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stargatefan.com : episodes > season 2 > next episode: touchstone

The SG-1 team sits in the briefing room at SGC, examining a collection of silver-gray rocks. "It is our hope that this material will one day help us fight the Goa'uld!" General Hammond explains. The material is trinium, discovered by Captain Connor and SG-11 while exploring planet PXY887. Trinium is 100 times lighter and stronger than steel. SG-11 is 48 hours overdue for their weekly check-in and General Hammond would like to know why. Daniel wonders if there are any indigenous people on the planet. The General responds that no sign whatsoever of indigenous people have been found.

The Stargate begins to engage, as the Gate tech informs General Hammond that SG-11 is returning. Hammond hopes they have a "damned good reason!" The SG-1 team and the General line up at the briefing room window and wait for SG-11 to step through the Gate. After a concerning delay, an object shoots out of the shimmering Stargate and penetrates the bulletproof glass of the briefing room, causing the team to dive onto the floor. Hammond springs to his feet asking if everyone is all right. "No!" O'Neill grunts in pain. He rolls over onto his back revealing a silver arrow, about 10 inches long, has penetrated through his right arm. "Oh, God!" Jack gasps, as he leans on Daniel for support.

Daniel, Sam and Teal'c come to visit Jack in the infirmary. He greets them with a "Hi kids!" They are about to leave on the mission to PXY887. Sam is concerned about how Jack is doing and what might have happened if the glass hadn't slowed the arrow down. O'Neill won't hear of it and interrupts her "Aliens are always pokin me full of holes!" The arrow is pure forged trinium, but Native American in design! SG-1 is given orders from the Pentagon in addition to finding SG-11; they are to negotiate a mining treaty with the people there. Hammond states "Obviously we've started our relations on the wrong foot!" Jack retorts "But that's so rare sir!" The General reminds Carter, as she is in command of the mission, to be "diplomatic." "Just as I would be!" chimes in Jack. Sam, Daniel and Teal'c can only glance about, not wishing to touch that comment! As the team turns to leave, Jack calls out "Sam?" "Colonel?" she answers. "First command? Cool!" Jack encourages. "I'll do my best, sir!" Sam confidently responds. "I know you will," is Jack's quick reply.

The team gates to the planet and explores the mining base of SG-11. Boulders are strewn about the forest. Containers and pieces of equipment lie about. A large raven is noisily squawking. A coffeepot has burned dry and a computer has been left on, part of a sentence typed in. Teal'c reports back from the blasting site. He saw 2 sets of footprints leading to the blast charges, one had been discharged and the other had not. Though there was no sign of a struggle, no footprints led away from the site! The people seem to have vanished! Daniel astutely observes "Creepy!" Teal'c hears a noise outside the tent and goes to investigate. A lone wolf watches them from high above on a mountain ledge. Teal'c puzzles "I am sure I heard something!" Daniel offers "Ghosts?" Teal'c answers in a short tone "Jaffa do not believe in such things!" As they cautiously explore, they discover a native totem pole made of trinium. Daniel explains "It is a clan crest, akin to that of the Central Coast Salish Indians." The totem tells a story of a people brought from a distant planet by evil rulers, probably jaffa by the symbols on their heads. The Goa'uld were destroyed by Zales who has protected them ever since. On Earth, Zales is benevolent and represented by a raven figure. Teal'c is certain he sees the wolf again, but it vanishes. As they nervously glance about, dart-sized arrows strike the team, and they quickly succumb to the drug the arrows contain. People in what appears to be Native American dress, with trinium modifications, are cautiously approaching SG-1 as they pass out.

