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stargÅtefan.com : episodes > season 3 > next episode: POV

The scene opens as Dr. Jackson works on an archeological excavation in a large room that also houses a Stargate. His helpers are all children. The Stargate fires up and Daniel announces that it must be his friends returning.

Jack greets Daniel and the children, asking if they have child labor laws on Orban. Daniel explains that the children are Urrone, similar to apprentices, and that's just the way things are done there. Excitedly he produces a bracelet with the image of the Aztec Goddess of water on it. He is anxious to know if Hammond has approved his stay there to explore more.

Jack tells him that Hammond said... yes! A man appears with a young girl, he explains how they are eager to participate in the exchange between their two worlds. Jack wonders where the naquada reactor is that they were supposed to bring back. The man, Kalin, motions to a small box held by Marin telling Jack that the box is it!

Jack responds, "That little thing? OK! Daniel have fun, I know you will. Teal'c make friends as always! Folks! To Earth!"

Sam Carter tells General Hammond that the Orbanians are one of the most impressive societies they've encountered so far. They've managed to accomplish in a few decades what it took human societies over a century to achieve! Hammond agrees that they will make good allies.

Kalin and Marin present the naquada reactor to Sam and prepare to leave. She is shocked and insists that someone has to stay and teach her how to use it. Both Kalin and Marin seem very unfamiliar with the concept of "teaching," but Marin agrees to stay.

Back on Orban, Daniel continues his excavations as Kalin enters with a young boy he introduces as his son, Tomin. He tells Teal'c that Tomin is also Urrone, and that Teal'c should tell him all about the Goa'uld. The two get to know each other.

Daniel asks where one of his earlier assistants, Zarin, has gone. Kalin explains that she experienced her Ovarium. Daniel wonders if that's something like a graduation, and Kalin concurs that is an approximate definition. He then takes Daniel on a tour of the city and to see the Pyramid of the Suns.

At the SGC, Marin is undergoing a series of routing medical tests while she chats with Jack, Sam and Janet Frasier. They all try to explain to her what a school is for and how people on Earth learn things. She asks Jack if he is a scientist, and he says no. She persists and asks him if he is not as smart as Major Carter and Doctor Frasier. Everyone smiles as Jack is about to deny that, then agrees that he is not as smart, but when they were stuck in school, he was out doing other things, like... having fun! Marin struggles with the concept of fun as well.

Tomin learns all about the Jaffa, the Goa'uld and the process of carrying a symbiote. Daniel makes some discoveries that greatly excite him about the possible origins of the Orban people. He thinks they may have come from a civilization that predated the Aztec on Earth.

Sam struggles to understand the complexity of the naquada reactor, as Marin calmly repeats herself. Dr. Frasier visits them, and asks for Marin to return to the infirmary. She has discovered nanytes in her bloodstream and her MRI shows millions more in her brain. Marin explains that her nanytes are harmless to others, that the Orbanians created them in their labs 49 years ago, and it is the way they acquire knowledge.

Marin explains, "Each Orbanian is given a nanyte after every Ovarium. Urrone children are given millions of them so they can acquire vast amounts of information, quickly. If one malfunctions, it is programmed to disconnect from the brain and enter the bloodstream. They are harmless to others. I am sorry if I upset you, and I understand if you want me to return!"

Dr. Frasier and General Hammond decide she can stay, but the General orders blood samples from everyone on base, just to be sure.

Meanwhile, on Orban, Tomin asks his father to go to the Ovarium immediately. He is concerned about what Teal'c has told him of the Goa'uld and he knows that everyone on Orban should learn what he knows and begin defense preparations. His father is very proud of him.

Sam asks Marin to sketch the reactor core, but Marin tells her she doesn't know how to draw. Sam sketches a stick figure representation of herself as an example and asks Marin to do likewise for the inside of the reactor. Marin proceeds to draw in incredible detail every bit of the reactor core also in multiple cross sections!

Daniel sits still hammering, working on the excavation on Orban. "Look at this!" he says to Teal'c. "This proves the Goa'uld were here sometime in the last 200 years! Now I just have to figure out why they left!" Kalin brings a new child to continue learning from Teal'c, however Teal'c insists on waiting until he can resume with Tomin. Kalin tries to explain that it is impossible for Tomin to be there, that he has given them his knowledge and has gone through the Ovarium. Teal'c insists on seeing Tomin at once!

Jack checks on Sam and Marin in the lab, only to find Sam asleep and Marin searching for more paper. He wakes up Sam and orders her to bed. When Marin tells him Urrone children require little sleep, he orders her to take a break and have some fun. She resists and demands more paper and pencils, as she resumes drawing.

Daniel and Teal'c talk to Tomin who sits fidgeting and not responding to them, basically staring at the floor. Teal'c is amazed that the boy seems not to recognize him and asks Kalin to explain the Ovarium. Kalin tells them, "It is the ceremony in which an Urrone's nanytes are removed and distributed.

