PRETENSE

Written by Katharyn Powers

Transcribed By: Dee

TEASER

FADE IN

EXT – SPACE

A glider is under fire from two huge Goa’uld motherships, orbiting a planet.

Multiple blasts from the planet destroys both motherships and the damaged glider enters the planet’s atmosphere.

EXT – PLANET (DAY)

The glider crash lands in a field and people come running. The pilot inside is SKAARA, who has been badly injured.

SKAARA (to the people) : Please! Help me.

He passes out.

END OF TEASER

INT – GATEROOM, SGC

There is an incoming wormhole, but the iris is closed. SGC soldiers are pointing their weapons at the STARGATE. General HAMMOND and SG1 are watching from in the Control Room.

TECHNICIAN (to HAMMOND) : Still no incoming signal, Sir.

HAMMOND : All units are Earthside.

The iris appears to flex and wobble slightly.

DANIEL : Is it my eyes or does the iris look kinda…

He waves his hand slightly.

CARTER : It’s losing integrity.

A fat, ginger cat materialises through the iris and pads down the ramp.

CARTER : Hold fire!

She rushes into the Gateroom and picks up the cat.

CARTER (cont’d) : It’s Schrodinger. The cat I gave to the Tollan, NARIM.

O’NEILL : Cat.

TEAL’C : The Tollan possess the technology to walk through solid matter.

O’NEILL : A technology which, by the way if you all recall, they refused to share with us.

A man emerges through the iris. It is NARIM.

NARIM : General HAMMOND, I am unfamiliar with Earth protocol in these matters. I sent Schrodinger so you would know a friend was coming.

HAMMOND : It’s alright NARIM, the Tollan are welcome here. (To the soldiers) Units, stand down.

The soldiers lower their weapons as NARIM walks down the ramp to meet CARTER.

NARIM : SAMANTHA. It’s good to see you again.

CARTER : It’s good to see you too.

HAMMOND and the rest of SG1 enters the Gateroom.

HAMMOND : What can we do for you NARIM?

NARIM : I am here to deliver a message from our highest governing body. Colonel O’NEILL, the Tollan Curia requests the presence of you and your team…for Triad.

He offers O’NEILL a blue, triangle shaped device.

O’NEILL : I feel like I’m being served.

INT – DEBRIEFING ROOM, SGC

SG1 and HAMMOND are sitting at the table as NARIM explains the situation. O’NEILL is toying with the device.

O’NEILL : So what exactly is this Triad?

NARIM : It’s an ancient ceremony of justice, quite honourable.

DANIEL : So it’s kind of like a trial.

NARIM : I am not familiar with…trial.

DANIEL : Trial, it’s sort of like a tribunal, a place where matters of justice and the law are decided.

NARIM : Then yes, a triad is similar to your trial.

O’NEILL : So, who’s on trial?

DANIEL : …ad.

O’NEILL : Triad…

NARIM : The decision Triad must reach is of great concern to an old friend of yours. He is an Abydonian by the name of SKAARA.

O’NEILL and DANIEL : What?

NARIM : It is he who requested your presence.

DANIEL : He’s alive? He’s ok? He’s…?

NARIM : He is well. But he does need your help for Triad.

O’NEILL : Where’s this taking place?

NARIM : Our destination is the new homeworld, Tollana.

CARTER : But we sent you to the Nox planet. There wasn’t a Gate on Tollana.

NARIM : The Nox and the Tollan were able to devise a way to get us there.

O’NEILL : Of course you were.

DANIEL : Way smarter than we are.

VFX: Shooting through wormhole.

EXT – TOLLANA, (DAY)

SG1 and NARIM step out of a STARGATE. There are lawns and a few buildings around them.

O’NEILL : Very nice.

CARTER (to NARIM) : So you built that….STARGATE?

NARIM : Yes.

DANIEL : Way smarter than we are.

O’NEILL : Ours is bigger.

They follow NARIM over to one of the buildings and through a walkway.

INT – COURTHOUSE, TOLLANA

NARIM leads the way down a narrow corridor. A white light comes out and scans each of SG1.

DANIEL : What just happened?