The next scene appears very primitive and pastoral. The people are carving canoes and tending to chores about their village. A large central building can be seen. Inside the building, Sam, Daniel and Teal'c are waking up. They seem fine, but do not have their weapons. A guard, armed with darts, prevents them from leaving. Sam discovers the walls are made of trinium fibers. A leader of the people enters, announcing "I am Toonane." Sam approaches him "Captain Samantha Carter, SGC." "That is a long name!" Toonane comments. "OK, how about Sam?" Carter offers. She introduces Doctor Daniel Jackson. "Doc?" inquires Toonane. "Daniel is fine," responds Jackson. Teal'c steps forward "I am Teal'c." Toonane questions him "The Spirits say you have a demon inside you, Teal'c." "It will do you no harm, on that you have my word." Teal'c reassures him. "How do I know the value of your word? We've only just met," Toonane wisely comments. SG-1 is told that SG-11 is not missing, they are with the Spirits, Zales probably, Tokiya maybe. Toonane tells them they are free to go, and even returns their weapons. He describes how SG-11 was found making war on the mountain, trying to take the Key. After Zales took SG-11, he instructed Toonane to shoot an arrow through the circle of standing water as a warning not to return. Toonane offers to take SG-1 to Zales as he would know where their friends are. Teal'c confides to Sam that Toonane is blaming the Spirits for his own actions. They seem to have no choice but to follow him in search for Zales. Sam asks Toonane how they process the raw trinium. He doesn't seem to know. He tells her the Spirits ask the mountain for the Key and it is dropped into the river, and the river washes it shiny. Then they use it for whatever they need.

Deep in the woods, they encounter the wolf once again. Toonane greets the wolf "Tokiya! My friend! Your coat shines beautifully today!" He clearly wants Sam to talk to her as well. Sam tries, but all she can manage is "My! What big eyes you have!" Toonane encourages Sam to ask the wolf about the whereabouts of her friends, but she simply can't. All she can see is a wolf, and she suspects Toonane knows more than he is saying about SG-11's location. The large raven reappears and perches on a branch above Daniel. Jackson asks if it is Zales and proceeds to talk to the bird "We mean you and Toonane no harm and apologize for any misunderstanding you've had with our friends. If you would release them, we'd be very grateful!" The bird squawks in reply. Daniel is certain he heard Zales say he would release them. Teal'c agrees! Toonane thinks he said he'd think about it and get back to them. Sam remains incredulous, hearing only a bird, and says she heard something different. In her frustration she sarcastically comments "Let's let the bird think about it!" Meanwhile, they begin a search for SG-11. After a short while, the raven returns. A smiling Toonane tells Sam that Zales has granted their request! A mist forms in the woods, and a dazed SG-11 team emerges from it. Captain Connor can't recall where he's been for the last 48 hours. His last memory was typing a requisition on his computer. He assumes his team was drugged, as he has quite a headache.

SG-1 now sets about the second objective of their mission, negotiating a mining agreement. Toonane says they need to meet with the Elders of his village. The Elders are reluctant. The method of extraction of the Key is wasteful and violent, upsetting the people and the Spirits. Sam tells them there are other mining methods that are less destructive than blasting. The Elders propose that Toonane return with them and see these methods. Sam agrees. The raven, watching the meeting from the rafters, squawks and an Elder says the Spirits feel it is too dangerous. Toonane wants very much to go. "I love to travel!" he exclaims.

Toonane goes through the Stargate with SG-1 and SG-11. Sam explains all that has happened to Jack, who is now out of bed with his arm in a sling. Jack is amused to learn that Toonane has decided to call the General "George." As they view movies of other mining methods, Toonane remains unimpressed "These ways are just as wasteful and destructive as the others!" He is convinced their way is best, allowing the Spirits to send the Key into the river. That is the only way they will allow SGC to take any Key. General Hammond offers a tour of the facility to Toonane. Daniel is happy to take him and also show him pictures of his ancestors from Earth. After they leave, the General is obviously upset. Jack shoots him a challenging look "His mind is made up!" Captain Connor points out that they are willing to share the trinium. The General knows that would not be enough. He has orders to pursue "other initiatives." The NID plans to send another SG team to mine when the Salish migrate, and then leave before they return. Jack interprets this plan "You mean steal it!" Hammond defends the proposal "I don't like the idea of lying to Toonane's people any more than you do, but the next time the Goa'uld attack, we may not be so fortunate. We need whatever military advantage we can find, and that includes trinium!" Carter and O'Neill clearly do not agree. O'Neill borders on insubordination reminding the General of such things as "aboriginal rights, repeating history, annoyingly pesky moral stuff." Closing off further debate, Hammond states "Hopefully, what they don't know won't hurt them!"