Daniel just stares at him then remarks, "So when you say he gave you his knowledge, you meant it literally!" Kalin is anxious to resume their work now that the two men have seen Tomin. Teal'c asks what will become of the boy and Kalin says he will be well cared for. Daniel wonders if he'll be played with or taught. Kalin responds no, that post Urrone children can not be taught; their brains reject the nanytes. When Daniel asks him if he's tried to teach them without using nanytes, he doesn't understand what Daniel means. Finally in frustration Daniel yells, "Kalin! This is your son!"

"My son is here!" Kalin answers him while pointing at his head.

At the SGC, Jack, Hammond, Teal'c, Sam and Dr. Frasier discuss what is likely to happen to Marin when she returns to Orban. Jack reacts very strongly, "General, she's going back to get her brain sucked out! I challenge anybody to phrase it more delicately!" He wants to keep Marin on Earth and thereby save her life.

Hammond wants to avoid an interplanetary incident and opts to try a diplomatic approach, sending Teal'c back to negotiate with Daniel's help. Hoping the Orbanians might make an exception in Marin's case.

As Daniel proposes this to Kalin, he becomes greatly agitated. He is very upset as Daniel implies that the Orbanians may be somehow harming their Urrone children. "There are no alternatives!" he shouts. "Marin must undergo the Ovarium and you will return her immediately!"

Marin feels the Ovarium is a great honor and it is her duty to her people. She doesn't want to hear what Jack and Sam have to say about what she'd be personally giving up should it be done to her. She wants to return home. Meanwhile, Daniel continues to try to convince Kalin with no success. In fact, Kalin is on the verge of dialing Earth himself and trying to go through the Stargate to retrieve Marin. Daniel explains that a code must be sent first or he will die, and Daniel refuses to send the code.

Kalin yells at Daniel again, "You claim to love knowledge! But when you find something you don't like, you demand that we change to please you!"

"It is not to please me!" Daniel yells back. He goes on to ask if there might be some other way to educate the people of Orban. Kalin calms a bit and explains that there is no better way. Marin is one of a few Urrone children and the only one to have spent 10 years learning the naquada technology. If she doesn't undergo her Ovarium, the people who are waiting for her knowledge to further their research will have to wait 12 years for another Urrone to learn! Daniel understands the importance now, and seems resigned to return Marin to her people.

Jack enters Hammond's office and finds Daniel and Kalin there. Hammond tells him that Kalin is there to escort Marin back to Orban, and that he has granted the request. Jack explodes telling Kalin that the way his people treat their children is absurd, and that they don't deserve them! As Hammond rises to tell him he's way out of line, Jack exits the office as he asks for permission to be dismissed.

In the lab, Sam and Marin test fire the simulated reactor Sam has built and it sends out a radiation pulse that also sets of the base's alarms. Sam is thrilled that it worked. Hammond calls her and reprimands her for not letting him know in advance.

Jack takes Marin out of the base, against orders, and brings her to a school. Marin plays with the other children there and attends an art class. The assignment is to paint something you love. At first this is very difficult for her, but Jack encourages and persists... eventually she paints a garden of beautiful flowers with a stick figure of Sam next to it.

"Is it right?" Marin asks.

"Oh ya! It's way more than right!" Jack smiles. One last time he asks Marin to remain on Earth and ask for asylum. She tells him she has a duty to her people, that her knowledge is important to them. She reminds Jack that he has promised.

As Kalin and Marin prepare to leave, Jack gives her a gift of a large box of crayons. Hammond gravely notifies O'Neill, "You have already given me more than enough reason for a court martial!" To which Jack counters, "General, for a few hours today, I showed that little girl how to be a kid. If you want to punish me? Go ahead!" Hammond turns and leaves without further discussion.

Marin and Kalin leave through the Stargate, as Marin gives a parting smile to Jack.

Sometime later, Hammond informs SG-1 that a message has been received from Orban and that Kalin wants them to come immediately. When they arrive, a much animated and exited Kalin shows them the post Urrone children! They are playing ball, hopscotch and laughing. Kalin announces that they are being taught the old fashioned way! Kalin has also drawn a stick figure picture to express his gratitude.

Daniel asks when this all started, and Kalin explains it was after Marin's Ovarium. Jack reasons as he looks around, "This is what she learned!"

Sam points out Marin to Jack. She is sitting on the floor, coloring with her crayons on a wall. Jack says hi, but she doesn't react as if she knows him. As he sits he tells her, "Guess we'll have to get to know one another all over again!" He draws something, and she smiles scribbling it out.

"You're RIGHT! WHAT was I THINKING!" he jokes, also scribbling it out. "Ever see a dog? Dogs are my favorite people!" He begins to sketch a dog, "Don't see a lot of purple dogs though..."

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