(Indistinct conversations)
Thank you.
That's perfect, zaren.
Just like that.
(Stargate hums)
That's ok. It's just my friends returning.
Hello, children.
Daniel.
No child labor laws here on orban?
No. These are urrone.
They're like apprentices to the adults.
They're everywhere.
It's just kind of the way they do things.
Look atthis.
Chalchiuhtlicue—...
The aztec goddess of water.
They don't even know what th ey've got here.
Who knows what we're going to uncover?
That is, if general Hammond said yes.
He did say—— he said yes.
Man: Colonel O'Neill.
You are most punctual.
Both merrin and I are eager to participate
in this exchange between our worlds.
Major Carter's eager as well.
She's really looking forward to it...
So is Teal'c.
I will share my knowledge of the Goa'uld freely.
Teal'c is eager on the inside.
Then if you are ready to leave.
Kalan, I was under the impression we were
bringing back one of your naouada reactors.
This is the device.
That little thing?
Daniel...
Have fun.
I know you will.
Teal'c...
Make friends, as always.
(Stargate humming)
Folks, to earth.
Carter: They're one of the most
impressive societies we've ever come across, sir.
They've managed to accomplish
in a few decades what it took humans
over a century to achieve.
Sounds like these people might make good allies.
I think so.
They're not quite up to the Goa'uld level of technology yet,
but given a few years...
(Stargate humming)
Thank you for this exchange, general Hammond.
I am sure it will be fruitful
for both of our worlds.
Major Carter...
Please allow merrin to present you
with this naouada reactor.
You may study it for the duration of our exchange.
Thank you.
If you will allow, I would like to offer a tour of—...
The exchange has been made.
We will return to orban now.
You just got here.
Carter: You can't leave.
Someone needs to teach me
how to use this thing.
Please explain what you mean by this.
Teaching?
Uh...
Explaining how the reactor functions,
its components, its construction.
I do not have this knowledge.
I will teach you.
Hammond: Major Carter
will show you the lab.
But before you get started, merrin,
I'd like you to visit our infirmary.
Carter: It's standard procedure.
Nothing to be afraid of.
You must screen newcomers
for potential pathogens. Of course.
O'Neill: So, merrin,
I understand you're a reactor expert.
Yes.
How old are you?
I'm 11. How old are you?
So, merrin, I understand
you're a reactor expert.
This is my son——tomin.
He is also urrone.
Teal'c, you will, please,
tell him of the Goa'uld.
You are most generous
to offer your knowledge, Teal'c.
Kalan, there was
an apprentice here earlier——zaren.
Do you know where she went?
Zaren is not here. It was past her time
to experience her ovarium.
Ovarium?
Is that like a graduation?
That is an approximate definition.
Dr. Jackson, you expressed an interest
in viewing the city. It is advantageous
to see the pyramid of suns in daylight.
Yes, absolutely.
Teal'c, you will, please, remain here with tomin.
What is your purpose?
I'm making an observation
of your physical characteristics.
Dr. Jackson tells us you were once a warrior
in the service of the Goa'uld.
That is correct.
I think I understand now
why the Goa'uld are so feared.
Hurts a little bit, huh?
You are being very brave.
How's our little rocket scientist doing?
We are almost done, colonel.
I am not a rocket scientist.
Um, ithinkwhat colonel O'Neill means
is that you're very smart.
You find my intelligence level unusual?
No. There are lots
of intelligent people around here,
just not as young as you.
You mean you were
not always as smart as you are now?
No. We spent a long time in school
to getto this point.
Please explain what school is.
Carter: School is a place where you go to learn.
Ateacher gives you information,
and you take different classes
to learn different subjects.
So this is how you and Dr. Fraiser
became scientists?
Mm—hmm.
You aren't a scientist?
Oh, no.
Then you are not as smart
as major Carter and Dr. Fraiser.
Well, it depends on what you mean by...
Ok, no. I'm not.
But while they were stuck in school,
iwas out doing other things,
like having fun.
You do know what fun is, don't you?
Ok. Fun is what you do
to make yourself happy—— Like music, games.
It's whatever you do
when you're not learning to be a rocket scientist.
I am here to teach major Carter
about th e reactor.
Sounds like fun to me.
Whatever.
Yeah, go ahead.
Knock yourself out.
Come on, merrin, I'll show you the lab.
But you have found hosts
for other Goa'uld in the past
as first prime to the Goa'uld leader.
