Original subtitles

Calm yourself, commander.

We are about to meet an alien race in person

for the first time.

If you are correct, they are more advanced than us

and capable of being a significant threat.

That gives me good reason to be on the highest alert.

Since the discovery of the temple ruins,

we have had reason to believe

that there are other inhabited planets in the galaxy,

and now, finally, we have our proof.

I, for one, am relieved

that the very first contact we have made

is with a race of humans that seem to be very much like us.

Maybe you trust them without suspicion, but I cannot.

Nevertheless, commander, we must proceed.

They are sending their most respected team of representatives.

No doubt, the leader of this group

will be a brilliant and savvy negotiator.

We must be at our best to match the challenge.

Personally, I cannot wait

to meet a man of such genius.

Howdy, folks.

Nice.

Thank you, colonel.

We would be happy to take you

on a full tour of our city,

but first, we would like to spend a little time

talking about our mutual interests,

so please, please sit.

To be honest, we are still trying to adjust to the fact

that our Stargate, as you call it,

is no longer a mere relic of a bygone era.

Obviously, it was quite a shock

when your communication machine appeared last month.

First contact can be somewhat unnerving.

We are all very pleased

to finally get the chance to talk face to face.

From our study of the ancient temple,

we have been able to deduce the Stargate

was an interplanetary transportation device.

But we haven't determined how to make a connection

with the many worlds described in the writings in the temple.

It took us a while to get the hang of it, too.

We know that the symbols on the Stargate itself are the key,

but as for the number and sequence to enter

in the dialing device...

We can definitely help you out there.

Once we get to know you a little better.

Oh, yes, well, of course.

We intend to allow you full access

to our citizens, our history, our culture,

so that you may come to trust us.

I hope we can reciprocate.

We also want to make it clear

that we intend to offer all that we can in trade

for any knowledge or technology

that you are willing to share.

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

We call it tretonin, colonel.

It Is our greatest scientific discovery.

How so?

Major Carter,

from what you have told me about your world,

your people suffer from a myriad of illnesses.

Many of them are untreatable.

Tretonin makes our immune systems

impervious to any ailment.

We live in perfect health.

What is it you hope to achieve here,

Jonas Quinn?

If we're going to learn about these people,

the best place to start's at the beginning.

Earthans.

Uh, earthlings...

Sort of.

I am zenna valk,

supervisor of the temple research project.

It Is a pleasure to meet the explorers

from the planet earth.

Well, we're not originally from there.

However, we have dedicated ourselves

to the cause of the tauri.

Uh, earth.

Am I at least correct in assuming you are Jaffa?

Indeed.

I cannot tell you

how exciting this is.

We have learned much from the discovery of this site,

but it must pale in comparison to what you can teach us.

I don't know about that, but we'd love it if

you showed us around.

By all means. That was my intention.

We first discovered these ruins

over a hundred years ago,

and since then,

we've dedicated ourselves

to studying the secrets

the Goa'uld left behind.

This area was obviously some sort of

reception colonnade

for greeting travelers

who came through the Stargate.

The real discovery

was made just over here.

Although we fully admit tretonin is not

without side effects,

we assure you,

the good it can do

far outweighs

any negative aspects.

What kind of side effects

are we talking about exactly?

It depends on the individual.

Most people experience almost no reaction to it.

Those who do merely require

more regulated doses.

We'll need a decent amount for testing.

On earth, of course.

Yes, certainly.

Of course, we will need something

in return from you

as a measure of good faith.

We've been authorized to give you these 10 addresses

and a rudimentary lesson in gate technology.

These are all peaceful worlds,

safe from hostile forces,

rich with historical relics and natural resources.

Well, this is a very generous offer, major,

very generous, however,

based on our own studies

of the writings in the temple, we have compiled a list

of the names of the worlds that we would like to visit.

Do you recognize any of these?

Well, I'll have to cross-reference the Goa'uld names

with our database of Stargate addresses,

but offhand, I recognize these three, sir.

They're classified off-limits,

Goa'uld homeworlds.

Yeah, fellas,

you really don't want to go here.

Not exactly a walk in the park.

You know what I mean?

We know the Goa'uld are a hostile race

that once ruled this planet.

Centuries ago

all right, you're new to this,

so I'll cut you a break.

Those are the worlds we wish to explore.

We believe that they are

significant to our history.

Look, guys, we're not lying to you about this.

You don't want to go there first time out.

Trust me.

If you have been to these worlds

and survived, can we not?

All I'm trying to say to you is it would be stupid.

