Summary
Summary
Some half-dozen flashlight beams shine out into a sea
of darkness. They wash over a field of burnt and broken
bodies as Vala, Daniel and the rest of SG-1 participate
in a search and recovery mission. Bra'tac's body is found;
the old Jaffa master is unconscious. Teal'c is also unconscious,
lying face down on the ground.
(After the opening credits)
In what viewers can only assume is a flashback, a large
contingent of Jaffa have gathered at Dar Eshkalon (this
may be the name of a village or a planet). Inside one
tent, several Jaffa are participating in counsel reforms
and trade policies. One man, Nisal, would rather attack
the Ori than discuss politics. Bra'tac enters the tent
and knowingly explains that it is important to have leadership
and organization before launching a war. Teal'c, standing
at the entrance to the tent, notices a strange man in
a long cloak walking across the field, and moves to investigate.
Before he can get more than a few feet from the tent,
there is a massive explosion.
And Teal'c awakes in the SGC medical bay, hooked up
to a variety of machines. Dr. Lam explains that he has
been unconscious for some two weeks and there was concern
that he would never be able to work. Teal's falls asleep
again. Later, out in the hall, the good doctor tells
Carter and Cameron about Teal'c's condition. Apparently,
he needs to know something about Bra'tac, and will have
to do an awful lot to be able to be up and about again.
When he awakens again, Vala and Daniel are at his side.
They are soon joined by Sam and Mitchell. Daniel explains
that at least 32 were killed in the explosion and another
dozen or so were critically injured Teal'c flashes back
to the explosion -- he is walking through flames amidst
screams of pain. It looks like three different devices
contributed to the massive blast. Thankfully, Bra'tac
survived. Teal'c wants to see him immediately and tries
to sit up. He is unable to do so and his friends tell
him to take a little more time to recover.
Cameron brings Teal'c in a wheelchair to see Bra'tac.
It turns out that Bra'tac is in critical condition. He
has been intubated, unable to breathe on his own. He
appears to be in a coma and is badly burned. Teal'c hears
Bra'tac's speech in his mind and sees the cloaked man.
Later, back in uniform, Teal'c informs General Landry
that he has new information about who might be responsible
for the explosion. Sources close to Parnon, the Jaffa
who organized the summit, believe that a Jaffa warrior
named Arkad is responsible. Teal'c once fought with Arkad
and believes he is without honor. It seems Arkad, for
some reason, wants to become leader of the Jaffa nation
so he can deliver them all to the Ori. Frightening!
Teal'c demands that Arkad be hunted down but General
Landry is adamant that SG-1 will not be involved in the
murder of someone based on rumors. Teal'c argues that
Arkad will eventually become a threat to Earth as well
as the Jaffa. Nevertheless, Landry states that Dr. Lam
is not ready to certify Teal'c for active duty. Teal'c
disagrees.
General Landry tells Mitchell that he will not allow
the SGC to support Teal'c's desire for revenge. He has,
however, sent a memo to every SG team informing them
that investigating Arkad is top priority. Mitchell is
not sure that is enough. And it is certainly not enough
for Teal'c, who is leaving. The rest of SG-1 watch as
Teal'c stands alone in the gate room. Mitchell considers
hitting Teal'c with a zat; Vala wants to go with him.
Daniel says that Teal'c does not want them to go with
him, although he has promised to stay in touch. They
are not sure whether or not to believe him.
As his teammates watch, Teal'c steps through the Stargate.
(After a commercial.)
Teal'c sits alone at the site of the summit and the
explosion. A young Jaffa girl walks up to him. They are
surrounded by sticks that are meant to honor those who
died. Teal'c promises the girl that those responsible
for the explosion will pay with their lives.
At the SGC, Daniel sits next to Bra'tac reading a book.
Bra'tac opens his eyes and starts coughing. Daniel calls
for help and Dr. Lam comes running.
Wrapped in his mighty Jaffa cloak of brooding, Teal'c
sits down opposite a rather dirty looking man who seems
to know him. He asks the man what he knows about the
bombing at Dar Eshkalon. The only thing the man knows
is that a bunch of Jaffa were killed and he does not
really care at all. The Jaffa enslaved his people for
generations. After a moment, Teal'c abruptly jumps to
his feet and grabs the man by his neck. Apparently, the
cloaked man at Dar Eshkalon Teal'c saw bought explosives
from someone on the planet. Teal'c offers to kill the
man if he will not tell him what he wants to know.
Meanwhile, Bra'tac shares with Daniel of his experience
with Arkad, a former student of his. Despite meeting
him in battle time and time again, neither Bra'tac nor
Teal'c were able to stop Arkad. Bra'tac then explains
that Teal'c holds Arkad responsible for the murder of
his mother. And thus, Teal'c will do whatever it takes
to stop Arkad.
Colonel Reynolds informs General Landry, Sam and Mitchell
that rebels on an Ori-controlled planet have seen hundreds
of Jaffa being sent to mine naquadah (a powerful explosive).
Not for the Ori, however, but for Arkad, who plans to
use the naquadah to attack Earth. Uh-oh.
On an unnamed planet, presumably somewhere in the vicinity
of the Milky Way Galaxy, the mystery cloaked man with
the scar walks into a tent without a care in the world.
Teal'c is waiting for him, knocks him out, rips out his
symbiote, and tortures him. The man believes that should
he die the Ori will allow him to ascend. Teal'c tells
him otherwise. Also, Teal'c has put an explosive in his
symbiote patch that will explode within seconds. Teal'c
begins to walk away -- the man is about to explode. And
he does, in a fireball of ironic revenge. The same explosive
that blew him to smithereens was used on the attack at
Dar Eshkalon.