NARIM : Your weapons have been disabled.

O’NEILL : What?

He checks his gun, but it appears jammed.

NARIM : Do not worry. You may continue to carry them if you wish.

O’NEILL : You don’t think you should have told us about this before we came?

NARIM : I didn’t find it relevant.

O’NEILL : We don’t travel to other planets without weapons with which to defend ourselves.

NARIM : May I ask what you intend to defend yourself against? The Tollan have never threatened you, in any way.

TEAL’C : That is correct, O’NEILL. I do not feel the need to carry a weapon in this place.

CARTER : And, Sir, judging by what I’ve seen in the last five minutes, our weapons wouldn’t be much of a match for their technology any way.

NARIM : No harm will come to you. The Tollan will guarantee it.

O’NEILL : Is that a ‘money back if you’re not completely alive’ guarantee?

NARIM : This way.

He gestures for them to continue to follow.

INT – COURTROOM, TOLLANA

NARIM and SG1 enter what looks like a large courtroom.

There is a woman sitting at a high podium. The screen before her slides down and she rises to greet the visitors.

WOMAN : These must be our visitors from Earth. Welcome.

NARIM : High Chancellor TRAVELL, this is Colonel Jack O’NEILL.

O’NEILL : Hi.

NARIM : Dr DANIEL Jackson. Major Samantha CARTER.

CARTER : Hello.

NARIM : And TEAL’C.

TRAVELL : We are honoured that you have agree to participate in Triad. Your seeker will decide which one of you will be archon.

O’NEILL : Seeker? Archon? DANIEL?

DANIEL : Uh, with respect High Chancellor, NARIM didn’t really explain the Triad very well. Could you please define those terms for us.

TRAVELL : In Triad there are two arguing parties, called seekers. Triadic law requires one archon who is sympathetic to each cause, and one neutral archon. The archons argue the dispute until a decision is reached.

DANIEL : So a seeker is like a defendant and the archon is his attorney.

O’NEILL : I got it. So SKAARA is our…

DANIEL : Seeker.

O’NEILL : Seeker?

TRAVELL : NARIM will take you to him now.

NARIM : This way.

INT – CELL, TOLLANA

Two Tollans are guarding a room. NARIM deactivates the forcefield and SG1 follows him inside.

There is a man standing with his back to them.

CARTER : SKAARA?

The man turns around, his eyes glowing, a device on his chest showing red.

KLOREL (in a Goa’uld voice) : You. You will pay for what you did to my father.

O’NEILL : It’s good to see you too.

KLOREL’S head drops and the device turns blue.

SKAARA (in a normal voice) : I’m very happy to see you. All of you.

O’NEILL (to NARIM) : What’s the deal? What just happened?

NARIM : The Tollan designed the device worn about his chest. It suppresses the Goa’uld’s ability to silence its host. The Goa’uld and host are free to speak at will. The device cannot be removed as long as KLOREL and SKAARA are our guests. The indicator on the front prevents one from pretending to be the other. Red indicates it is KLOREL who speaks…blue SKAARA.

O’NEILL : Nice device. We’ll take a dozen.

NARIM : As you may recall from our last encounter, it is forbidden for the Tollan to give our technology to any culture less advanced than our own.

O’NEILL : Still got that arrogance bug, I see.

SKAARA : It is I O’NEILL. Are you not happy to see me?

O’NEILL walks over to him.

O’NEILL (warily) : Yeah. It’s good to see you.

SKAARA : I knew you would come. Soon, with your help, I’ll be free of this demon. Every day I fight him. I listen, I learn.

NARIM : It is time for SKAARA to choose his archon.

SKAARA : O’NEILL is strong. DANIEL is wise. May I not choose both?

NARIM : You may. They may both argue. However, they will have but one vote.

DANIEL : Ok. What’s this Triad about? What’s to be decided?

NARIM : Two days ago, a small Goa’uld vessel crashed in a remote area. The occupant was badly injured. It was SKAARA.

SKAARA : We were fleeing a battle group despatched by HERU-UR. My demon knew that the Tollans would stop them.

NARIM : Which we did. We warned them, but…they came anyway. Our defence grip was forced to destroy them.

