Stargate SG-1: Bane

“Listen, you’re a sitting duck down here.”

• Release Date: 25th September 1998
• Season 2
• Episode 10
• Director: David Warry-Smith
• Writers: Robert C. Cooper

SG-1 are on a planet which seemingly had an advanced society on it – there are buildings everywhere and they seem to be in good condition, but there’s no people. No sign of a war, it’s as though they just vanished. Suddenly, a ginormous fly lands on Teal’c. As Jack is about to shoot it, it flies off and stings Teal’c, who is hurt badly. Daniel sports an entire swam heading towards them, so they have to rush back through the stargate, getting the iris closed behind them to prevent the bugs from following.

Dr Fraiser tries to treat Teal’c, but his symbiont doesn’t seem to be healing him. A sample taken from his blood also contains DNA that isn’t Teal’c’s. Carter suggests they contact Dr. Harlow, someone she worked with at the Pentagon who has already been cleared for the Stargate Program and specialises in DNA. However, by the time he gets there, the DNA in the blood is just the alien DNA – it’s transforming Teal’c into a bug. Teal’c asks Jack to kill him once there is no hope left.

Maybourne turns up with orders to transfer Teal’c to the NID, which Hammond begrudgingly has to allow. Jack, Sam and Daniel are obviously appalled, especially with Teal’c being chained up to be transported, and heavily suspect that they want Teal’c to transform so they can study what he is turning into. The chains don’t seem to be enough, though, as Teal’c manages to escape the transport van, removes his Gou’ald and runs into the woods.

Teal’c uses a radio to speak to Jack, asking to call off the search but Jack asks him to come back so a cure can be found. He ditches the radio and heads off, outside of SGC’s jurisdiction. Harlow does come up with a plan to save Teal’c, but it requires a sample of the bug’s venom, so SG-1 heads back to the planet and manages to lure one back through the stargate, injuring it so it can be frozen. They also discover that one person turns into multiple bugs.

As this happens, Teal’c ends up in a run down part of Colorado Springs, getting accosted by a group of teens. He heads to an abandoned building for shelter, and a young girl, Ally, follows him. She shares her snacks with him then gets some more, with Teal’c looking much worse when she gets back. She leads him to a hiding place, and is just in time as Mayborne arrives. He can’t find Teal’c and Ally is unhelpful – she doesn’t like Mayborne.

Realising he’s about to turn, Teal’c asks Ally to contact Jack (who also happens to accidentally suggest a method to keep his Gou’ald larvae alive), they get to him and cure him just in time. What’s more, Harlow “accidentally” destroys the creature they captured so the NID can’t study it. Teal’c pays Ally a visit and gives her a new super soaker and they play for a bit – it’s a shame she’s never brought back again, would be interesting to have her look for Teal’c later down the line. This episode also gives us even more reasons to hate Mayborne.