A team led by Sheppard begins a survey of worlds with stargates, hoping to put a plan of McKay’s in motion to build a network of spaceborne gates between galaxies that would cut travel time between Earth and Atlantis to mere hours. Their first stop brings them to a peaceful colony where everyone looks up to the friendly (and large) Lucius, a man with a penchant for telling tall tales. After spending some time in his company, even Dr. Beckett begins to sing Lucius’ praises, and in a huge break with standing orders he brings Lucius through the stargate to Atlantis. Weir is more than a little bit annoyed with this breach of protocol, but eventually she comes to appreciate Lucius’ charms too. Even Teyla and the normally gruff Ronon enjoy his company. The only ones who seem immune to him are McKay and Sheppard, who begin investigating the pull Lucius has with nearly everyone he meets. Sheppard is able to keep giving Lucius the cold shoulder because he himself is suffering from a cold. But when Lucius begins convincing the crew to go on dangerous missions for him, giving him the Ancient gene therapy and even give him a puddle jumper, Sheppard begins trying to spread a few germs of his own.
story by Brad Wright & Robert C. Cooper
teleplay by Carl Binder
directed by Martin Wood
music by Joel GoldsmithGuest Cast: Richard Kind (Lucius Lavin), David Nykl (Dr. Zelenka), Julia Anderson (Willa)
Notes: Guest star Richard Kind is an old hand at the Stargate program – he was in the original Stargate movie, as Dr. Meyers.
LogBook entry by Earl Green