CARTER : So, HERU-UR is dead.

SKAARA : No. But two of his motherships are destroyed.

O’NEILL (to NARIM) : Wait a minute. You blew away two Goa’uld motherships?

NARIM : We are not a warring people, but our defensive technology is far more advanced than that of the Goa’uld.

DANIEL : Yeah, well I know all this weapons chatter gets my blood pumping…can we get back to the Triad?

NARIM : Yes, of course. When our sentries reached the crashed vessel, SKAARA asked us to free him of his Goa’uld. But the Goa’uld refuses. Therefore under Tollan law we have no choice but to hear both arguments before acting.

O’NEILL : And KLOREL’S archon is…who?

INT – COURTROOM, TOLLANA

The doors open and a man walks in with a group of Jaffa. He bows to KLOREL while SG1 look on in concern.

TRAVELL : My Lord ZIPACNA, we are honoured that you have agreed to participate in Triad.

ZIPACNA : Due to your easy despatch of HERU-UR’S motherships, I do not have a choice.

KLOREL (to TRAVELL) : We would speak in private.

TRAVELL : As you wish.

ZIPACNA and KLOREL leave the room with the Jaffa.

O’NEILL (to TRAVELL) : So. When you were trying to get us to come here and then…disarmed us, you didn’t feel it appropriate to mention the fact that a freaking Goa’uld is gonna be here? Not to mention his associates?

TRAVELL : They are as unarmed as you.

O’NEILL : You sure of that?

NARIM : Our technology detects and disables any form of weaponry.

O’NEILL (sceptically) : Ah.

DANIEL : You said there was a third, neutral archon. That’s…a Tollan?

TRAVELL : No. We have asked our friends to send someone capable of remaining neutral. I believe you have met.

A curtain is drawn aside to admit a familiar woman.

DANIEL : LYA.

LYA : It is good to see you once again, friends.

INT – WAITING ROOM, TOLLANA

SG1 enter the room.

O’NEILL (confidently) : Well, this just became a piece of cake, a walk in the park, a day at the beach.

DANIEL : An accident waiting for a place to happen.

O’NEILL : Mr Negative. (He takes a seat) Yes.

CARTER : Sir, what makes you so confident?

O’NEILL : Because LYA is a fair and insightful person who’ll vote our way. Besides, she likes us.

DANIEL : LYA likes everyone. That’s the Nox way.

TEAL’C : The Nox are not in conflict with the Goa’uld. You may recall they saved APOPHIS when you attempted to eliminate him.

O’NEILL : So, what do we have on this fine, Goa’uld fella?

TEAL’C : ZIPACNA was one of APOPHIS’ most loyal underlords.

O’NEILL : Well, I don’t believe for a second he’s come to talk KLOREL out of here.

There is a chime and O’NEILL looks about in confusion. NARIM enters the room.

NARIM : They are ready for you.

O’NEILL : Thank you.

NARIM leaves.

O’NEILL : CARTER, you and TEAL’C keep an eye on ZIPPY’S kids.

CARTER : Yes, Sir.

O’NEILL : See what they’re up to.

He and DANIEL leave the room.

INT – COURTROOM, TOLLANA

TRAVELL is seated at the podium. DANIEL and O’NEILL are seated on one side of the courtroom, ZIPACNA on the other, with LYA between them. KLOREL stands in the middle of the room.

TRAVELL : This dispute involves two sentient beings who inhabit the same body. Both have requested sole use of the body, therefore we must established right of priority over the body to whom does it belong.

O’NEILL : Ostensibly, the one to whom it was born.

ZIPACNA rises.

ZIPACNA : Your Eminence, I must request that the human contingent follow decorum appropriate to such an auspicious body as this one.

TRAVELL : I agree. The archons will refrain from questions or comments until their side is acknowledged. At this time, I recognised Lord ZIPACNA and KLOREL.

ZIPACNA : Until three years ago, the humans on Abydos lived under Goa’uld law…administered by RA. Now by that law, they were Goa’uld property. Lord KLOREL merely took what was already his.

O’NEILL : By force.

TRAVELL : Colonel O’NEILL, please.

