| Synopsis | Review | Quotes |

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Synopsis: (By Sea Witch)

An incoming wormhole has been established.  In the gate room General Hammond and the SG-1 team await the arrival of an unspecified Tok’ra visitor.  Jack O’Neill is being very vociferous; his low opinion of the arrogant Tok’ra has been exacerbated by their refusal to name the visitor.  Jack breaks off his diatribe when two Tok’ra step through the gate.  One is a male, carrying a box.  The other is a very beautiful woman.  Greetings are exchanged after which Hammond introduces himself and the team.  The female Tok’ra, the symbiote half, identifies herself as Anise and her colleague is Mornak.  To make conversation Anise tells them her name means noble strength.    Daniel Jackson, eager to make a good impression, reciprocates by telling Anise his name means God is my judge.   Jack, not wanting to be out done, tells her his name means...um...what’s in the box?

In the briefing room Anise takes a piece of alien technology from the box and allows Hammond and the members of SG-1 to examine it.  It is one of a number of armbands she personally discovered amongst the ruins of an ancient city on a remote planet.  On the artefact is an inscription that Anise attributes to a race called the Attaniques, whose existence and demise predates the Goa’uld.  As Sam handles the artefact she mentions that Jolinar, the Tok’ra to whom she briefly played host, possessed knowledge of the Attaniques and believed this particular type of artefact could give a wearer incredible speed and strength.  According to Anise, the armbands were previously considered to be a myth, albeit much sought after by both the Tok’ra and Goa’uld.  As an expert in ancient cultures, she discovered them during the course of her professional work.  Daniel, another expert in ancient cultures, mentions he and Anise share a common interest, a fact of which Anise is aware.

Tok’ra research on the armbands has reached an impasse.  The alien technology rejects anyone carrying a symbiote, which Anise effectively demonstrates by placing an armband on her forearm.  The artefact remains inert.  Given that Teal’c also carries a symbiote, Anise has brought only three armbands. Sam, mindful of the protein marker left in her body by Jolinar, is concerned she will also be rejected.  Anise is optimistic the residue in Sam’s body will have no adverse effect.  Having previously translated the inscription, Anise believes the armbands are capable of significantly enhancing natural abilities.  Jack thinks the concept is cool, but wants to know what Anise really wants.  Anise gives it to him straight.  In the name of the human/Tok’ra alliance, she expects Jack, Sam and Daniel to experiment with the armbands. 

Hammond is cautious, requiring more information about the armbands.  Anise has no time for such niceties, she wants to begin the trials immediately.  Her haughty attitude prompts Jack to ask what the hurry is.  Putting the armband back in the box, she glibly replies that if the SGC is unwilling to take part in the trials she can easily seek out suitable human subjects on another planet.  Jack smiles and calls her bluff.  The personality of Freya, host to Anise, becomes prominent and apologises for the brusqueness of her scientist symbiote.  Freya assures everyone that every safety precaution will be taken.  Anise returns to dominance and asks for an answer.  Opening credits.

In the infirmary, under the supervision of Doctor Janet Fraiser, Anise installs a bio-sensor on Jack’s chest.  The sensor will relay Jack’s physiological information to a hand held Tok’ra monitoring device.   When Anise is satisfied the sensor is working correctly she fits an armband to Jack.  The artefact immediately clasps itself snugly to his right forearm.  A crystal on the armband comes to life and glows faintly green indicating the armband is working.  Jack doesn’t feel any different but this is because his body needs time to adjust before he can adapt himself to his new abilities.  Anise advises him to carry on as normal so Jack resumes his duties.

Later, Jack and Teal’c are sparring in the gym.  Jack believes the armband to be inoperative, describing it as a crock.  He accuses Teal’c of going to easy but Teal’c is actually having difficulty landing a blow.  They break apart and Jack complains of feeling stiff.  They resume and Teal’c delivers a series of strikes which Jack dodges with impossible speed.  In return he throws a punch that KO’s Teal’c.  Jack stares down at the prone Jaffa, surprised at what he has just done.

In the infirmary Janet examines Teal’c who insists he is feeling fine.  Jack, busily eating a candy bar, apologises.  Teal’c accuses him of not being sincere, and he’s proven right.  While this banter is going on Anise hands Jack a small metal sphere and asks him to squeeze as hard as he can.  It is a device to test his strength, which records a fivefold increase.  With deadly accuracy Jack pitches his candy wrapper into a receptacle on the far side of the infirmary.  Janet observes that Jack has developed a sweet tooth as opens and eats another bar of candy.  Anise explains that Jack’s metabolism is increasing and, to compensate, Jack must eat more to keep up with his bodily requirements.  This worries Janet and she reminds Anise about her promise to explain how to read the Tok’ra monitoring device.  Anise will make good her promise, but not before she has fitted the last two armbands on her other test subjects.

Daniel and Sam are each fitted with an armband and a bio-sensor.  Sam complains about not feeling any different. Jack, stuffing more candy into his mouth, tells her to wait and see.

