacrificed for the good of the whole.
Only each time someone disappeared,
no one noticed because all memory of them was erased.
Please...
No...
It's all right... —no...
You see?
Now, we need your help.
Carter, what's your status?
Pallan's trying to access the link right now.
If he can get in, we might be able to reprogram it.
Understood. We're coming to you.
What did I do? —It's another update.
Nevin, I want you to stay here.
Father?
Is colonel O'Neill sick?
He is, but we're going to make him better.
What is it?
These systems are so complicated.
Without access to the link, I'm not sure I know what I'm doing.
Pallan, you've been doing this your whole life.
You're just gonna have to try to remember the old—fashioned way.
Right.
Maybe not that way. —agreed.
Let's keep moving.
Carter, we may have a little problem here.
They're being controlled by the computer, sir.
O'Neill...
Hey... come here.
Everything's going to be all right, colonel.
These are for you.
I don't think so.
You've been disconnected from the link.
You're not well. Let us help you.
Carter... now would be a good time.
I'm in. Now, what do I tell them?
There's no time to explain everything.
Try to erase all memory of us completely.
Don't make me shoot you. —you're not yourself, colonel.
Without the link, your mind is playing tricks on you.
Who are you?
I did it.
We ran some tests on the geothermal vents that supply the town's power.
Looks like they started to cool about 200 years ago.
The dome started shrinking sometime after that.
We should have the whole town relocated in a couple of days.
I think I'm going to miss this garden.
How much longer will the force field last?
It's difficult to say.
I mean even with less and less surface area to maintain,
the power would have failed eventually.
And in the meantime, more of us would have disappeared.
You still don't remember her, do you?
No.
You know, in a way, I envy the others.
They, uh, they all must have lost somebody,
but I'm the only one who knows for sure.
And how do you mourn someone, when you can't even picture her face?
I'm sorry, pallan. I wish I could help.
Maybe you can.
How?
Tell me about her.