O’NEILL : Sorry.

TRAVELL : I understand your desire to defend your position, Colonel, and I will give you that opportunity. I would first like to hear SKAARA’S perspective.

The device on KLOREL’S chest turns blue and SKAARA takes over.

SKAARA : I was born to this body. Free of the demon KLOREL. He stole my body. On Abydos, I would have married, had children, grown old and died. The Goa’uld took more than my body…he stole my life.

TRAVELL : Human archons.

DANIEL rises.

DANIEL : SKAARA, when you were born, did your people believe you were slaves?

SKAARA : No.

DANIEL : Just so we can all be clear, who was RA?

SKAARA : We believed him to be an evil god.

DANIEL : So he enslaved your people through superstition and fear?

SKAARA : Until you came. Yes.

EXT – TOLLANA (DAY)

TEAL’C and CARTER pretend to examine a sculpture as the Jaffa contingent marches passed. They then start follow.

INT – COURTROOM, TOLLANA

ZIPACNA rises and moves to stand before SKAARA.

ZIPACNA : Tell me, did the people of Abydos hunt?

SKAARA : Yes.

ZIPACNA : Do they also use animals as beasts of burden for food, for clothing?

SKAARA : Yes.

ZIPACNA : Do you also eat the flesh of humans?

SKAARA : No! Never!

ZIPACNA : Then you make judgement that animals are of lesser value than humans.

SKAARA : We care for our animals. We worship them, we thank them for the gifts they give us.

ZIPACNA : Yes, but you keep them to do your will and you kill them to survive.

SKAARA : When we have the need.

ZIPACNA : As we do with humans, when we have the need. If a human has the right to take an animal’s body and do with it as he pleases because he is a superior being…then so does a Goa’uld. And by that argument alone, the Goa’uld has priority. And the host belongs to KLOREL.

TRAVELL : Do the human archons wish to respond?

O’NEILL : Yes, ma’am, you betcha.

DANIEL : We do, your Eminence.

DANIEL gestures for O’NEILL to speak.

O’NEILL (to ZIPACNA) : Your argument is flawed in oh so many ways. Humans are self-aware, animals aren’t.

ZIPACNA : Animals are not because you deem them not to be. Just as we deem humans not to be.

DANIEL : What my learned colleague means is that humans have a more advanced intelligence than lower caste animals.

O’NEILL : Exactly, just like that.

ZIPACNA : Is that not a matter of perspective? Just like a human considers itself more intelligent than a pig, might a pig consider itself more intelligent than a rat?

O’NEILL : Speaking of rats…what’s your point?

ZIPACNA : My point is that the Goa’uld consider ourselves more intelligent than humans. Our technology is more advanced than yours, our mere knowledge of the universe is more advanced than yours.

O’NEILL : You stole that knowledge!

DANIEL gets up and joins him.

DANIEL : You took human knowledge when you took humans as hosts, just as you took knowledge from other species. The STARGATE isn’t your technology, you just…you took that. As far as we know, nothing you have came from you. So, clearly the evidence is not that you’re more intelligent, just…more parasitic.

ZIPACNA : The method of gaining the knowledge is not in question. We were able to obtain it. You were not.

O’NEILL : Oh please.

TRAVELL : Gentlemen, we seem to have wandered away from the central topic. Which seeker has priority over this body.

DANIEL : If I may, your Eminence, I don’t think we’ve ventured away from the central topic at all. What we’re trying to point out is that Goa’uld steal what they possess…as they have in fact stolen SKAARA’S body.

O’NEILL : Can I…sorry DANIEL…can I say something?

DANIEL retakes his seat.

O’NEILL : SKAARA, you once told me you’d rather die than live another day as a Goa’uld. Why?

SKAARA : What I suffer each day is worse than death.

O’NEILL : For example.

SKAARA (upset) : I remember the demon stretching out my hand to kill DANIEL, the husband of my sister. There was nothing I could do to stop it. And I have seen many more, far worse atrocities than this.

ZIPACNA : I demand that the human stay on topic!

O’NEILL : It is on topic. You just want to avoid talking about all the nasty stuff he’s witnessed.

