Dust to Dust
At the Westeskiwin Indian Reservation, a grave robber comes across an ancient mask that has a triangular crystal. Meanwhile, Joseph Lonetree- a shaman of this reservation, and his son- are undergoing a religious ceremony of calling up an ancient god. The grave robber hears a noise when he puts on the mask, and he steals the mask and leaves, after being scared away by the ceremony. The team notice the grave robber on a satellite feed- presenting the mask. The team study the artifact while Ironhorse is furious that the grave robber has stolen from a people's culture and heritage. Suzanne notices that the crystal is unique. Harrison and Norton seem to pick up on it. She comments that if it's glass and if the item was from the fifteenth century, she's impressed by the quality. Ironhorse tells her he knows the tone she has- that she has learned it from Harrison. Norton tells the team that they can get a closer look at the crystal. Meanwhile, at the aliens cavern, the Advocacy watch the same news report and notice that the crystal is a starter for their warships. And that the starter must mean that there is a ship nearby. They know that if they get the starter, then they can retrieve the Warship- and then win the war. Norton analyzes the crystal further and concludes that the crystal is beyond the Indians technological skill- as well as any human technological skill. And the crystal is machine in nature. Harrison and Ironhorse decide that they are going to meet with the grave robber and inquire about the crystal. At his office, the grave robber tells an interested buyer over the phone that he believes the crystal could be made of glass or quartz but he has seen nothing like it. He also lets him hear the sound the headdress makes when he places it on his head. Suddenly, Joseph Lonetree stands in front of him in his office. Joseph tells the robber that he has no right to that item, and that he must return it- or he will die. The grave robber calls the police, but is shocked as Joseph suddenly vanishes. At a police station, Joseph is arrested and he maintains that the grave robber will be killed if he doesn't return the artifact that he took from their land. Harrison and Ironhorse make their way to the robber's office and Ironhorse tries to control the obvious outrage he has towards the grave robber. But the grave robber refuses to let them have the artifact even though they have told him that it is part of a federal investigation. He tells them he threw Joseph in jail and he will do the same to them. At the Bureau of Indian Affairs, three aliens possess the bodies of workers there. Joseph is bailed out of jail and he shocks the guard by conjuring live, waterlogged fish. Ironhorse tells Joseph that he posted bail for him and Joseph asks Ironhorse if he can drive him back to his reservation. Ironhorse agrees to do so. The aliens arrive at the robber's office and request to see the artifact. When the robber tells them no, they brutally murder him and take the starter. Harrison and Suzanne into the robber's office and notice his dead body. Harrison thinks that they should call the police about this death- but anonymously. Ironhorse tells Joseph he is sorry about the theft of their property and Joseph assures Ironhorse that he is sure that they will get their property back. Because it is the way of things. The Advocates are informed of a comminique from the alien soldiers who tell them of their progress. The Advocates state that it will be good to report positive progress to the Council. Ironhorse returns Joseph to reservation and he then meets up with Grace Lonetree- who is Joseph's daughter. She inquires as to why did Ironhorse bail her father out. He says that not only was he as outraged about the desecration of the burial site as her father- but that Joseph reminded him of his own grandfather. She tells Ironhorse that Joseph told her that the spirits sent him to them. Then Ironhorse talks to Grace about their respective tribes. She tells him that she is a teacher on the reservation, and gradually, Ironhorse becomes enchanted with Grace. Her strong personality and heart impresses him and he admits that it's been a long time since he's talked to an Indian woman. Norton clues Harrison in on the alien killers- and Harrison determines that they need to head to the reservation since Joseph Lonetree has been connected somehow to the artifact and the dead grave robber. Ironhorse grows further attracted to Grace and kisses her. Later, he leaves with Joseph and the elder Lonetree reveals to Ironhorse the buried alien warship. Suddenly, the three alien soldiers appear. Harrison and Suzanne (along with Grace and Joseph's son) make their way to Ironhorse and Joseph. The Advocacy tell their soldiers to let the humans live so they can spread fear and panic among the human population. Joseph begins to perform a ceremony that affects the weather. The ancient warship stands up and is poised to leave but the ceremony lifts the warship up and destroys it. The following morning, Harrison is in shock. He asks Joseph about the crystal, and Joseph gives it to him. But Joseph has the real crystal and he tells his son, he gave Harrison the fake one because it's what he wanted. COMMENTS: A fan favorite episode mainly because it offered new sides to Colonel Ironhorse. In terms of the Ironhorse-centered episodes, I favored the intense "Vengeance is Mine" but this episode was also great. The chemistry between Grace and Ironhorse was very apparent and their attraction was very believable. Joseph Lonetree was a character who was so mystical, he elicited wonder in the audience. From the fish in the cell, to the revelation that Ironhorse's appearance was brought upon by the spirits- he was intriguing. If the show had continued, I would have loved to have seen a return visit by Joseph and Grace. This episode also revealed that the aliens had been visiting this planet for thousands of years, which adds another layer to the show's strong alien storyline. The design of the ancient warship reminds me of the original ships in HG Wells version (with the legs and all).
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Ironhorse and Harrison meet Joseph Lonetree
Ironhorse and Grace Lonetree get intimate
An ancient warship arises