I have vowed to battle the Goa'uld
andto free my people.
If I allowed the symbiote
that I carried to be implanted,
iwould be perpetuating all that I oppose.
What happens if you do not find
a host for this Goa'uld?
It will die.
If the Goa'uld dies,
then you will die as well?
That would be unfortunate.
Jackson: I should have known by the murals,
but the talud—tablero construction of your pyramid
confirms it.
Dr. Jackson, I do not understand.
Teotihuacan—— it was a city
in pre—columbian South America,
even bigger than ancient Rome,
which wouldn't mean anything to you,
but it is significant.
But you said we are aztec.
No. These people predated the aztecs.
Ok, look.
These pictures form a narrative,
and whatever's under this platform may tell us
exactly how your people came to be on orban.
You will explain this to tomin.
Teotihuacan flou rish ed for centuries
as a religious and economic mecca
before suffering a great upheaval in 750 ad.
Now, ithink thatyour people
could be the descendants of that civilization.
Do you believe the arrival of the Goa'uld
caused teotihuacan's down fall?
Yes.
Ok, th e carocev—...
That's the converter, right?
The heating element.
What?
When did we talk about the heating element?
In the very beginning, when I described the fodinaire.
Oh, man.
It can't be this hard.
I will begin again.
No. No. Wait.
Let's try this a different way.
How about we break everything down
into its most basic components?
Let's start with the reactor casing.
What's it made of?
The fodinaire attach es—...
No. No. I'm sorry, merrin.
We'll get to that in a minute.
Right now ijust need to know
what materials make up the reactor casing.
It'll have to block radiation,
so we'll make it lead—lined.
See, this is easy.
And the casing material would have to measure...
Major? If you don't mind,
I'd like to see merrin in the infirmary again.
Just a couple of follow—up tests.
Let's go back.
Merrin's blood work
shows trace levels of silicon, trinium,
and some other element I have never seen before.
Now, ithink it's a mineral,
but it is definitely not found on earth.
Ok, even iknow that's bad.
Well, I found out what was responsible.
What?
A nanite.
She's got nanites in her blood?
Yes. However, it still didn't explain
merrin's abnormally high neuropeptide levels,
so I did a computer—enhanced m.R.I.
You ready for this one?
There's millions of them.
They've infested that little girl's brain.
Hammond: I've put the base
on a threat com—— bravo.
Doctor, get blood samples from everyone.
I want to know how far those nanites have spread.
My nanoprocessors are harmless to you.
Merrin, we've run into these little buggers before,
and they're anything but harmless.
We encountered a civilization
in which the Goa'uld used a similar method—...
Nanocytes—...
To accelerate the age of a population.
Colonel O'Neill was adversely affected.
Merrin: These nanites were created
by orbanians
in an orbanian laboratory
all of my people have them.
It is the way we acouire knowledge.
Wait a minute. So you're saying, merrin,
that all orbanians' brains look like this?
Each citizen receives a nanite
after every ovarium.
Urrone children are given
millions of more nanites at birth
because we are required
to learn vast amounts of information very quickly.
This must be done at infancy
before the neural pathways are established.
So these nanites act as additional synapses?
Yes.
Butthat is all they do.
They do not age us and cannot leave the brain.
But, merrin, we found one of these nanites in your blood.
If a nanite malfunctions,
it is programmed to disconnect from the brain
and be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Those are inactive and incapable of harming others.
I'm sorry if I have alarmed you,
and I understand if you wish me to return to orban.
Oh, I don'tthinkthat that would be necessary,
do you, general?
If you think it's safe, major Carter,
then you can continue to work.
But I still want those blood samples, doctor.
Yes, sir.
Father...
I wish to undergo the ovarium immediately.
Tomin, it is 6 months until you turn 12.
I am concerned by what Teal'c has told me of these Goa'uld.
If they learn of our existence, they will destroy us.
The studies I have made to learn
about defense technologies
must now be put to use
so that orban can begin preparations.
I will notify the elders.
You've learned well, my son.
I am proud.
You stu dy botany as well, major?
Oh, no. Those are just decoration.
That does not look like a naquada reactor core.
Yeah. well, I had to improvise
since we're only using
a microscopic amount of naquada.
How about you sketch it for me?
What?
Draw me your reactor core.
Give me an idea of what it looks like.
I don't draw.
You don't draw? Everyone draws.
No. It is not something
I am required to do.
I've never had to draw before.
Well...
It's pretty easy.
Here.
See?