Daniel is in his quarters, surrounded by books and trying to decipher the inscription on his armband, when Jack joins him.  Against character, Jack picks up a large tome and begins to leaf through it; faster…and faster…and faster, until his hands blur with the motion.  Dumbfounded, Daniel can only stare as Jack reaches the end of the book, apparently having read its entire contents in a matter of seconds.  He tests Jack by asking him a question about a particular page in the book.  Amazingly, Jack answers correctly, demonstrating a phenomenal feat of memory as well as speed.  Daniel tries the speed-reading trick for himself and, although he is unable to match Jack’s speed, his own performance is impressive.  Jack jokingly offers to read for the wide-eyed Daniel before offering him a bite of his candy.

As Janet enters Sam’s laboratory she is puzzled to discover Sam, hunched over a microscope, in the dark.  Sam is testing the material from which her armband is crafted.  Janet switches on the light, dazzling Sam who hadn’t realised she was working in the dark.

This time it is Sam’s turn to fall under the scrutiny of the doctor.  Janet examines Sam’s eyes but can find nothing abnormal, save for the fact Sam can see in the dark.  Before she finishes her examination she checks Sam’s temperature.  It’s higher than it should be.  Sam reminds Janet that Anise is monitoring her vital signs and accuses the doctor of not trusting the Tok’ra scientist.   Unfazed by Sam’s candid observation, Janet orders her to undergo a full blood screen.

Jack tests his speed on a treadmill as Anise checks his vital signs on her recorder.  His legs work so fast they are blurred by speed.  He ends the test and, remarkably, hasn’t even broken into a sweat.  Anise hands him the metal ball and this time he crushes it.   She glances at her recorder again and is obviously impressed with the results.

But not as impressed as Daniel is with his new found abilities.  In his quarters he tells Anise how he has cross-referenced every known human language against the Attanique inscription in an hour.  Unfortunately he has discovered nothing other than that he can read incredibly fast.  Much to his surprise Anise hands him a notebook containing some of her observations of Attanique artefacts.  Freya prefers recording facts in writing rather than the more advanced Tok’ra way of dealing with such things.  Daniel absorbs the information in seconds and quickly transcribes the armband’s inscription.  It says, With great power comes great responsibility.  Anise adds her own codicil to that by stating, “…and the ability to effect great consequences.”  Daniel mentions that Anise has not recorded her thoughts on the extinction of the Attaniques.  She admits that her primary concern was to find the armbands and determine how they work.  Suddenly, the crystal on Daniel’s armband flickers and glows more brightly.

Back in the infirmary, in company with all three of her test subjects, Anise confirms the armbands have reached their maximum potential, hence the brightness of the crystals.  Janet asks Anise to join her in another room, leaving Jack, Sam and Daniel to lounge about in the infirmary.

Hammond joins the two women and Janet voices her worry about the significant rise in body temperature of all three subjects.  Anise assures the doctor that Jack, Sam and Daniel are in no danger.  Janet disagrees, stating that she has discovered symptoms that suggest a viral infection.  Anise dismisses Janet’s concern, explaining how the technology works through the virus.  It also explains why the technology took varying amounts of time to adapt to individual subjects.  Janet has heard nothing to allay her fears.  She has also discovered a dangerous level of adrenalin in Sam’s system.  Anise angrily shows her objection to Janet’s interference.   Janet reciprocates, she fears that Anise’s experiment is endangering the well being of three patients in her care.  Trying to wrong foot the Doctor, Anise asks if Janet believes her capable of risking the lives of her subjects.  At this point Hammond makes his own contribution to the debate, citing the interesting results the experiment has so far produced.  Janet wants the experiment stopped until she has satisfied herself there really isn’t any danger to Jack, Sam or Daniel; that the side effects are neither damaging nor permanent.  Having listened to Janet’s reasons, Hammond agrees with her.

Jack, Sam and Daniel are dismayed about Hammond’s decision to halt the experiment.  He assures them it is only until potential dangers can be assessed.  The three of them disagree.  They feel fine.   Excessively so.  Janet suggests the armbands may be like a narcotic, addicting their wearers to the enhanced physical effects.  Hammond orders the armbands be removed.  Big problem.  They won’t come off!

Janet has tried every method she can think of to remove the armbands, save the surgical removal of the affected limbs.  Anise doesn’t see any problem, preferring to concentrate on the advantageous properties of the armbands, particularly since there is no solid evidence of damaging effects.  Janet is not convinced by Anise’s smooth assurance.  Neither is Hammond.  He orders Anise to put her efforts into removing the armbands.

Jack is pumping iron in the gym.  Teal’c looks on.   If he is amazed by the ease with which Jack handles 600 pounds of iron he doesn’t show it.  He is concerned Jack isn’t bothered about the failed attempts to remove the armband.  Perhaps as an incentive to find a solution, Teal’c points out that SG-1 can’t resume normal duties until the experiment ends.  Jack doesn’t agree and speaks of his intention to have a word with Hammond about that.  Having set aside the weights he tackles a large punch bag, and stares, mouth agape, as his fist sinks wrist-deep into the bag’s insides. 

Sam’s hands blur almost to invisibility as she works at her lap top.  She is frustrated because the computer can’t match her speed and pauses to munch on a candy bar as the buffer empties itself, ready for her next extraordinary input.  Janet joins her and discovers Sam is writing a book on wormhole physics.  Janet suggests she could use Sam’s help.   However, Sam admits she doesn’t want to remove the armband.  It has enabled her to write a one thousand page book in less than two hours; a book she has never found the time to write.  Janet gives up and leaves.