Back on Earth, the rest of SG-1 ponders Arkad's impending
attack on Earth. It might be revenge, it might be a desire
for credulity, or it might be the Ori telling him to
do so. And there is no way for the SGC to stop a cloaked
cargo ship with naquadah weapons. Suddenly, an unscheduled
off-world activation of the Stargate is announced. It
is Arkad. He states that he is leader of the Illac Renin
(ancient for "kingdom of the path," says Daniel).
Arkad wants safe passage to Earth, offering his assistance
to stop the plot to cowardly attack Earth
(After a commercial.)
Daniel and Bra'tac discuss Arkad's proposal. Both agree
that Arkad most likely wants to be able to claim responsibility
for preventing the very attack he is planning but they
do not know why. Still, the I.O.A. has ordered the SGC
to hear Arkad out. Shortly thereafter, Arkad meets with
General Landry and SG-1. Arkad laments the fact that
Teal'c is not present and denies any involvement with
the attack on Dar Eshkalon. But he knows of a radical
sect of Jaffa who would be willing to launch such attacks,
including one on Earth. Arkad offers to use his ability
to stop such attacks.
General Landry wants to cut the crap and asks for Arkad's
demands. But Arkad insists he has no demands. All he
wants is for Earth to stay out of the way of the Jaffa
should they desire to join with the Ori. He has no qualms
with Earth attacking the Ori if they so choose. And he
explains that if he wanted to attack Earth, he would
utilize a fleet larger than any Earth has seen before.
With that, Arkad takes his leave.
Teal'c has tied up Lizan, the long-haired man who sold
explosives to Ba'kal (the Jaffa who exploded) and insists
that he has no idea where Arkad is. Teal'c does not believe
him and explains that he will torture Lizan until he
gives up his information.
Back on Earth, General Landry tells the SG-1 that the
I.O.A. has told him that the SGC is to leave Arkad alone
for the moment. Intelligence gathering is the name of
the game. SG-1, however, has to go after Teal'c to stop
him from killing Arkad. The I.O.A. is worried that Teal'c's
actions will be perceived by others as acting on behalf
of the SGC. So, Teal'c must be stopped at all costs.
(After a commercial.)
Aboard Odyssey, the team suit up and discusses why Arkad
would give them the coordinates to his home base. Also
of concern is how they will convince Teal'c not to kill
Arkad. Along with a little back-up in the form of heavily
armed soldiers, SG-1 beams down and sets up field generators
and trip sensors. They are setting a trap for Teal'c,
knowing he has to come through the area in order to find
Arkad. Sam worries that nobody will be able to stop Teal'c
while Vala wonders if Arkad has only offered to help
Earth to buy time to actually attack Earth.
Inside his base of operations, Arkad lights some candles
and prays to the Ori.
Back in the woods, Sam suggests that Teal'c may either
have already killed Arkad or may not be coming for some
time. She and Mitchell then realize that Colonel Reynolds
and SG-3, guarding the Gate, have not checked in yet.
Mitchell leaves to check on SG-3 and finds them unconscious.
He calls out to Teal'c, who responds by firing at him.
Both Mitchell and Daniel try to talk some sense in Teal'c
but the Jaffa will have none of it. He is going to kill
Arkad at any cost. And although he does not want to hurt
his friends, he will if he has to. He takes out Vala,
Daniel and Sam with one of those pesky Jaffa grenades
and then battles with Mitchell, easily stopping his commanding
officer.
While Arkad practices some sort of ritualistic stick
dancing, Teal'c infiltrates his base and cuts down his
guards like so much butter. He even takes a few staff
blasts but keeps fighting. Eventually, however, he goes
down.
(After a commercial.)
A wounded Teal'c is dragged in front of Arkad, who tosses
him a stick. Teal'c climbs to his feet only to be quickly
knocked down by Arkad. He stands up again and is knocked
down again. He struggles mightily against repeated blows
from Arkad, who taunts him and admits to being in awe
of Teal'c in the past, despite Teal'c having killed his
parents and sister. As Teal'c lies beaten and bloody
on the ground, Arkad insults him by comparing him to
humans and explains that he will bring Earth to its knees.
That is enough to give Teal'c some renewed vigor. The
fight recommences and Teal'c manages to land a few blows.
But Arkad knocks him to the ground and pulls a gleaming
sword from his stick. He stabs Teal'c right in his symbiote
pouch. As Teal'c lies dying, Arkad admits to kill Teal'c's
mother. Teal'c lashes out and shoves Arkad against a
weapons rack; a rather nasty piece of metal is thrust
through Arkad's back. Summoning all his strength, Teal'c
pulls the sword from his gut and staggers towards Arkad,
who glares at him in fear. He drives the sword into Arkad
just as Mitchell and the rest of sG-1 rush into the room.
Teal'c collapses, but he has won the day.
Once again, Teal'c lies in the medical bay, with Bra'tac
standing over him. Mitchell sits in the gallery watching
Bra'tac and Teal'c. General Landry walks in and recounts
Mitchell's field report: Arkad managed to capture SG-1
and Teal'c had to rescue them. Arkad was killed in the
process and Teal'c wounded. Not exactly the gospel truth
but Mitchell stands behind in.
Teal'c tells Bra'tac that Arkad admitted to killing
his mother. But Arkad was only behind the murder, he
did not do it himself. Teal'c killed the murderer long
ago, much to Bra'tac's surprise. Still, there are plenty
of dishonorable Jaffa out there in the cosmos waiting
for Bra'tac and Teal'c to come after them. Then Bra'tac
explains that Teal'c is the son he never had. He is proud
of Teal'c. Aw. What a touching moment.
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