ZIPACNA : The host witnesses nothing, since nothing of the host survives.

SKAARA lowers his head and struggles not to cry.

EXT – TOLLANA (DAY)

CARTER looks through a pair of field glasses and sees the Jaffa standing alongside the Tollan ion canon. She hands the binoculars to TEAL’C.

CARTER : What are they doing?

TEAL’C : I am uncertain.

CARTER takes the binoculars and sees the Jaffa leaving. She and TEAL’C get up to follow.

INT – COURTROOM, TOLLANA

DANIEL stands.

DANIEL : Lord ZIPACNA, I’d like to ask you a question, if I may.

ZIPACNA : I hope I have the answer.

DANIEL walks over to ZIPACNA.

DANIEL : I’m sure you will. Is your host in there somewhere?

ZIPACNA : Nothing of the host survives.

DANIEL : Really. Then how do you explain SKAARA?

ZIPACNA : What you call SKAARA is nothing but a remnant. He can speak now only because the Tollan use their technology to silence KLOREL.

DANIEL : But how could he speak at all if he hadn’t survived?

LYA (looking at SKAARA) : And he spoke well. His words were not those of a remnant personality.

INT – WAITING ROOM, TOLLANA

O’NEILL and DANIEL return to the room to find CARTER and TEAL’C waiting for them.

O’NEILL : CARTER?

CARTER : Sir, we may have a problem.

O’NEILL : Do tell.

TEAL’C : We tracked a serpent guard and two Jaffa to just outside the city limits. We observed them locate at least six Tollan weapon sites.

CARTER : We think they were doing something to disable them, Sir. Which, in my opinion, means ZIPACNA is using the Triad to stall for time so his men can disable the Tollan defences. Then, take the opportunity to…

O’NEILL : Wipe out the Tollan.

EXT – TOLLANA (DAY)

CARTER is standing by a pond. NARIM walks up behind her.

NARIM : SAMANTHA. I hope you’ve not waited long.

CARTER : No. Thank you for coming.

NARIM : It is my pleasure. In fact, I am pleased that we can finally be alone together.

CARTER : NARIM, I asked you to meet me because I need your help.

NARIM : SAMANTHA I…I have missed you.

CARTER : A lot’s happened to me since I last saw you.

NARIM : There is another.

CARTER : No! Not in the way that you mean. You see, I was blended with a Tok’ra, and she died to save my life. I still have her memories and her feelings.

NARIM : And she is part of you?

CARTER : Yes. I can’t have a relationship with anyone until I’m absolutely sure whose feelings I’m…feeling. Do you understand?

NARIM : You are very wise, SAMANTHA. May I ask then why you sent for me?

CARTER : TEAL’C and I have been following the Jaffa that came with the Goa’uld contingent.

NARIM (shocked) : SAMANTHA, why would you do such a thing? I was sure your people were more diplomatic than that.

CARTER : We did it out of concern for your people. We think the Goa’uld are using the Triad to buy time so that they can prepare for an attack on Tollana.

NARIM : Why do you think that?

CARTER : Because we saw them tampering with your weapons.

NARIM : That would be impossible. The weapons are made of an impenetrable alloy and are protected by security codes.

CARTER : NARIM, they were doing something to them.

NARIM inclines his head in acknowledgement.

EXT – TOLLANA (DAY)

A Tollan is examining one of the ion canons as SG1, TRAVELL and NARIM look on.

TRAVELL : We asked Lord ZIPACNA about your accusation. He denied it and he was quite offended.

O’NEILL : Well, that’s a shocker. I hope you didn’t take his word for it.

TRAVELL : Our experts have been unable to find any form of tampering on any of the canons.

O’NEILL : CARTER?

CARTER (to O’NEILL) : Maybe they were painting them, Sir.

TRAVELL : I see no paint.

CARTER (to TRAVELL) : Uh, sorry, it’s an Earth military expression. It means marking them as targets.

TRAVELL : Nor do I see any markings.

CARTER : Well, there are ways that they can target the weapons without actually leaving a mark.

TRAVELL : If so, the instant one of these canons is attacked, the rest will automatically locate the position of the attacker and destroy it.