What is that?
It's a picture of me.
Well...
I know it doesn't exactly look like me,
but it's just a basic representation.
See, that's all I need from you—...
Is just a basic representation of the reactor's core.
All right.
Butthis paper is not large enough.
How's this?
That will do.
Kel'Mel, Daniel Jackson.
Look atthis.
This proves the Goa'uld were here
some time in the last few hundred years.
Now we just need to figure out why they left.
Dr. Jackson,
I brought the tools you asked.
Teal'c, you will, please, tell solen
methods to fight the Goa'uld,
which weapons and strategies
have been effective in their defeat,
also anything in your experience
as first prime to apophis that would be of assistance.
It is an honor to accept your knowledge, Teal'c.
Perhaps it would be better for tomin to return.
He is unavailable.
Solen will learn now.
Tomin is already familiar with the subject.
He has given us his knowledge.
Please, you will talk to solen.
Teal'c has a point.
If th ey've already established a rapport—...
I have told you it is impossible
fortomin to be here. He has gone through the ovarium.
Please, Teal'c, begin.
I would like to see tomin immediately.
Merrin...
What are you doing?
Get down.
Colonel O'Neill,
I need 15 sheets of paper
at least 48 centimeters by 23 centimeters.
Well, that's fine.
Why don't you just ask...
(Whispering) Excuse me.
Major...
Carter!
Oh!
Merrin, I am so sorry.
Wow.
These are amazing.
Merrin: I could not represent the reactor core
in a 3—dimensional plane, so I depicted
several layers of the reactor's interior.
With additional supplies,
I can finish the remaining layers.
Cross sections. Of course.
If I scan these into the computer,
ican come up
with a 3—dimensional representation
of the reactor's interior.
All right. Will you two give it a rest?
Both of you.
You've been atthis for 24 hours.
You need rest.
I do not need to.
Urrone children require little sleep.
Ok, now I amjealous.
All right, Carter, you sleep.
Young lady, if not sleep...
Fun.
No. I need 15 sheets of paper—...
At least 43 centimeters by 28 centimeters.
15?
Colonel O'Neill?
I require some of these pencils as well.
Do you not recognize me?
It is Teal'c.
Kalan!
Explain this ovarium.
It is the ceremony
in which an urrone's nanites are removed
and then distributed.
Each adult and each non—urrone child
then receives an injection
containing one nanite,
which becomes part of his or her synaptic network,
adding to those nanites received
from previous ovariums.
So when you say he gave you his knowledge,
you meant it literally.
It was a beautiful ceremony.
Kalan: Now you have seen him.
We must resume our work, Dr. Jackson.
What will become of tomin?
He stays here with the other past urron es.
That's it?
Don't you play with him?
What is play?
Interacting with him, teaching him newthings.
These children cannot be taught.
Have you ever tried?
Yes. But past urrone children
cannot receive new nanites.
The brain rejects them.
Well, have you ever tried teaching him without nanites?
What do you mean?
There is no need for concern.
These children are well cared for.
Kalan...
This is your son.
My son is here now.
Kalan says that tomin is not brain damaged.
Clearly, he was not himself.
Well, if the nanites
have taken over the learning process
and prevented the brain
from developing a normal amount of synapses,
then there's a good chance thattheir removal
would make these children infant—like.
O'Neill: What's the difference
if they keep them locked up in a room?
So once merrin returns to orban,
she will undergo this ovarium,
and her nanites will be removed.
Yes, sir.
Then maybe she won't return to orban.
Colonel.
General, she's going back
to get her brain sucked out.
And I dare anybody
to phrase it more delicately.
Sir, I agree with you,
but we can't just keep merrin here, can we?
Why not?
We'd be saving her life.
Fraiser: Ok, why don't we
just simplytry asking kalan
not to harvest merrin's nanites?
I do not believe the orbanians will understand
the reason for your request.
They do not see this as wrong.
Well, then we need to make them understand.
Teal'c, return to orban.
Colonel, before we risk an interplanetary incident,
I'd like to try the diplomatic route first.
How can you make this demand?
Kalan, no one is demanding anything.
We do not believe the ovarium
would be in merrin's best interest.
It is most certainly in her best interest,
for her and for her people.
You see, in our cultures, we don't believe
in doing anything that results in harming a child.
We do not harm our children, Dr. Jackson.
You have seen tomin,
you have seen how well he is cared for.
Ok, ithink we can work this out.
We just need to sit down and discuss some alternatives.