Captain Connor is the last to leave the briefing room. He enters Hammond's office. The General impatiently tells him he has a meeting - was there something else? Connor simply says "yes" and raises both arms in front of him, elbows bent. A blinding white flash causes General Hammond to disappear. The alien posing as Connor returns to the rest of what appears to be SG-11 "It is just as I suspected! The Earthlings plan to deceive our friend Toonane. It is time to show them the power of the Spirits!" The aliens posing as the SG-11 team burst into a lab and make the people disappear. Jack watches as an entire armed contingent vanishes in a bright light. He runs to the control room, closes the blast doors, sounds a general alarm and announces "Code 9" over the speaker system. Toonane and Daniel are still walking about the complex as the alarm sounds. "What does that mean, Daniel?" Toonane asks. Daniel looks about for a safe place to hide, and seeing a supply closet responds "It means I'm going to take you to a part of the base no one else sees!" They enter the closet.

O'Neill, Teal'c and Carter are the only ones to meet in the armory, responding to the Code 9. They go to check out the lab and find Dr. Warner there. He tells them they must find Toonane "the others are meaningless." As they walk along, Jack asks him who he is. He responds "Dr. Warner!" "I don't think so!" is Jack's reply as he and Teal'c raise their guns. Warner now answers honestly "I am one of Toonane's guardian Spirits. Take me to Toonane! Otherwise, if you harm him or myself, your people will never be returned to you!" Jack retorts "We don't respond well to threats!" "Neither do we!" answers the Spirit in the form of Warner, as he poses to take action. Before he is able to act, Teal'c hits him with a zat gun blast. He passes out on the floor and is transformed into a dark-haired, humanoid alien in silver dress. In place of a nose, there are deep gill-like slits, extending from what would be a nose down to the cheek on either side of the face. The row of gills ends on the upper lip, and they flutter open and closed. Jack is openly disgusted "Let's get it back to the infirmary."

In another part of the base, General Hammond is standing next to a wolf, when two airmen approach, guns drawn. The "General" zaps them, and shape shifts into an alien. The wolf also transforms into a blonde-haired alien in silver dress. She tells the other that she is going to look for Zales and Toonane. "If we lose contact, destroy this place and return home with the others!" She transforms back into a wolf and leaves, walking past the supply room from which Daniel has observed all that has just occurred. Daniel closes the door and turns to Toonane, trying to figure out what to do next "Anyway, like I was saying, this is a storeroom! We store things so that we always have them on hand, like.. this" he holds up a toilet paper roll! Toonane has had enough of such foolishness and asks "Can I go home now?" Daniel levels with him "There is a problem.. we have to find Jack!" Toonane looks quizzically around the closet remarking "He's not in here!" "Right!" Daniel answers.

At the infirmary, Jack and Sam are trying to revive Zales, with no success. Daniel and Toonane enter, as Teal'c reacts and points his zat gun in Daniel's face. Not knowing who is really whom, Daniel asks "Jack?" Jack likewise asks "Daniel?" Daniel continues trying to find out if Jack is truly himself "Are you, you?" Jack responds "Yeah, you?" At this point, Daniel has lost the train of thought of the questioning, and not thinking he might be thought of as a possible alien, cluelessly responds "What?" Now Jack realizes only Daniel could answer that way, and says "Never mind!" He proceeds to tell Toonane they need to talk. He fills Toonane in on what's been happening: people disappearing, SG-11 being aliens, he even shows him Zales on the exam table. Toonane is surprised, then asks "Zales? Is that you?" The alien does not react. "If he was, Jack, he'd probably answer," is Toonane's reply. Teal'c tells Toonane of those who pretended to be Gods in his world and ruled with fear. Toonane is sure his Spirits are not evil. They don't rule, they protect. Jack wants Toonane to tell him why Zales would be trying to take over the SGC and how to stop him. Toonane can only tell Jack "The Spirits I know wouldn't threaten your people, unless you were doing something to threaten mine. Are you Jack? If you are, there is no way to stop them.. they will destroy you!"