Jack is in Hammond’s office trying to convince the General that he, Sam, and Daniel are more than fit, willing, and able to resume duty.  Hammond refuses, citing his uncertainty about the long-term effects of the armbands.  Not one for quitting, Jack gives good reasons (in his own opinion) why SG-1 should be allowed to return to duty.  Obviously hyper, Jack accidentally kicks a hole in the concrete wall.  This is evidence enough for Hammond that Jack is not in full control of his new abilities.  He questions the well being of his affected personnel.  Jack enthusiastically assures Hammond that he’s raring to go and all Hammond has to do is give the word.  Hammond gives Jack several words.  He tells Jack to get the hell out of his office.

Jack, somewhat puzzled by Hammond’s reaction, leaves.  Outside Hammond’s office he encounters Sergeant Siler, climbing the stairs from the gate room.  He gives Siler a friendly slap on the shoulder that sends him flying backwards down the stairs.  Jack stares, horrified, as Siler lands awkwardly and begins to writhe in pain.  Hammond comes out of his office to see what the commotion is about just as Jack goes to Siler’s aid.

Jack, Sam and Daniel have been confined together.  Sam is working at her laptop while Jack and Daniel discuss Siler’s injuries (a broken arm and concussion).  None of them are happy about their current state of inactivity.  They all feel as if they could take on the world…or at least a very large meal.  Their hyperactive metabolisms have rendered them ravenously hungry.   Sam speaks, mouth-wateringly, of her craving for steak and suggests they visit O’Malley’s, a bar in the nearby town.  Unable to resist the temptation, the three of them move.  Fast.  As they zip through the SGC, only a playful breeze registers their passage, their speed too quick for an ordinary human eye to detect.  Grinning broadly, the three of them head for the surface in the elevator.

Seated around a table in O’Malley’s, they speculate how high had been the fence surrounding the Cheyenne Mountain Complex.  The general consensus is thirty feet.  A waitress takes their order, four servings apiece, plus side orders.   Sam is concerned they have defied a direct order.  Daniel soothes her worry by reminding her it isn’t the first time they’ve disobeyed an order.   Besides, they’ll be back at base before anyone knows they’ve gone, won’t they?

Sam collects the money she’s just won in a game of pool.  Her opponent, a patron of the bar, is rather miffed he has lost to her.  Sam offers him a rematch but he declines. A smart move, Daniel observes.  In retaliation the man calls Daniel a geek.  For once, Daniel takes exception to the epithet and ignores Jack’s warning to “let it go”.  A brawl ensues and a lot of things get broken.

Back at the base, Hammond confides to Janet that he thought the devices were supposed to enhance abilities, not promote stupidity.  Janet suggests Hammond should consult Anise about the latest development.  In her opinion, the weird behaviour of Jack, Sam, and Daniel is attributed to increased hormone levels.  Then she drops a bombshell, reporting to Hammond that a new round of blood tests has uncovered something very scary - early indications of multiple organ failure.  She believes that, should the armband induced virus be somehow overcome, the devices can be removed and the danger prevented. 

Janet leaves just as the three recalcitrants are lead, under guard, into the control room.  General Hammond invites them to explain why several witnesses place them in a bar the night before.  Daniel has no explanation.  Sam guiltily explains they were hungry, ravenously so.  Hammond follows up Sam’s admission with some harsh questions about the brawl.   Jack dismisses the fight as nothing more than a scuffle.  That doesn’t mollify Hammond, whose main concern is that civilians might have been hurt, or worse, killed.  Jack explains that care was taken not to cause physical damage to anyone.  He apologises and claims he hadn’t really been aware of what he was doing.  Daniel speculates about a reduced ability to make rational decisions.

Anise joins them and has a suggestion to make.  She has news from the Tok’ra High Council, to whom she has been sending updates regarding progress of the experiment.  The High Council wants to put SG-1’s new skills into practice.  This clearly pleases the disgraced SG-1 personnel.  According to Anise, fresh information has been received regarding a new class of battleship being built by Apophis.  A sabotage attempt by the Tok’ra has already met with failure but a special team might just be successful.

Upon hearing this, Hammond is incensed, accusing Anise of the worst kind of duplicity.  She knew about the battleship before the experiment began, cynically keeping this vital piece of information to herself, only delivering it at the last possible moment.  Freya goes on the defensive, desperate to convince Hammond that the news is nothing more than coincidence.  Of course Hammond doesn’t believe her, and he accuses the Tok’ra of not having SG-1’s best interests in mind.  Fearful of where Hammond’s hostility might lead, Freya frantically pleads the Tok’ra cause.  Unless Apophis’ new ship is destroyed it will assure his dominance over the Goa’uld, Earth, and the rest of the galaxy.  Anise re-enters the heated conversation to tell Hammond the Tok’ra council will be most disappointed if Hammond refuses to act, especially since she has already downloaded everything the Tok’ra know about the ship, and its construction, into the SGC’s computers.  She hopes Hammond will change his mind.  Jack, eager for some action to prove his new abilities, tries to persuade Hammond to allow the team to take on the mission.  Hammond orders Jack and the others returned to the lock-up.  Further, he orders the wayward members of SG-1 to comply.  Reluctantly, they do so.