We are aware of the risks and believe the rewards

are worth the potential consequences,

as you and your people obviously do, colonel.

Please, colonel,

in exchange for the tretonin,

we are simply asking that you respect our wishes.

There is an underground tunnel system

that leads to the main temple.

It Is most likely a means of escape

to the Stargate in case of attack.

That's exactly what I thought.

Please.

The writing in this chamber

seems to tell the story

of the Goa'uld

who once ruled here.

We've been attempting to decipher this section of the wall

for many months,

thus far with limited success.

It Is written in a rare dialect of ancient Goa'uld,

an account of the warlord shak'ran.

He was a system lord who was eventually defeated by apophis

about 300 years ago.

Indeed.

Until his defeat, it appears pangar served as shak'ran's homeworld.

And what of the Goa'uld apophis, the one who conquered shak'ran?

He was killed in battle not long ago.

As I expected, you have much wisdom to share.

Teal'c and I will be more than happy

to help you out with the translations.

I've got at least a dozen ancient ciphers I can try.

Please, I do not wish to be overheard

by the pangar security contingent.

There is something you need to know

about the tretonin.

Please come with me and I will finish showing you

the rest of the ruins.

I will try to talk to you later.

She said there was something we needed to know

about the tretonin.

She seemed to be worried about these guys,

like she was going way out on a limb just talking to us

about something other than Goa'uld hieroglyphs.

All right. You guys keep digging.

See what you can find.

Carter and I will take this sample

back to the SGC.

Jonas.

Dr. Valk.

Please, call me zenna.

How's it coming?

It's slow and painstaking.

Any help you're willing to give me...

Certainly. I brought those ciphers I was telling you about.

Looks like we're alone.

What do you suppose this means?

You said there was something we needed to know

about the tretonin.

I'm sorry. You must have misunderstood.

No, I think you were pretty clear.

No one's coming.

Teal'cis up there standing guard.

You can talk to me.

I don't have anything to say.

Hey, zenna, if you know something...

No, I don't.

That was strange.

What did zenna valk have to say?

Nothing.

Someone must have gotten to her.

Right away.

I think I've got something here.

She's on tretonin herself.

It looks like she has regular appointments to get injections.

Continue.

I was thinking we go and check out

the place they get their shots.

I found a map of the city. I'm pretty sure I can get us there.

Let's dot.

Looks like this is actually where they make the drug,

as well as administer it.

This way.

What is it?

I am not sure.

Well, something tells me this isn't the rec room.

No, it is not.

There's something living in there.

Goa'uld symbiotes.

Are you sure?

Yes,

and there are a great many.

What are they doing?

Who's there?

Identify yourselves.

Stop!

Teal'c!

He's got one in him.

Stand aside.

Lower your weapon!

This man is a Goa'uld.

Teal'c, something's not right.

This guy's completely out of it.

Lower your weapon now!

Would you care to tell us what you were doing at the tretonin facility?

You want to tell us why you have a pool full of Goa'uld symbiotes?

You have betrayed our openness with you.

Openness?

You're raising goa'ulds.

When were you going to tell us that?

The symbiotes are a critical component

to making tretonin.

Excuse me?

It Is a complicated process,

one which is better explained by our scientists.

Quite frankly, we intended to tell you how the tretonin was made

eventually.

We just wanted to first assess how you might react.

Not well.

I don't know why you're taking such offense.

You've told us yourselves,

the Goa'uld are mortal enemies

who have enslaved countless humans.

Where is the harm in using them to enhance our quality of life?

Do you really understand the risks involved?

We have been using the same method

to produce tretonin for nearly 30 years.

We take every precaution possible

to protect our people.

How were these symbiotes procured?

Yeah, for people who haven't mastered gate travel,

you've sure got a lot of them.

We would require answers

before sharing any further information

about the Stargate.

We have already told you everything that is necessary.

Tegar, the colonel is right.

There is no reason to keep more secrets.

The drug was developed

and is now manufactured and administered here,

and since its use has spread

to more of the general population,

we've implemented other treatment centers

throughout pangar as well.

Now, through here

is the reason we were able to create tretonin

in the first place.

The symbiotes were not procured through gate travel.

Our symbiotes are all bred here in captivity.

A queen.

No kidding.

Is there nothing you can do to help him?

What's his condition?

Well, his lower-brain functions seem to be intact,

his breathing and heart rate are normal,

but he is completely unresponsive

to any stimulus.

It doesn't make sense.

Teal'c?

Prior to the process of incubating Goa'uld symbiotes

using Jaffa,

the blending between Goa'uld and host

had only a one-in-two chance of success.