O’NEILL : Unless they’re all taken out simultaneously.

TRAVELL : If that were possible, why then did the Goa’uld HERU-UR not do so when he pursued KLOREL?

CARTER : Well maybe because he didn’t have a contingent on the planet’s surface targeting the weapons in advance.

TRAVELL : He didn’t do it because it is impossible. It would take but one of these devices to protect this planet from a Goa’uld mothership and we have many more than that. Our technology is superior in every way to theirs…and to yours.

O’NEILL : My, aren’t we cocky.

TRAVELL : Colonel, if this is an attempt to influence the outcome of Triad, it is a feeble attempt indeed.

DANIEL : I assure you, your Eminence, this is not intended as anything other than an attempt to help your people.

TRAVELL : I hope so. But understand, if you continue to pursue this matter in any way, I will disqualify you from Triad and replace you. SKAARA will be represented by someone else. Is that understood?

O’NEILL : With protest.

TRAVELL : Now, you will return to Triad in the morning and you will not mention this matter any further.

EXT – TOLLANA (DAY)

SG1 are standing in a courtyard.

O’NEILL : Just…stay away from ZIPPY and his gaggle of Goa’ulds, ok?

TEAL’C : I know the Goa’uld, O’NEILL. They will attack.

O’NEILL : But I don’t see a choice here. If we keep pursuing the issue, SKAARA’S going to be represented by God knows who and then we won’t stand a chance in hell. I’m not gonna let that happen.

TEAL’C : Regrettably, I must disagree with you in this situation, O’NEILL. I believe we are faced with the loss of SKAARA, one individual, versus the death of many Tollan and possibly ourselves.

DANIEL : That’s assuming the Tollan can’t defend themselves which, personally, I think is a false assumption.

O’NEILL : Yeah, they did bring down a couple of motherships. I think they’ll be ok.

TEAL’C : The Tollan have not been at war in many generations. They do not think strategically. I believe that to be a fatal flaw.

CARTER : Their naivety could be their downfall.

TEAL’C : That is correct. Allow Major CARTER and myself to continue monitoring the Goa’uld contingent, in case of…

He breaks off as NARIM walks over.

NARIM : Excuse my interruption. The Triad resumes.

He leaves.

O’NEILL (to TEAL’C) : You’ve got your orders. Stand down.

INT – LYA’S ROOM, TOLLANA

LYA is sitting in her room, meditating. TEAL’C enters from behind and she opens her eyes.

LYA : TEAL’C.

She stands and turns around.

LYA (cont’d) : This is highly inappropriate of you to come to me during Triad.

TEAL’C : I assure you that I would never intend to influence your decision in any way. I wish to speak to you concerning another matter.

LYA : You must not mention KLOREL or SKAARA. If you do, I will be forced to report the matter to the Tollan.

TEAL’C : Understood.

LYA : What is it then?

TEAL’C : As you are aware, I was formerly in the service of the Goa’uld.

LYA : If this is designed to bias me against the Goa’uld…

TEAL’C : I would never do such a thing, nor do I feel the need. I am here in fact in direct violation of an order given by Colonel O’NEILL.

LYA : Go on.

TEAL’C : I have become convinced that the Goa’uld are planning to destroy all the Tollan weapon installations simultaneously, thereby preventing them from ever returning fire. The Goa’uld will then attack this world, which will be defenceless.

LYA : Why do you tell me this?

TEAL’C : I believe that you and I are the only ones capable of preventing this tragedy from occurring.

LYA : You and I? TEAL’C, you are a strong warrior, but I am of the Nox. If you’ve learned anything of us, you’ve learned that we defend ourselves through illusion and mastery of the mind.

TEAL’C : Precisely.

INT – COURTROOM, TOLLANA

O’NEILL is tapping his hand on the table, while ZIPACNA examines his fingernails.

LYA enters the room and they rise as she takes her place.

LYA : I apologise for my tardiness.

TRAVELL : We will resume. Lord ZIPACNA has asked us to reconvene early because he wishes to make a challenge.

ZIPACNA stands before TRAVELL.