Anise knew exactly what she was doing when she announced the plans of Apophis’ had been downloaded.  Herded back into the room in which they had plotted the previous night’s escapade, Sam was quick to bring up the Tok’ra information on her laptop.  The three of them gaze at the screen.  The new battleship is a monster, easily the size of a small mountain.

Despite his belief the Tok’ra have manipulated the situation, Hammond is very concerned about the threat posed by Apophis’ battleship.  He consults the only source of alien information he can trust - Teal’c.  Teal’c studies the image Hammond shows him and observes that this new ship displays several advancements on any other Goa’uld ship he has previously encountered.  Teal’c wastes little time in advising Hammond to stop the ship’s completion.  But how?  In Hammond’s opinion, Jack, Sam, and Daniel, despite their augmented physiology, are suffering from impaired judgement and are therefore unfit to carry out such a mission.   Teal’c immediately offers to go.  However, according to the Tok’ra report, the Goa’uld gate is heavily guarded, a fact Hammond shares with Teal’c.  The Jaffa accepts the information and reinforces his insistence the ship must be destroyed, at which point Hammond challenges Teal’c to prove he’s not volunteering for a suicide mission.

Temporarily left to their own devices, Jack, Sam, and Daniel are planning a mission to destroy the battleship.  The heavily guarded gate isn’t going to pose a problem because gate physics allows a traveler to exit a wormhole at the same speed he enters.  The Jaffa at the other end will never know what hits them.  SG-1’s main challenge is twofold: how to overcome force fields protecting the ship; how to breach the ship’s power core, now sealed in trinium to protect it from chemical explosives like C4.   The power core needs to be taken out to ensure total destruction of the ship.  Sam notices that the core is linked by four large pipes to a cooling system.   She advocates the destruction of the pipes should cause the core to overheat and destroy itself.  But first, they will have to deal with the force fields protecting the area.  Daniel doesn’t see a problem.  Sam, quick to catch Daniel’s unspoken insinuation, explains to a puzzled Jack how Goa’uld shields function on a frequency operation principal.  Theoretically, all three of them should be able to see the oscillation interval and run through it.  Jack makes his contribution to the plan by suggesting they take plenty of snacks.

In the control room the unsuspecting technicians are rendered humanely unconscious by the SG-1 conspirators.  The address for Apophis’ ship building facility is dialed up and opposition from the SGC guards is contained by sealing off the gate room.  Anticipating the insubordination, Teal’c arrives in the gate room before the blast doors close.  He discovers his friends are ready to embark through the gate.  Jack turns to him and says, “Not this time,” before he, Sam, and Daniel accelerate to a faster-than-the-eye-can-see speed and vanish into the glowing wormhole.

Hammond, alerted by the commotion, discovers the unconscious duty technicians.  He orders the gate closed but another technician, who also responded to the alert, finds herself locked out of the system and unable to close the gate.  Hammond orders an armed team to the gate room.

The Goa’uld gate is guarded by at least a dozen heavily armed Serpent guards, their weapons poised to fire at anything exiting the incoming wormhole.  In a blur of motion, Jack, Sam, and Daniel send their enemies flying in all directions.  As expected, taking out the first wave of opposition is a piece of cake and the team head for the ship, leaving behind them a field of prone bodies.  The two guards at the entrance of the facility fair little better than their recently fallen brethren.

Inside the facility the team come across two Serpent guards carrying a pallet upon which a small bar of weapons grade naquadah sits.  Sam explains that the naquadah is dense, very heavy and that just one small bar is capable of powering a lot of reactors.  Daniel elects to retrieve the naquadah and disappears in the direction taken by the guards, leaving Jack and Sam to locate and destroy the energy core.  Whilst zooming through the facility Sam stops and complains of feeling hot.  She looks for the force shield and finds it by walking into it.  She and Jack run through the force field and discover the core moments later.  The core is huge and so are the cooling pipes serving it.   They check their chronometers.  Sam reckons a five minutes delay on the C4 charges, coupled with the ten minutes it will take for the core to go critical, will be more than adequate to allow them sufficient time to escape through the gate.  But first they must locate Daniel. 

When they find him he is having difficulty carry the naquadah.  Jack and Sam race off, intent on completing the mission.  Not Daniel, though; something is very wrong and he collapses on the floor.  Jack and Sam return and discover Daniel cannot move.  Unexpectedly, Daniel’s armband falls off and he passes out.

Back at the SGC, Janet is reporting to Hammond how she expects the armbands to come off by themselves.  Anise explains that the readings, taken from the biosensors before SG-1 gated out, indicated the presence of antibodies to the armband induced virus.  Further, Anise theorises that when the immunity spread amongst the Attanique warriors the armbands became useless.  It might explain, in part, how the alien race might have fallen.  Naturally, Hammond is incensed by the idea his team are on a hostile world with enhanced abilities they could lose at any time.  Freya reiterates that neither she nor Anise were aware of the situation with the battleship prior to gating to Earth.  Anise hopes for the safe return of SG-1.