The Jaffa were created for the very reason

of improving the ability of the symbiote

to take human hosts.

So the fact that this symbiote

was raised in a tank

could explain the coma-like state?

To the best of my knowledge,

a failed blending results in death

to both Goa'uld and host.

This man is very much alive.

Our understanding is that this is atypical reaction

to contact with Goa'uld offspring.

A Goa'uld offspring is born

with the intellect and knowledge of the queen who bore it.

Normally, the fully developed personality would emerge,

allowing the symbiote to control the host

immediately upon blending.

Glowing eyes, clichebehavior,

evilness, that kind of thing.

This one is more of a blank slate.

Is it possible

that the production and raising process

has somehow, well, hindered the development of the symbiote?

This I do not know.

Colonel, I recommend we contact the tok'ra.

They may have a deeper understanding

into this man's condition, and in the very least,

they might be able to take the symbiote out of him.

I'm sorry, who are the tok'ra?

Basically, they're an offshoot of the Goa'uld

who oppose them philosophically in every way.

You propose to bring these Goa'uld here?

They're very different.

They co-exist with their hosts

in a much truer symbiotic relationship.

They are, in fact, allies.

And they can help?

We'll see.

Hi.

Hello.

I have an admission to make.

You know Teal'c and I tracked down the tretonin facility.

Yes, I heard.

Yeah.

Well, I did it by going through your stuff

when you weren't here.

I was wrong.

I know.

Well, you know it was wrong or...

I know what you did.

I saw you. Really?

'Cause I thought that we were...

Not so good.

No?

But you didn't try and stop us.

No. I wanted you to know.

In some ways, I'm glad you did what you did.

In others, I'm disappointed

you were so willing to betray me.

You know, never would have done this

had you not come to me first.

I should have told you outright.

I was afraid.

Tretonin is not available

to everyone in pangar yet.

Taking it is a privilege...

One that can be revoked.

I hope I didn't get you in trouble.

No,

but our relationship,

our people's relationship,

if we ever are to trust each other...

We're not off to Avery good start.

I know.

You could make it up to me.

How?

Help me finish the translations in the tomb.

It Is as though the symbiote within this man

has taken a host before it was mature enough to do so.

And yet our scans indicate it to be

a full-grown adult.

Most puzzling.

Can you account for its lack of identity?

As you know, memory is passed on genetically

by the queen, allowing them to be born

with the collective knowledge of their lineage.

It is possible that the queen that spawned him

was unable to pass on this information to her progeny.

Unable?

The knowledge imparted on her young

by a queen is done so voluntarily.

If nothing were passed on to this symbiote,

it would be, as you say,

an empty vessel.

Can you remove it without harming the host?

Possibly,

although such a procedure would be dangerous.

We would like to see the queen that spawned this Goa'uld.

Not a pretty sight,

even for a Goa'uld,

she is extremely old.

She has been kept in this manner for decades?

According to the pangarans,

they began using her for medical experiments over 50 years ago.

She's been breeding symbiotes to make tretonin

for more than half that time.

All right, now, how is that possible?

I mean, how does she make kids without a...

Man friend?

Symbiote queens are able to fertilize their own eggs.

It Is essentially an asexual process.

Is that why you guys take hosts?

It Is impressive that a primitive human culture

could develop this process of creating such a drug.

Does it bother you at all

that they use goa'ulds like this?

No.

Okay.

The Goa'uld have done no worse than this

to humans for centuries.

That the pangarans can use them

for a beneficial result is surprising,

but not morally objectionable to me,

if that's what you mean.

I believe her condition

is the reason her offspring are not mentally developed.

Most unfortunate.

What is it?

My scans indicate massive cellular degeneration.

Quite simply, she is dying.

I am sorry, colonel,

but the pangarans totally sugarcoated

the whole side effect aspect of the drug.

Well, that's a shock, isn't it?

While tretonin does appear to cure most diseases,

it ultimately creates far bigger problems than it solves.

How so?

The drug acts like a symbiote in many ways.

Upon entering the user's bloodstream, it immediately takes over,

completely suppressing the normal human immune system.

The result is apowerful resistance to disease.

But...

The healing effect is not permanent,

and the user's own immune system remains suppressed.

Basically, you have to keep taking the drug for it to work.

Considering how it's made,

we'd never create enough to sustain our population.

I don't know how the pangarans can make enough for their population.

They don't. Only about 20% are on it,

and they seem to be running into a wall

as far as production is concerned.

They've sucked the queen dry, doc.