ZIPACNA : Tollan law does not provide for a penalty of death. Is that correct?

TRAVELL : It is.

ZIPACNA : Then I wish to point out the futility of this trial. A Goa’uld needs a host to survive. This is a biological fact beyond our control. If you award priority to SKAARA, then it is as a death sentence for KLOREL.

O’NEILL : Course, if you flip that around you’ve got SKAARA on death row.

ZIPACNA : Yes. But as you proved earlier in Triad, the host survives.

O’NEILL : Yeah?

ZIPACNA : We concede this point. Therefore, if you award priority to KLOREL, both host and symbiote live.

He bows and sits down.

O’NEILL : Yeah, one lives freely, the other lives as a slave.

DANIEL : We would put forth that life as a slave is not life at all.

O’NEILL : And if you want to save both lives, give us SKAARA…and take KLOREL. The Tok’ra can put him in another host for all I care.

LYA : Who Colonel? Perhaps you would volunteer?

O’NEILL : Uh…no.

DANIEL : Perhaps you could find someone who would choose to be a host.

The doors open and NARIM enters, followed by CARTER and TEAL’C.

TRAVELL : NARIM, what is the meaning of this? You know Triad is held as a closed session.

NARIM : Your Eminence, please adjust your viewer to the orbital observatory.

A screen appears before TRAVELL. In it, she sees the planet and a ship.

TRAVELL : A Goa’uld mothership.

NARIM : Yes. It approaches Tollana.

EXT – SPACE

The Goa’uld mothership is heading for the planet.

INT – COURTROOM, TOLLANA

ZIPACNA, O’NEILL and DANIEL stand before the podium.

TRAVELL : Explain.

ZIPACNA : My vessel comes in anticipation of our victory in Triad. It is merely coming to take us aboard.

O’NEILL : Why don’t you just take a STARGATE like the rest of us?

ZIPACNA : Not that it is of your concern, but there is no Chapp’ai where we are going.

O’NEILL : Well then Gate to where there is one and get picked up.

ZIPACNA (to TRAVELL) : Your Eminence, if our intentions were hostile, we would have attacked already.

TRAVELL : Even so, your ship’s arrival is premature and in violation of Tollan space. I must warn you, that if your ship moves any closer before the conclusion of Triad, our automated defence system will destroy it.

ZIPACNA : The Goa’uld rest our case and we are prepared to vote. Therefore Triad is over.

TRAVELL : Triad is over when all parties agree, Lord ZIPACNA. Do the human archons have any further arguments?

O’NEILL : Nope. I think the Goa’uld made our case for us quite nicely.

He points to the Goa’uld mothership on the screen.

DANIEL : No further arguments, your Eminence. We are prepared to vote.

TRAVELL : Nox archon?

LYA : Yes.

TRAVELL : Then bring in the seekers.

The archons return to their seats.

SKAARA is escorted into the room.

TRAVELL : KLOREL and SKAARA. You can both hear the Triad’s ruling?

SKAARA : Yes, your Eminence.

The device turns red and SKAARA’S eyes glow.

KLOREL : I can.

TRAVELL : Human archons, may we hear your vote?

DANIEL : We find in favour of SKAARA.

TRAVELL : Goa’uld archon?

ZIPACNA : In favour of KLOREL.

O’NEILL (whispering) : Big surprise there.

TRAVELL : Nox archon?

LYA : After careful consideration, I believe that both KLOREL and SKAARA have the right to live. But living as a host with no will of one’s own is not life, therefore only one may remain in the body. To that end, I award priority to the original owner of the body. SKAARA.

KLOREL’S eyes flare in fury.

O’NEILL : Yes. (To ZIPACNA) Now get that mothership outta here.

TRAVELL : We will summon the Tok’ra to come to Tollana to assist in the removal of the Goa’uld KLOREL. He will be removed from the host and if he survives, will be sent to the Goa’uld world of his choice.

She uses a piece of technology and the device on SKAARA’S chest turns blue.

TRAVELL (cont’d) : I have locked the detachment device. SKAARA, you have priority control until the Goa’uld is removed. Prepare yourself. The Tok’ra will arrive as soon as possible. And congratulations.