A Serpent guard discovers Jack and Sam as they aid the profoundly unconscious Daniel.  He is joined by another guard.  The first guard prepares to open fire but is felled by a third, unseen party.  The second guard gets off a shot which Jack and Sam manage to dodge before he, too, is mysteriously felled.  Teal’c steps out of hiding and calmly announces it looks like his assistance was needed after all.  Jack thanks his friend and Sam explains how Daniel’s armband fell off.  Jack asks Teal’c to carry Daniel back to the gate while he and Sam complete the mission.

The C4 charges are set and Jack and Sam are about to make their escape when an alarm sounds.   As they race for the exit the timer registers less than three minutes to detonation.  Jack easily negotiates the force field but Sam hits it hard and falls. Her impact with the force field leaves her stunned and, when her armband suddenly falls off, she lapses in unconsciousness.  Jack rushes to her aid but he too, is repelled by the force field.  Moments later his armband clatters to the floor, leaving him unconscious.

At the entrance to the facility, Teal’c and the now conscious Daniel stop their retreat and look back the way they have just come.  There is concern that Jack and Sam haven’t yet emerged from the facility.  Teal’c advises Daniel to make for the gate.   It is Teal’c’s intention to mount another one-Jaffa rescue mission.  He finds himself thwarted on both fronts.  Daniel won’t leave his friends and a newly raised force field prevents re-entry into the facility.

Sam regains consciousness to find Jack lying a few feet away.  She calls to him continually until he responds to her voice.  Jack is appalled to discover that, with less than two minutes to detonation, Sam is trapped on the wrong side of the force field.  Sam urges him to leave but Jack has no intention of leaving her to die.

At the entrance to the facility a similar debate is occurring.  Neither Teal’c nor Daniel are willing to leave their friends to a fiery fate, even though they know the clock is ticking inexorably.

Jack frantically uses the butt of a staff weapon to try and smash open the force field’s control box.  Sam looks on helplessly, fearing for his life.

Daniel reminds Teal’c that, when the core goes critical, the entire mountain will be destroyed and fall on their heads.  However, abandoning his friends for any reason is not an option Teal’c is willing to explore.

Jack finally manages to smash the panel open but there is scant time left for either of them.   Their desperation escalates as they hear the echoing footsteps of approaching Serpent guards.  Two guards hove into view behind Sam just as the C4 charges detonate.  The facility quakes from the explosion, throwing Jack, Sam and the guards to the floor.   Miraculously the force field flickers and fails, allowing Jack and Sam to make for the exit.  Sam pauses, intending to retrieve the armbands, but Jack insists they don’t have any time so the Attanique artefacts are left behind.

Teal’c sees the force field go down and is about to re-enter the facility when Jack and Sam emerge.  All four of them head for the gate in a mighty hurry, mindful that remaining in close proximity to the mountain won’t be good for their health.  The two Serpent guards, momentarily dazed by the explosion, are now following, trying to fell their quarry with staff weapon blasts.  Teal’c uses his zat gun to solve the problem of the guards quickly and efficiently.  The gate is in sight but there is less than a minute to go before the core goes critical.  A previously floored Serpent guard scrambles to beat the team to the DHD but Teal’c dishes out another serving of zat gun and the way to the gate is clear.  While Teal’c dials home the mountain explodes into fire, huge chunks of rock and billowing ash.  The shock wave, horribly reminiscent of a pyroclastic flow, bears down on the frantic, fleeing figures of SG-1.

Hammond and Anise arrive in the gate room just in time to see the team being hurled from the wormhole.  Jack scrambles to his feet and hastily reminds Hammond that he was retired until Hammond recalled him to duty.  Thankfully, despite the hard landing, no one is injured.  Jack explains how the armbands fell off and Anise apologises for placing them in inadvertent danger.  Gratified to learn of the mission’s success Hammond wastes no time in alleviating Jack’s anxiety about a court-martial.  Given that Jack and Sam were acting under the influence of alien technology it is unlikely they will be found guilty.  Being a gratefully reassured camper, Jack apologises, as do Sam and Daniel.  Teal’c smugly announces he has no need to apologise since he was the only one actually following orders.  Anise is disappointed about the loss of the armbands but Freya hopes she and Jack can work together in the future.  Since the invitation must also include the supercilious Anise, Jack can hardly wait.  End credits.

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Review: 9/10
Plot:

Realism:

Action:

Angst Level:

Special Effects:

Set and Costumes:

O'Neill factor:

Daniel factor:

Carter factor:

Teal'c factor:

Overall Team factor:

My Thoughts:

Related Episodes:

Daniel Jackson's History/Linguistic/Mythology Lesson:

Sam Carter's Physics Lesson:

Important Stargate Information:

Alien Species/Background:

Important everyday life stuff we learn from Stargate:

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Quotes:
Daniel: The message I got was pretty vague.
Hammond: So was the transmission we got from the Tok'ra.
Daniel: Did they say who was coming?
Hammond: No.
O'Neill: Did they say why?
Carter: No, sir.
O'Neill: Now, see, that's rude. I hate that.
Intercom: Receiving Tok'ra IDC. Opening iris.
O'Neill: In fact, the Tok'ra are starting to annoy me in general.
Carter: Sir?
O'Neill: Don't get me wrong, Carter. Your dad's great -- I love him like a brother, it's just that every time they show it seems like there's all kinds of... (two Tok'ra step through the gate, one of whom is a very beautiful woman)
Daniel: Yep, that looks like trouble to me.

