Bane (Stargate SG-1)

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“Bane”
Stargate SG-1 episode
Episode no. Season 2
Episode 10
Guest stars Tom McBeath as Col. Maybourne
Teryl Rothery as Dr. Janet Fraiser
Colleen Rennison as Ally
Written by Robert C. Cooper
Directed by David Warry-Smith
Production no. 210
Original airdate September 25, 1998
Episode chronology
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"Secrets" "The Tok'ra (Part 1 & 2)"
Episode chronology

"Bane" is an episode from Season 2 of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The episode opens as SG-1 visits a world designated BP6-3Q1, which appears to be at a technological level above that of Earth. The city surrounding the gate, however, appears deserted, though entirely intact. After a brief recon, SG-1 stops in a plaza to discuss what might have caused the city's to desertion, but are interrupted when a large insect lands on Teal'c. Jack O'Neill moves to shoot the insect off Teal'c, but as he cocks the gun Teal'c is stung and the insect flies away. Samantha Carter and Jack attempt to treat Teal'c's wound, but a swarm of the insects attacks and SG-1 is forced flee through the Stargate back to the SGC. Teal'c is examined by Doctor Fraiser, but he tells her that his symbiote is not healing him. Fraiser explains to SG-1 and General Hammond that Teal'c seems to be suffering from a viral infection and that his symbiote is not able to cure it. As well, a blood sample shows that there is a small amount of DNA present that is not Teal'c's. Carter recommends a Doctor Timothy Harlow be brought in to help, as he's already cleared for the Stargate Program and working for the Pentagon in DNA research.

After Harlow arrives, he conducts secondary tests on the blood sample from Teal'c and finds that it is now completely changed to the alien insect DNA. Harlow concludes that the insect's venom is converting Teal'c's DNA into its own, which will enventually convert him into one of the alien insects, and that the Goa'uld symbiote is unable to reverse the process, only slow it down. In the infirmary, Teal'c asks Jack to kill him if there's no hope for recovery, as he does not wish to become the alien insect. Shortly afterwards, Colonel Maybourne arrives at the SGC and gives General Hammond orders to turn Teal'c over to the NID for further treatment - and study, if Teal'c cannot be cured and turns into the insect. Carter then confronts Harlow, who admits it was he who informed the NID and requested their help. Teal'c is restrained and taken away in a van, but breaks free of his restraints in transit and escapes.

The SGC receives a distress call from the van that was transporting Teal'c, and SG-1 is dispatched, finding the van crashed, but the driver and passengers are alive. SG-1 also finds Teal'c's symbiote, which he has deliberately removed, Doctor Harlow suggests this is because he is mentally unstable due of the change he is undergoing. The SGC begins a search as Doctor Fraiser tries to keep Teal'c's symbiote alive, with limited success. Teal'c uses a two way radio to contact Jack and tells him to call off the search, Jack asks him to give himself up so they can cure him, but Teal'c drops the radio and continues to flee. A manhunt begins, with the SGC attempting to find Teal'c before the NID can, so that they may resume treating him, rightly suspicious of the NID's intentions. It is realised that Teal'c is outside the SGC's perimeter, however, and therefore outside their jurisdiction. Local police are ordered to report to the NID, so the SGC attempts to quietly locate Teal'c first, though without legal authority.

Doctor Fraiser, though, has trouble keeping the symbiote alive and is unable to find a solution. Dr. Timothy Harlow then offers a new type of drug to help Teal'c, but first a sample of the insect venom is needed. Daniel, Sam and Jack return to BP6-3Q1, and arrive back at the SGC late, but retrieve one of the alien insects. Doctor Harlow studies the insect and collects a sample of the venom while SG-1 shows General Hammond video footage of the city, explaining that they found some of the city's former inhabitants, all of which were in very late stages of transforming into swarms the insects.

Teal'c, meanwhile, finds his way into Colorado Springs, and takes shelter in an abandoned building. He is discovered by a young girl, Ally, who shares a chocolate bar with him. Teal'c asks her to buy him more food, and when she returns, she finds him in a much worse state than when she left, as he is now covered in lesions. Ally suspects that he is wanted by the law, and offers him a place to hide in the abandoned building. At the SGC, Doctor Harlow is able to find a drug capable of slowing the transformation, and with the assistance of a symbiote, reverse it, but the Goa'uld symbiote is still inexplicably dying. General Hammond, meanwhile, is able to have the police report to the SGC instead of the NID, but the President does not cancel the NID's search. The NID storms the building Teal'c is hiding in, but cannot find him, thanks to Ally's hiding place. At the SGC, Doctor Fraiser saves the symbiote by providing it with an electrical current. Ally is made even more suspicious by the NID storming of the building, and when she returns to Teal'c, realises he is in a much more advanced stage of the transformation process, as he is partially covered in a form of cocoon. Ally asks Teal'c if he wants help, he agrees and Ally makes a call to a friend of her father - Jack O'Neill. Teal'c is located due to Ally, and recovers, thanks to Doctor Harlow and Doctor Fraiser. Harlow makes amends for telling the NID about Teal'c's illness in the first place, by destroying the samples of the alien insect so the NID does not get a chance to experiment with it. Teal'c returns to the abandoned building after he is fully recovered and rewards Ally by giving her a new water blaster and spending time playing with her. He even sprays Daniel.

[edit] Notes

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
  • This episode is the first time we see Teal'c interact with people outside the confines of the SGC on Earth.
  • The scene where Teal'c squirts Daniel with his watergun was adlibbed by Christopher Judge. Michael Shanks' reaction to being squirted was genuine.[citation needed]
  • While SG-1 is exploring the supposedly "deserted" planet, a train can be seen (and heard) passing by - reflected in the glass facade of the building the team is facing (which is actually part of the Academic Quadrangle at Simon Fraser University. The train is part of the Vancouver SkyTrain rapid transit system)
  • Actress Colleen Rennison later returns in season 5 as Dr. Frasier's adopted daughter, Cassandra.
  • In the Australian release of the DVD Box set Spirits is the next episode in order.

[edit] External links

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