SKAARA : Thank you.

TRAVELL : Lord ZIPACNA, you are dismissed…with our thanks.

He bows his head in acknowledgement.

As TRAVELL leaves, he takes a ball-shaped device from underneath the table and speaks into it.

ZIPACNA : Re’nuk’tok.

TEAL’C sees and crashes into him, knocking the device away.

O’NEILL : Hey!

O’NEILL punches ZIPACNA, who is then grabbed in headlock by TEAL’C. ZIPACNA collapses.

O’NEILL : Nice. Let’s go!

SG1 and SKAARA run out of the courtroom and into a hallway with running people.

O’NEILL gestures for SKAARA to go into a room.

O’NEILL : SKAARA, wait here. Just trust me.

EXT – TOLLANA (DAY)

O’NEILL, CARTER, DANIEL and NARIM run across the Tollan grounds.

O’NEILL (to NARIM) : How’s your technology looking now? Security system serving you pretty good, is it?

Bolts of energy are striking the planet.

DANIEL : The ion canons.

O’NEILL : Got a dead lock on all of them. (To NARIM) You know, I hate when people waste my time like this.

DANIEL : Where’s TEAL’C?

The bolts of energy destroy the ion canons.

CARTER : Colonel!

Goa’uld gliders swoop and start to destroy buildings.

O’NEILL : Take cover!

They run for shelter and come across TEAL’C and LYA. There are explosions all around.

NARIM : I must inform TRAVELL!

He runs off.

TEAL’C : ZIPACNA has escaped through the STARGATE.

O’NEILL : Well that’s the least of our problems. Where have you been?

TEAL’C : I must inform you, O’NEILL, that I have disregarded your orders concerning the Goa’uld.

O’NEILL : Please explain.

TEAL’C nods to LYA, who makes them all vanish.

They materialise in the woods, away from the city.

O’NEILL : So what’s going on here?

TEAL’C : I have requested LYA’S assistance.

An ion canon suddenly appears before them.

CARTER : You hid one.

TEAL’C : That is correct. TRAVELL explained that it would take but one of these to destroy a Goa’uld mothership.

Two Goa’uld gliders start to come in.

TEAL’C (cont’d) : It should have already fired.

O’NEILL : Well it hasn’t. Let’s take cover.

O’NEILL, CARTER, DANIEL and LYA run for the trees, while being fired upon by the gliders. TEAL’C remains with the canon and adjusts its controls.

The canon lifts and opens fire, destroying the two gliders. It then fires bolts of energy into the sky, destroying the Goa’uld mothership in orbit.

O’NEILL : Very nice.

There is a fireball in the sky.

INT – COURTHOUSE, TOLLANA

TRAVELL approaches TEAL’C.

TRAVELL : You disregarded my warnings.

O’NEILL : Mine too. Well done.

TRAVELL : If you were one of my subjects, I would be forced to discipline you. However, you are not one of my subjects.

She places her hand against his chest and bows.

TEAL’C : It could not have been done without the assistance of LYA.

CARTER (to LYA) : I thought the Nox were pacifists.

LYA : I only hid the weapon. I did not fire it.

CARTER : Pretty fine line you didn’t cross.

LYA : Yes it is.

O’NEILL (to TRAVELL) : So, we basically saved your whole planet, right?

TRAVELL : Yes.

O’NEILL : Are you therefore indebted to us in any modest way?

TRAVELL : I suppose that is the case.

O’NEILL : So how about giving us the plans to build one of those ion canons?

TRAVELL : You have been told our policy. That has not changed.

DANIEL enters the room.

DANIEL : The, uh, Tok’ra have completed the procedure.

O’NEILL : Yeah?

Two Tok’ra carry out a jar containing KLOREL’S Goa’uld form.

LYA : What will become of KLOREL?

NARIM : He will be sent to a Goa’uld world.

O’NEILL : To hell with him, what about…?

SKAARA : O’NEILL!

SKAARA runs up to him.

O’NEILL (smiling) : Much better.

They share a hug. SKAARA catches sight of TEAL’C and they shake hands, before CARTER embraces SKAARA.

FADE OUT

THE END