Anise: You may call me Anise.
Daniel: Anise?
Anise: It means "noble strength."
Daniel: Um, I'm Daniel... it means "God is my judge."
O'Neill: I'm Jack. It means... (sighs) What's in the box?

Anise: These armbands were recently discovered among some ancient ruins on a remote planet.
Daniel: I don't recognize the symbols from anything...
Anise: The language belongs to a race called the Atoneiks. Their existence and demise predates the Goa'ulds.
Carter: Atoneiks. I think Jolinar knew about these. They're supposed to give the wearer incredible speed and strength, right?
Anise: Yes. Many thought it was just a myth. Still, the Goa'uld and the Tok'ra have both sought these devices for some time.
Daniel: Obviously not a myth.
Anise: The Tok'ra were very excited when I found them.
Daniel: You found them?
Anise: My area of expertise is ancient cultures.
Daniel: Oh, mine too!
Anise: Yes, I know. We hoped the devices would provide our operatives with a great new physical advantage in the fight against the Goa'uld.
O'Neill: However? (Anise puts the armband on, it pops off)
Daniel: They don't work for you.
Anise: Our top scientific minds have researched the technology at length. To the best of our knowledge, the devices should work. However, something causes them to reject the Tok'ra physiology.
Teal'c: Your symbiote?
Anise: That is a likely assumption.
Teal'c: Then the device will most likely be ineffective on me as well.
Anise: Yes, which is why I brought only three.
Carter: Uh, I still have a protein marker left by Jolinar.
Anise: Hopefully that will have no effect.
Daniel: Incredible speed and strength.
Anise: In fact, according to the inscriptions, they should greatly increase all of your natural abilities.
O'Neill: That's kind of cool.
Anise: In the interests of the Tok'ra-Human alliance, I expected you would cooperate.
Hammond: Couldn't we take some time to learn a little more about these things? Perhaps Major Carter and Dr. Jackson --
Anise: I had hoped to begin human trial experiments immediately.
O'Neill: What's the rush?
Anise: If you are not willing to trust us and participate, I will find human subjects on another planet.
O'Neill: Fine.
Freya: Colonel, please forgive the scientist in Anise. She has worked very hard for this. I assure you every safety precaution will be taken. Anise: What is your answer?

Anise: Ready?
O'Neill: As I'll ever be. (Puts the armband on, it beeps) What's happening?
Anise: The device is working.
O'Neill: I don't feel like leaping any tall buildings.
Anise: It may take time for the device to adjust to your body. We believe it was designed this way to give you a chance to gradually adapt to your new abilities. In the meantime, feel free to move around and interact with your environment as you normally would.

Teal'c (boxing with O'Neill): Do you still feel no effects from the armband, O'Neill?
O'Neill: You know something? I'm starting to think this thing's a crock. (they spar) C'mon, Teal'c, bring it! You're going easy.
Teal'c: I am attempting to make physical contact with you, O'Neill. You are boxing with great proficiency today.
O'Neill: Really? I feel a little stiff. (Teal'c punches at him, O'Neill ducks away so quickly that he's a blur. Both men stop, look at each other with confusion, then O'Neill hits Teal'c in the face so forcefully that Teal'c is knocked out cold) Teal'c?

Fraiser: So you feeling any better?
Teal'c: I will be fine, Dr. Fraiser.
O'Neill (eating a power bar): Teal'c, I'm really sorry.
Teal'c: You are not.
O'Neill: He's right about that.
Anise (hands him a silver ball): Please squeeze this.
O'Neill: What is it?
Anise: It will measure your strength. (he squeeze the ball) Your strength is five times that of a normal human.
O'Neill: So, no increase, then, huh?
Anise: Physiology remains otherwise normal.
O'Neill: Well, I feel good. (Tosses candy wrapper into a wastebasket clear across the room) Three.
Fraiser: And you seem to have developed a bit of a sweet tooth.
Anise: Your metabolism is increasing to match the energy your body now requires.
Fraiser (points to Anise's clipboard thingy): You were going to show me how to read this thing.
Anise: I will. First it is time to increase the number of subjects in the experiment.

O'Neill: Hey.
Daniel: Hey.
O'Neill: Notice anything yet?
Daniel: You're eating a lot.
O'Neill: Hmm. Give it time. (picks up one of Daniel's books and starts turning the pages so quickly that they're a blur)
Daniel: Did you just read that?
O'Neill: I guess. Don't suppose there's another book around that explains this book?
Daniel: What, um, what reason did Hobbes give for the fall of the civilization?
O'Neill: Failing agricultural infrastructure.
Daniel: Jack, that's unbelievable.
O'Neill: Hey, it's his theory. (Daniel tries to read just as fast, but has no success) Want me to read to you?

Fraiser (examining Carter's eyes): Well, it looks normal to me.
Carter: I could see in the dark as well as if the light was on.
Fraiser: You're running a slight temperature.
Carter: Anise is monitoring our vitals.
Fraiser: Yes, I know.
Carter: You don't trust her biosensors?
Fraiser: No, I'm sure her technology is very advanced and very accurate.
Carter: So you don't trust her.