There are no alternatives.
Merrin must undergo the ovarium.
You will return her immediately.
The ovarium is a great honor.
O'Neill: Merrin, I know
that's what the adults have told you,
but when they take out th ese...
Nanite things,
they also take out everything that makes you you.
But my people will have my knowledge.
But you won't.
I do not understand why you are so concerned.
Carter: Merrin, we just don'tthink
you realize what you'll be giving up
by going through the ovarium.
It is a great honor to be chosen.
Will you please stop saying that?
Colonel...
A word, please?
Teal'c?
Kalan refused our request.
Daniel Jackson remained behind
to attempt to alter his position.
Well, good.
That'll give us a chance to make merrin understand.
She's already refused amnesty, colonel.
General, it's obvious
the little girl has been brainwashed.
We can't send her back without at least trying.
Teal'c, do you foresee any danger to Dr. Jackson
if he stays on orban?
I do not believe Daniel Jackson will be harmed.
I'll give it 48 hours.
So, merrin, it looks like you're going to be spending
a little more time with us.
Please return me to orban.
You do understand we're trying to help you, right?
I don't need your help.
Kalan, you can't do this.
If you will not return merrin to us,
I will retrieve her myself.
If you don't transmit a special code
that will close the Iris,
then you won't get through. You will die.
Please explain this Iris.
I will explain it, but only to you.
If you will not explain it, then transmitthe code.
I'm sorry.
You claim to love knowledge,
yetwhen you find something you don't like,
you demand that we change to please you.
No, it is not to please me.
You are an incredibly advanced society.
Why can'tyou find a better way
to educate your people?
There is no better way than the ovarium.
Even if that means giving up your son?
It was the happiest day of my life
when tomin was selected to be urrone.
I knew even before he was born that he would make
an incredible contribution to our society.
And you never once thought otherwise?
Not once...
And neither didtomin.
And what if merrin does?
Merrin is one of only a few urrone children,
and the only one to have spent ioyears
learning the naquada technology.
Without her ovarium,
the people who are awaiting her knowledge
to continue their research,
they will have to wait 12 years
for another urrone to learn.
Well, I didn't know that.
Merrin does.
She does not question her duty.
It is you, Dr. Jackson, who are misguided to think
that you can convince her otherwise.
Come on!
Why?! Why?! Why aren't you working?!
(Sigh)
She insists on seeing you, major.
It's all right. Thanks.
Hey.
Major Carter...
I need your assistance.
You musttell general Hammond
to let me return to orban.
I thought as a scientist, you would understand.
Merrin, you're only 11.
Half the interesting things in my life
didn't happen till iturned 15.
What kind of interesting things?
Oh... just, uh... stuff.
If it were possible,
I would give you one of my nanites...
And then you would know that it's all right.
Thank you.
Buti don'tthinkthat would make a difference.
You are finished.
Almost.
Once I ran a computer simulation
based on your sketches,
ithought I could adapt the design to my materials,
but the current is being diverted
before it reaches the core.
Ithinkthe shielding might be diverting power.
Major Carter—...
Unless—— h ey, h ey, h ey—...
The trinium is absorbing the current.
Correct. Well, all—...
Wait, wait. Sorry. Let me.
Ok, by reversing the polarity—...
Like that...
(Humming)
That's it.
(Ch uckles)
We're in business.
Why wouldn't you let me give you the solution?
What would have been the fun in that?
Fun?
Well, yeah.
Figuring something out on my own,
especially if it's been eluding me awhile,
it's far more satisfying
than having the answer given to me.
But not as efficient.
(Knock on door) Come in.
You...
You wanted to see me, sir?
Kalan has come to escort merrin
back to orban.
Before you say anything,
know that I have already granted his request.
I don't like it either, Jack,
but... you don't know the effect
this is having on the orbanians.
What about the effect it's having on merrin?
Kalan: Your Dr. Jackson
has come to realize merrin's importance to her people.
Her importance as a vegetable?
Colonel!
If you would try to understand...
No! I won't.
The way you treat your children is absurd.
You don't deserve them.
Colonel O'Neill!
Request permission to be excused, sir.
Ok, clear.
(Alarm)
Ha ha! We did it!
Let me record these readings.
What the heck was that?
The reactor worked.
(Phone rings)
Carter.
Yes, sir, we're fine.
Yeah, it was just the reactor.
No, sir.
Just an initial energy pulse.
There's no threat to the base.
