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Common Ground (Stargate Atlantis)

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"Common Ground (Stargate Atlantis)"

"Common Ground" is an episode from Season 3 of the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis.

Plot

While on a mission off-world, the team is ambushed by a Genii strike team. As the team escapes through the Stargate, Sheppard is captured by Acastus Kolya. Back on Atlantis, the team suspects that Ladon Radim, the current leader of the Genii, had betrayed them. Ladon arrives to Atlantis and asserts that he his not responsible for Sheppard's capture.

At that moment, Atlantis is contacted by Commader Kolya. He has Sheppard hostage and demands that Weir turn Ladon over to him to get Sheppard back. Weir refuses to give in to Kolya's terms, so in order to coerce her into agreeing, he uses a captured Wraith to slowly drain Sheppard's life. He gives Weir three hours to answer his demands or he will let the Wraith feed on Sheppard again.

It is revealed that the reason for Kolya's antagonism towards Ladon is their rivalry for the leadership of the Genii. Kolya firmly believes that he is the rightful ruler of the Genii, but his plans were ruined by Ladon, who informed the government of his rival's plans and pulled off a coup of his own. Ladon agrees to help the team find Sheppard. With the information he provides, the marine team strikes at a Genii outpost, but quickly discover it to be a dead end.

Meanwhile, Sheppard begins to talk to the Wraith, who is also a prisoner of the Genii. Both prisoners want to escape; Sheppard wants to get back to Atlantis, while the Wraith is tired of being starved in a prison cell, explaining that, for a Wraith, hunger is like a raging fire inside them, and they have no choice but to feed. Initially, the Wraith does not trust Sheppard, believing that the chances of escaping were zero, he has been there for many years and has had his resolve weakened, but he gradually becomes impressed by Sheppards unwaning hope that his people will come to save him, and the prospect of truly being able to feast. Eventually, the Wraith agrees to an escape plan. Working together, the unlikely allies escape from their prison. However, as they try to reach the Stargate, Genii forces begin to pursue. In order to gain the strength to fight them off, the injured Wraith feeds off Sheppard, leaving him barely alive, and easily defeats the Genii. At that moment, the Atlantis team, who have found out the location of the prison, arrive, and are horrified to see Sheppard almost dead.

However, the sated Wraith keeps his word to Sheppard and actually returns life force back to him, restoring his physical condition; indeed, McKay says that Sheppard almost looks younger than he did before. The Wraith reveals that the Wraith only give the 'Gift of Life' only to their most devout followers… and, he adds, to their brothers. Sheppard also keeps his word and lets the Wraith go free. He then threatens Kolya, saying that unlike their last encounter, he will not hesitate to kill him if they meet again. After leaving the planet, both Sheppard and the Wraith agree that the next time they meet, "all bets are off." Both part ways with the realization that there are many things they don't know about each other's kind.

Trivia

This episode introduces the "Todd" Wraith character that plays an important role later in Season 3 and Season 4.

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