Absolute Power (Stargate SG-1)

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Stargate SG-1 episode
“Absolute Power”
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 17
Guest star(s)	Lane Gates as Shifu Erick Avari as Kasuf Colin Cunningham as Major Paul Davis Peter Williams IV as Apophis Steven Williams as Lt. General Vidrine Gary Jones as Walter Harriman William deVry as Aldwin Michelle Harrison as Assistant Yee Jee Tso as Left Tech Jenn Forgie as Right Tech Barbara Fixx as Rear Tech Coleen Christie as Reporter June B. Wilde as Maid
Writer(s)	Robert C. Cooper
Director	Peter DeLuise
Production no.	417
Original airdate	January 19, 2001
Episode chronology
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"2010"	"The Light"
Episode chronology

"Absolute Power" is an episode of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Quotes 3 Trivia 4 External links

[edit] Plot

SG-1 arrives on Abydos after Kasuf has asked for their help in investigating a strange incident; a wind blew out of an active Stargate with a mysterious voice calling Sha're's name. Kasuf leads them to the place where the voice was heard. Major Carter's instruments report a buildup of static electricity as Daniel hears a voice call his name. A wind swirls into a tornado. Doctor Jackson identifies himself and the vortex dissipates, leaving a young boy who says he is Shifu, the Harcesis. Being a harcesis, Shifu has the genetic memory of all previous Goa'uld that came before his parents, Apophis and Amonet. He says that Oma Desala, on Kheb, taught him how to suppress this knowledge. The boy is unnaturally old considering he was last seen as a newborn only a year ago (see “Maternal Instinct”). SG-1 takes Shifu to SGC where Dr. Fraiser discovers traces of nanites (the same as those from the episode “Brief Candle”) in his system, which explain his accelerated growth, but they are inactive. Since the treaty between the Tau'ri and the Tok'ra states that they must share all potential sources of information related to the Goa'uld, the Tok'ra are told of Shifu. The Tok’ra communicate plans to use a memory recall device in order to access his memories. In the meantime, Dr. Jackson talks to Shifu about Sha're and how she passed a message to him through the ribbon device (see “Forever in a Day”). Jackson quickly inquires about his Goa'uld memories. Shifu, quoting Oma, says the evil in his mind is too strong to resist so, “The only way to win is to deny it battle.” Daniel, knowing the importance of the knowledge, asks him to remember. Shifu simply touches Daniel, who collapses.

Jackson awakens with the Goa'uld knowledge in his head and begins to spout plans for a “satellite,” capable of detecting Goa'uld vessels thousands of light years away as well as easily destroying them, the perfect basis for an anti-Goa'uld defense system. Even Carter is unable to completely understand the device. Jackson demands the Tok'ra not be involved as any spy in their ranks would alert the Goa'uld before the project could come to fruition. In addition, only a network of these satellites orbiting Earth will create an effective shield. Thankfully, Shifu, having imparted this useful knowledge, does not have to remember anything. Jackson also begins to have strange flashes of himself as an evil Goa’uld with a matching persona.

Later, in a full briefing with Major Davis from the Pentagon, Daniel explains that the entire SGC must focus its resources into raw naqahdah retrieval. Jackson insists that the Russians be kept in the dark, even though this violates a treaty, and the project be completed in only a year, effectively doubling the cost to $160 billion, according to Davis. Labor will be strategically divided to maintain security. Daniel then supplies Major Davis with a list of personal requirements. Colonel O'Neill goes to talk to Jackson after the meeting. O'Neill has been put in charge of the retrieval operations, it was either that or retire again. Jackson has sent Teal'c off-world somewhere on a mission he refuses to discuss.

One year later, Jackson wakes in a large house, apparently his, with Shifu also living there. Carter, no longer with the project, forces her way in to confront Jackson, claiming to know his “plan.” She accusingly claims the “strategic division of labor” was an effort to keep anyone from catching on to the big picture: world take-over. Jackson has her jailed, brushing off her statements as “insanity.” O'Neill visits Carter where they talk about Jackson, and an incident involving Teal'c that Daniel allegedly caused. O'Neill decides to speak with Jackson, who has been watching Carter and O'Neill. He arrives at Jackson's compound the day of the launch. Inviting O’Neill to watch the launch, they ring to an underground control room from a concealed set of transportation rings. O’Neill jokes about Carter’s rantings about Jackson. The launch goes perfectly, dispersing 288 “AG-3” (anti-Goa’uld) satellites into orbit. With a Goa’uld defense in place, the President plans to reveal the Stargate’s existence to the public. However, the launch brings about an international crisis with the Russians and Chinese, who put their forces on high alert over these new “weather satellites.” As the Russians prepare to destroy an AG-3, Jackson advises the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs (General Vidrine, promoted from Lt. General in "Tangent") to make a demonstration by taking out a Russian satellite with the AG-3 system, which only succeeds in infuriating the Russians into launching more anti-satellite weapons. In a bold move, Daniel commandeers the AG-3 system, targeting and obliterating Moscow, but not before O'Neill tries to stop the madman by pulling a gun and shooting at Daniel. However, the bullets are harmlessly stopped by a Goa'uld personal force shield around Daniel.

Daniel awakes in the infirmary at the SGC, and the dreary scenario turns out to be naught but a dream. Fraiser says she has no idea what is wrong with him. The rest of SG-1, Hammond, and the Tok'ra, Aldwin, are discussing what to do with Shifu. Aldwin suggests using a zatarc detector to test Shifu’s claims about being a harcesis, as the device doubles as a polygraph. Through Aldwin’s questions, it is determined that he is harcesis. Shifu explains through the dream, he was teaching Daniel. He thanks an awakened Jackson, turns into a glowing energy entity, characteristic of ascended beings, activates and disappears through the Stargate.

[edit] Quotes

• Shifu: If the instrument is broken, the music will be sour.
  Daniel: The music does not play the musician.
  Shifu: Normally there is truth in that.
  Daniel: Really? Good. Cause I really didn't have any idea what I was talking about.

[edit] Trivia

• A scene was deleted where Jack discovered that Teal'c was still alive. Daniel was harvesting him for blood transfusions so he could use Goa'uld technology.[1] This shows that Jaffa have naquadah in their blood, and could concievably use Goa'uld devices like the hand-device and healing device. However, since this scene was never broadcast, its canoncity is in question.

[edit] External links

• Official Stargate SG-1 site. MGM. Visited June 8, 2006. Most of site requires Flash.
• Screenplay (PDF). Distributed by MGM. Prepared by Casablanca Continuity (2000-10-30). Retrieved on 2006-10-15. Linked to from Official Stargate SG-1 site. Also see Google's cache.
• Summary from GateWorld. Visited May 3, 2006.