Daniel: I mean, it's, it's the most unbelievable, incredible thing I've ever experienced! I mean, I've cross-referenced the symbols on the armband against every written language on Earth in an hour.
Anise: What did you find?
Daniel: Well, nothing, but see, the point is... I can read really fast.
Anise: Here are my notes on the Atoneiks. I thought you might be interested.
Daniel: You write in a notebook?
Anise: My host, Freya, enjoys the tactile sensation of handwriting. (Daniel flips through the entire book in a few seconds)
Daniel: The inscription says, "With great power comes great responsibility."
Anise: "And the ability to affect great consequences."

Anise:  They are in no danger.
Fraiser: I disagree. Their symptoms are indicative of the presence of a virus.
Anise: You are correct. My biodata indicates the armbands released a virus into their systems.
Hammond: Doesn't that concern you?
Anise: It must be how the technology accesses the human physiology. It took a different amount of time in each individual because of each subjects unique reaction to the virus.
Fraiser: That's all speculation. Major Carter's bloodwork showed a dangerous amount of adrenaline in her system.
Anise: I object to the interference in my experiment.
Fraiser: I object to being kept in the dark about the condition of people whose health I am responsible for!
Anise: Are you suggesting I would risk their health?
Hammond: Doctor, we're seeing some really interesting results, are you saying that we should discontinue the experiment?
Fraiser: Until we know more about the physical effects of this virus, yes. I say we remove the armbands and we run more tests to make sure these changes aren't permanent or damaging.
Anise: General --
Hammond: No, I'm sorry. If there's one thing I've learned in my time here, it's that there's nothing wrong with a little prudence when dealing with alien devices.

Fraiser: I think the armbands may be having a narcotic-like effect. Wearing them may become addictive -- it's just one of the things that I would like to rule out.
Hammond: Please, take the armbands off.
Carter: But--
Hammond: Are you refusing to comply with a direct order? (O'Neill, Carter, and Daniel all try taking the armbands off, to no effect) 
O'Neill: Uh, little problem here, sir.
Hammond: Colonel?
O'Neill: Having a hard time complying.

Fraiser: We have tried everything short of surgically removing their arms.
Hammond: We'll hold that option in reserve.

Fraiser: What are you working on?
Carter: I'm writing a book on wormhole physics, but this damn computer isn't fast enough. When the buffer's full, I have to wait for it to catch up.
Fraiser: You know, we really could use your help.
Carter: You just don't get it, Janet. I don't want to take it off.
Fraiser: Okay, I realize they're making you feel really good.
Carter: Look! I have written a thousand page book in under two hours! I mean, this is something I've been dying to do, but I haven't had the time. 

Hammond: Absolutely not.
O'Neill: Ah, c'mon, general, why'd we put these things on in the first place?
Hammond: We still aren't sure what the long-term effects will be.
O'Neill: Yeah, but we shouldn't be sitting around wasting this stuff, we ought to be out kicking some Goa'uld butt! I mean, look at this! (he kicks some plaster off the wall) Sorry about that, general.
Hammond: Colonel, I'm concerned that you aren't in full control of your new abilities.
O'Neill: Well, you might be right about that. It's just so damn exciting, sir!
Hammond: I'm sure it is.
O'Neill: And even if we're not in total control, shouldn't we be out there doing the damage instead of in your office?
Hammond: I'm concerned for your well-being, Colonel.
O'Neill: And I appreciate it, and you're the boss, whatever you say goes. I just want you to know that we're here for you, ready to go! Just... just say the word!
Hammond: Thank you.
O'Neill: Seriously, say it, say the word.
Hammond: Dismissed.
O'Neill: We can be ready in three seconds.
Hammond: Colonel--
O'Neill: Two.
Hammond: Colonel!
O'Neill: Hey, we're ready!
Hammond: Jack, please! Just get the hell out of my office!
O'Neill: Yes sir. (He leaves the office and heads towards the stairwell) Hey, Siler. (He pats him on the shoulder and Siler flips over the railing)
Siler: Aaaaauuuuugh!!
O'Neill (looking down, seeing Siler on the steps below, injured): Ah, crap.

O'Neill: It's ridiculous. It was an accident.
Daniel: Siler has a broken arm and a concussion.
O'Neill: He'll pull through. I sent flowers.
Daniel: You have admit, it's a little scary. I mean, I feel like I could do anything.
Carter: Well, all I know is I'm going to starve to death. I mean, I don't know about you guys, but I am having some serious protein cravings.
O'Neill: Steak.
Daniel: I could go for that.
O'Neill: Big, red, juicy, meat.
Carter: O'Malley's, in town!
O'Neill: Let's go.

Waitress: What can I get you?
O'Neill: Um, three of the biggest steaks you've got, rare, with everything. Baked potato.
Waitress: You got it. (turns to leave)
O'Neill: Excuse me. That was for me.
Daniel: Yeah, I'm going to have three as well.
O'Neill: Four?
Daniel: Four. Four is good.
Carter: Me too, and french fries with mine. Oh, and a diet soda. (O'Neill and Daniel give her funny looks) I like the taste better. (waitress leaves) So has it occurred to anyone that we're defying a direct order?
Daniel: Well, it's not like we haven't defied orders before.
Carter: Well, yeah, but that was to save Earth.
O'Neill: Earth, steaks...there's a difference?
Daniel: We'll be back before anyone knows we're gone.

