On a new planet, Sheppard, McKay, Teyla, and Ronon discover an intriguing portal in a mountainside: an opaque force field surrounded by Ancient text. After inserting a camera through the field to check for danger, Sheppard decides to enter the portal himself. The instant he begins, however, he feels terrible pain. His teammates struggle to pull him back out, but the portal inexorably sucks him through.

During the first test flight of a Puddle Jumper that Dr. Zelenka has repaired, the small ship abruptly crashes and sinks into Atlantis's ocean with Dr. McKay and the pilot, Griffin, on board.