According to the tok'ra, she's dying.

As far as I know, there's no way to reverse the drug's effects.

If their queen is dying as you say,

it's just a matter of time before anyone currently living off tretonin

will be facing death as well.

Okay?

O'Neill out.

So you wanted the gate addresses to the Goa'uld worlds

because you wanted to snag another queen?

Colonel, we have no choice but to replace the one we have.

Exactly how did you get to this point?

60 years ago,

our archaeologists discovered a secret chamber beneath the temple.

We found a sealed canopic jar

containing a living female symbiote perfectly preserved in stasis.

From our study of the temple,

we knew the Goa'uld never suffered from illness or disease.

We saw this discovery as an opportunity to learn why.

Of course, once the queen gave birth,

we immediately began experimenting

on her offspring's physiology,

searching for a way to mimic

their seemingly perfect immune system.

After decades of trying, we finally came up with tretonin.

It seemed like a miracle at first.

Couldn't your scientists foresee the negative effects?

Of course.

What we couldn't predict was our inability to refine the drug.

We were confident that we could solve the problems.

We limited the use, but ultimately,

we didn't see why we shouldn't begin to reap the benefits

while working to overcome the downside.

We know the risks in confronting the Goa'uld,

but tens of thousands of lives will be lost if we do nothing.

Perhaps you could assist us.

Now, you have faced the Goa'uld many times.

Your knowledge could give us a tactical advantage.

No.

There is no tactical advantage when you're dealing with the Goa'uld.

We've stayed ahead of the game

only because we don't bite off more than we can chew...

Usually.

Besides, we need to get you off the tretonin, not find another source.

Our scientists have been trying for years

to find a way to reverse its effects.

We've made very little progress.

We need more time.

Or more help.

This is important to you.

More so than just curiosity about your history.

As you now know,

the tretonin may not be available to us for much longer,

and when we run out, those of us taking it are going to die.

Not if we can help you find some kind of antidote.

Do you think that's possible?

Anything's possible.

If we could find a new queen...

Long term.

I know it's not the answer, but it could buy us a little more time

until another option is available.

This has been my life's work,

my father's life's work.

Your father?

My father was the one who found the jar that contained the queen.

He was attempting to remove

a section of the temple ruins for further study

when he literally stumbled into the chamber.

Of course, he had no way of knowing that his discovery

would eventually doom so many people.

The result is not his fault.

No.

Teal'c?

Didn't you say this temple was built by shak'ran?

It was.

Then why does this section of the fresco mention ra?

Who's ra?

Ra was a powerful system lord, brother of apophis.

He, too, is dead.

Well, according to this...

Ra used to live here.

We will examine the drug.

If it acts as I suspect,

it may be impossible to perfect

as the pangarans would hope.

The best we might be able to do

is essentially provide an antidote

that will allow their normal immune systems to regenerate.

They would not possess the superior health they do now.

And how long would it take to go from theoretical

to enough for everyone?

We can make no promises, colonel O'Neill.

However, as you say, we are in your debt.

We will begin immediately.

It Is possible that shak'ran captured this world

from ra in battle.

And built this entire temple

on top whatever ra had here before.

It goes on to say something about this

being some kind of prison...

Or tomb...

For one of ra's enemies.

Wait a minute.

"Here lies...

"Egeria,

"betrayer of the Goa'uld.

"May she...

"Suffer

"for all...

"Eternity.

Egeria...

Dr. Jackson's notes mentioned her.

Isn't she supposed to have been killed?

Indeed she was,

but this would seem to indicate otherwise.

That means...

The queen the pangarans are breeding is not Goa'uld.

She is the origin of the tok'ra.

This could be a problem.

Are you sure?

The writings in the chamber are extremely clear.

From what we can piece together, ra used this planet

as his base of operations in this sector of the galaxy.

Centuries later,

a rival Goa'uld named shak'ran captured this world in battle,

forcing ra to abandon it.

The question is do we tell malek and kelmaa?

How can we not tell them?

If we remain silent, the pangarans will continue to use egeria

as a source for their drug until she is dead.

If we don't find a way to get them off the drug,

they're going to die eventually, anyway.

We have to tell them.

Please understand

we had no idea who she was until now.

It is hard to believe.

Many of our historians speculated

that ra did not kill egeria, as was widely believed,

but...

We never dared hope that she would ever be found.

She must be freed immediately, of course.

Every moment that she is kept in this condition

is an affront to the tok'ra.

We're going to talk to the pangarans now.

It would help if you had something to offer them.

Like, say, an antidote?