(Talking indistinctly)
It's all right, airman. I got it.
Merrin: You are taking me to the surface?
Yes.
Look, you came here to learn, right?
There's something I have to show you,
but I have to take you off the base for it.
You do not have permission, do you?
No, I don't.
In the future, major, before you activate
any device that includes the word "reactor,"
I would appreciate it if you will notify me.
Of course, sir. It won't happen again.
Good.
Now, I'd like you to bring merrin to my office.
Oh, colonel O'Neill just left with her.
Thank you, major.
(Dials)
This is Hammond.
If colonel O'Neill attempts to leave,
you're ordered to...
How long ago?
I see.
This is a school?
It's part of it.
We call this the playground.
What is it for?
(Bell ringing)
Well, just watch.
Woo!
Over here! Let's go!
(Speaking Italian)
Child: Colonel Jack, what are you doing here?
Playing hooky. Kids, I want you to meet my friend.
Her name's merrin.
You think you can show her around while italkto Mrs. Struble?
This is fun!
Let's go on the swing.
Yeah, ok.
I'm gonna get you.
I got you. You're "it."
No, you didn't.
That's so unfair.
That was cool.
Sarah's "it."
I'd love to.
(Children talking all at once)
Colonel O'Neill.
The kids have been asking
when you're coming back to see us.
(Ch uckles)
How's Cassandra enjoying junior high?
Oh, she's doing fine. Yeah?
She loves it.
Listen, do you have room for another student
this afternoon?
She's visiting from out of town.
We have art scheduled after recess.
That's perfect.
Your assignment is to paint something you love.
Now, it could be a person or an object.
Just use your imaginations.
I look fat.
Merrin: Colonel O'Neill.
This brush is too wide
to accurately render the wires.
Ok, let's try this again.
Something you love.
Something that's not a machine, ok?
Remember those flowers in major Carter's lab,
the ones on the desk? Paint one of those.
Go ahead.
Bigger.
Big.
There is no purple.
Use red.
If I could have another cup,
I could mix the blue with the red.
Make the flower red.
But those flowers were purple.
You ask me to draw a flower,
butyou do not give me the means
to do this accu rate ly.
Merrin, listen to me,
it doesn't have to be exact.
Paint me a flower.
I don't care what it looks like. Here.
Use this.
And don't stop with one. Paint the whole garden.
But—— ah!
Paint.
Nice.
Who's that?
That's a representation of major Carter.
Of course it is.
Is it right?
Oh, yeah. It's way more than right.
Thank you, colonel O'Neill,
for teaching this to me.
You're welcome.
Merrin...
All you have to do is ask.
I'll find away to make it happen.
I have a duty to my people.
My knowledge is important to them.
You did promise.
(P.A. announcements)
Carter: Unfortunately, the test used up
the last of our naquada, butwe'll find more.
At least we've got a working prototype.
Colonel?
I'm not here to cause trouble, sir.
Colonel O'Neill?
I have something for you.
They're beautiful.
Thank you.
You are mad at me for not staying.
No. No, I'm not.
Then you understand?
Major Carter,
please take merrin down to the gateroom.
I'll be there momentarily.
Yes, sir.
You've already given me
more than enough reason for a court—martial.
General...
For a few hours today,
I gotto show that little girl how to be a kid.
If you want to punish me...
Go ahead.
On behalf of the citizens of orban,
I'd like to thank you for the experience
you have given me andto my people.
I have learned much in mytime here.
So have we.
We just received atransmission
from orban.
Kalan asked for all of you
to go there right away.
Is something wrong?
You'll find out when you getthere.
Thank you for coming.
What's wrong?
Oh, nothing is wrong. I will show you.
(Laughter)
Kalan: Come.
Look.
Isn't it wonderful?
Solen. Solen, please.
Thank you.
Colonel O'Neill, this is my son——tomin.
I am teaching him.
All of the past urrone children
will now learn in the old—fashioned way,
as you might say.
He will know all that you have done for orban.
Oh, and...
I drew this for you...
To express my gratitude.
Isn'tthat—— me.
Kalan, when did all this start?
Last night after merrin's ovarium.
She must have known this would happen
once her nanites were transferred.
This is what she learned.
Colonel.
Hi, merrin.
(Sigh)
I guess we'lljust have to get to know
one another all over again.
You're right.
What was ithinking?
You ever seen a dog?
Dogs are my favorite people.
Some have tails, some don't.
Not a lot of purple dogs, but...