Man (whom Carter has just beaten at pool): How the hell did you do that?
Carter: Want to go double or nothing?
Man: No, I think I'll cut my losses.
Daniel: Smart move.
Man: What are you laughing at, you geek?
O'Neill: Geek?
Daniel (turning back around): Excuse me?
O'Neill: Let it go.
Daniel: No, not this time.
Man: Yeah? What are you going to do? (Two very large brawny men step up to both O'Neill and Daniel, while Carter looks on in amusement)
O'Neill: Well, this is a cliché. Okay. (Starts throwing people around very quickly)

Hammond: I thought the devices were supposed to enhance them physically, not make them stupid.

O'Neill: General, I can't tell you sorry we are, but, Carter wanted a steak...
Carter: Actually, it was your idea, sir!
O'Neill: My point is, General, the fact that we were defying orders didn't even occur to us until we were actually... defying.
Daniel: It's like the armbands are having an effect on our ability to make rational choices.

Anise: We have just received new information regarding a new class of battleship that Apophis is building.
Hammond (skeptically): Just received.
Anise: Our internal attempt at sabotage has already failed. However, based on our intelligence, a special covert team could--
Hammond: You've known all along.
Anise: Excuse me?
Hammond: This was the point, wasn't it?
Freya: General, I assure you--
Hammond: I assure you, I've been at this a long time, and I know damn well when I'm being manipulated.
Freya: I realize how this must look. However, in the interests of the Tok'ra-Earth alliance--
Hammond: Don't give me that load of bunk! Right now I don't think the Tok'ra have my people's best interest in mind.
Freya: General, if you believe anything, believe this. If Apophis is allowed to complete this battleship, it will assure his dominance over the Goa'uld, your planet, and the rest of this galaxy.

Hammond: So you think we have a problem here?
Teal'c: This new vessel has several advancements over the Goa'uld motherships we have previously engaged in battle. We must stop its completion.
Hammond: I can't send the rest of SG-1 on such a dangerous mission knowing their judgment is impaired.
Teal'c: I will go alone, then.
Hammond: According to the Tok'ra intelligence, the gate on that planet is heavily guarded. I doubt very much even you could make it through.
Teal'c: We must not allow Apophis to complete this vessel.
Hammond: Let's say I agree, Teal'c. Prove to me it isn't a suicide mission.

O'Neill: We'll need snacks.

O'Neill (seeing some Jaffa carrying some metal bricks): It takes two
guys to carry that?
Carter: Weapons-grade Naquada is extremely dense. Sir, do you realize how many Naquada reactors a single bar like that could power?
O'Neill: No.
Carter: A lot!
Daniel: I'll get it. Meet you back here.

Anise: I'm afraid we've solved the mystery of the Atoneik's extinction.
Hammond: How so?
Fraiser: The armbands only work for a limited time, sir.
Anise: Once the immunity spread among the Atoneik warriors, the armbands would be useless. I guess they never solved the problem.
Hammond: Which means SG-1 is likely out there on a planet full of heavily-armed Jaffa with an advantage that could disappear at any time?
Fraiser: Yes, sir.

Jaffa: Halt! Kree!
O'Neill: All right, you got us! Don't...kree. (A zat blast takes out one Jaffa, the second fires his staff weapon, and O'Neill and Carter duck out of the way. A second zat blast downs the Jaffa)
Teal'c: It seems my assistance was required after all.

Carter (regaining consciousness): Sir? (looks at armband, then throws it aside) Colonel!
O'Neill (waking up, realizing that his armband has fallen off): Should have brought more snacks.
Carter: I don't think that would've helped.
O'Neill (checks his watch): One fifty-six. (tests the force field separating him and Carter)
Carter: Sir, you've got to get out of here.
O'Neill: So do you.

Teal'c: I am not leaving, Daniel Jackson.
Daniel: Well, I'm not suggesting we should. There is no way in there to help them.
Teal'c: No.
Daniel: Ten minutes after that C-4 goes, this whole mountain is going to explode.
Teal'c: I aware of that.
Daniel: So the fact that we're staying is based on a completely informed decision.
Teal'c: It is.
Daniel: Yeah, just making sure.

O'Neill: Just remember, I retired! You wanted me back.
Hammond: Colonel, are you all ok?
Daniel: Think so.
Carter: Will be.
Teal'c: I am very well, General Hammond.
Hammond: What happened?
O'Neill: The damn armbands fell off is what happened!
Anise: I am sorry.
Hammond: Were you successful in destroying the ship?
Teal'c: Indeed we were, General Hammond.
Hammond: Good. Report to the infirmary.
O'Neill: General, sir? About the obviously impending court-martials, I'd like--
Hammond: You were all under the influence of an alien technology, Colonel. That's a pretty solid defense.
O'Neill: Even, so, I'm sorry.
Carter: Me too.
Daniel: Me three.
Teal'c (smugly): I have no need to apologize.
Hammond: Teal'c was actually following orders.
O'Neill: Course he was.
Anise: You left the armbands behind?
Carter: We had other things on our mind.
Anise: Understandable. Colonel?
Freya: Anise and I both hope we can work together again in the future.
O'Neill: Both of you? Can't wait for that.

The Other Side

Crossroads