SG-1 tries to strategize. Teal'c feels they need to convince the aliens they will no longer try to extract trinium from their world. Jack knows they were caught in a lie and their word doesn't mean anything. He points out that they also shot Zales! Daniel proposes appealing to the Elders, asking them to intercede with the Spirits. Jack agrees to allow Teal'c and Jackson to return to the planet. As Daniel and Teal'c raise the blast doors and set the computers to gate out, they see the wolf Spirit sitting on the Gate ramp below them. Daniel instructs Teal'c to remain, and he will try to talk with Tokiya. Cautiously, Daniel approaches the wolf, "Tokiya, before you make me disappear or bite me, hear me out!" She transforms into her alien self. Two other aliens enter the Gate control room, making Teal'c disappear. Tokiya prepares to zap Daniel, but he clenches his fists and raises his arms in a posture of self-protection shouting "Wai, wai, wai, wait, WAIT! I know where Zales is!" Tokiya demands to know where he is, but is still threatening Daniel. Daniel pleads "Promise to hear me out!" Tokiya drops her hands to listen.

In the infirmary, Zales still lies unconscious. The aliens enter, zapping Toonane and Sam. Jack raises his gun, as Daniel enters "No! Jack! It's OK! Let them tend to Zales!" Jack, still pointing his gun, asks "How do I know you're really Daniel?" After a long pause, Daniel can only say "Because!" Convinced only Daniel could say something like that, Jack lowers his gun saying "Yeah, OK!" After a brief ceremony, the others heal Zales. He wakens, raises his arms and zaps all of them to the embarkation room. He strides up the ramp to the Gate ordering Tokiya to destroy the place. Daniel yells "Wait! You promised to listen!"

Zales sarcastically taunts, "What they don't know won't hurt them! Isn't that what your leader said Colonel? Their word means nothing!" Tokiya insists, "So would mine if I were to do what you ask! I have made a promise to this one," gesturing to Daniel. Zales agrees to listen, but still feels the Earth people need to be punished for "deceiving the Salish, attempting to steal the Key, and destroying the trust and faith between Toonane's people and my own!" Jack gives his word there will be no more mining. Tokiya doesn't believe his superiors would agree. Jack suggests they shut down their Stargate so no one could come through unless they allow it. Zales and Tokiya agree this is a good idea. Zales now addresses the second transgression. Jack shouts, "What? Exposing who you are to Toonane? You've been posing as gods for heaven's sake!" Tokiya angrily explains that when they removed the Goa'uld from their planet millennia ago, they adapted their form to those of the Salish spirits. They did this in order to peacefully coexist, protect the Salish and not interfere with their natural evolution. "Now, because of you, that harmony has been broken!" she accuses Jack. Zales is certain the Salish will come to fear them, and use the technology they have provided to make war against them. Jackson says no, "The Salish on Earth still value the natural world more than technology." Jack reasons, "If you really do respect Toonane's people, you shouldn't be posing as their Spirits, trust them!" Tokiya and Zales see the wisdom in this argument, and begin to see Jack as a friend. Zales makes Toonane reappear, and finally Toonane meets Tokiya and Zales in their true form. Zales asks Toonane to choose what form pleases him best to view them. Toonane wisely responds, "Whatever makes you happy!" Tokiya gently tells him, "This form makes us happy."

The Gate chevrons begin to engage. Toonane is happy to be returning home. Daniel asks about their friends, as Tokiya points out they are right beside him. In a flash, everyone reappears, SG-11 included. Toonane is the last to leave, as a confused General Hammond is told by Jack, "I'll explain it all to you later, sir!"

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