Unfortunately, finding an antidote to the tretonin

may be more problematic than we had first hoped.

And why is that?

There is something unusual

about the genetic structure of the symbiotes

beyond their lack of knowledge.

The tretonin should be working far better than it does,

and we're not sure why it doesn't.

We cannot seem to identify the defective gene

that is causing its effects to break down.

But we can say you'll solve this eventually, right?

At this moment, all I can say is, it is a mystery.

What, you're suddenly stumped?

I understand the implication, colonel.

This revelation about egeria

is in no way affecting our analysis of the tretonin.

As of right now, we cannot help the pangarans.

We could not have known.

Surely the tok'ra don't hold us directly responsible?

They're demanding the immediate release of their queen.

How could we?

It would doom thousands without a remedy.

The tok'ra have suffered great losses in the last little while.

Their numbers are severely diminished.

Restoring egeria's health may be their only hope of survival as a people.

Have they made no progress at all

in reversing the effects of tretonin?

I'm sorry, but you ask the impossible.

She is our queen. Her freedom is not open for negotiation.

We deeply regret who she is,

but freeing her would mean death for many of our people.

Unless, of course, you can offer an alternative.

Malek and kelmaa are having trouble

locating a particular element

in the symbiotes' genetic structure.

Obviously, until they do,

the chances of synthesizing an antidote are slim.

Then we have no choice.

You do not understand.

Her existence is a miracle to the tok'ra.

We are also a dying race.

You may lose thousands. Our kind will become extinct.

I am sympathetic to the tok'ra,

but what you are asking of us would amount to a holocaust.

She is a sentient being.

Using her in this manner

is an insult to our very existence.

Someone has breached security in the manufacturing wing.

What has she done?

Oh, is that...

Was that...

Kelmaa has given her life for our queen.

Her host belongs to egeria now.

I'll bet the pangarans would give up the queen

if the tok'ra would hand over the antidote.

You think they know how to save the pangarans

and are withholding a cure?

To get what they wanted, yeah, sure.

Sir, with all due respect, I disagree.

Carter, they're pissed off.

Wouldn't you be?

They just discovered that the founder of their race has been abused

for the sake of medical experimentation for over 50 years.

Oh, come on, Carter, face it.

For all their high morals

and fancy preaching about co-existing with humans,

we are just a nice place to live.

I don't think that they would just lie outright

and doom thousands of innocent people.

That tok'ra laying on that table just did.

Egeria has awakened.

Egeria, it Is an honor.

Rise, malek.

You are not my servant.

Kelmaa was generous

in giving her life to free me,

but I am afraid It is too late.

Save your strength, my queen.

Your people need you, now more than ever.

Kelmaa's assessment

of my condition was correct, malek.

My time is almost done.

I shall not live long enough

to see more of my children.

My host has shared her knowledge

of the tok'ra with me.

You are beyond my greatest hopes

and dreams.

These are the tauri

who ally themselves with the tok'ra.

I know.

Come forward.

My host tells me you seek to help the pangarans,

despite what they have done to me.

This has all been a terrible mistake,

but not a malicious act.

Nor was mine, major Carter.

You know, back on my home planet,

my people discovered a substance

that had an incredible potential to generate energy.

After years of research

and a serious lack of moral fortitude...

They used it to make a bomb...

That being the reason I left,

but the point is...

Your people had good intentions.

We thought we had found the cure for all disease.

Now it may kill so many of us.

I am not afraid to die,

but I am afraid that my people will not

have learned from this.

I think they already have.

I passed on the flawed gene

that gave the drug its weakness.

You were unable to construct an antidote

because of the manner in which I sabotaged my young.

I did it in the hope

that they would ultimately prove useless

to the pangarans.

I wanted to force them to abandon their research

once the drug proved untenable.

Instead, they continued to make it

in ever-increasing quantities.

And now they can't live without it.

It is not what I intended.

Their fate is their own doing,

not yours.

You merely tried to free yourself

the only way you could.

They do not deserve this end,

not when it can be prevented.

You created the flaw.

You can create the antidote

that will save them.

I will tell you what you need to know.

Thank you.

On behalf of our people,

please, forgive us

for what we have done to you.

Had we known...

The salvation of the pangarans

shall be my final act.

Such is the spirit of tok'ra that I wish to live on.

Malek says he should have

a prototype of the antidote ready soon.

We are grateful for his efforts, major,

and yours.

It Is our hope we will be able to repair any mistrust

that may have developed between us,

so that we can pursue a long-lasting friendship

between our people far into the future.

Well said.