Maternal Instinct

"Maternal Instinct" is the twentieth episode of the third season of Stargate SG-1.

Plot
Stargate Command is visited by Bra'tac, who barely survives an attack on Chulak, which claims the life of Moac. He tells them that Apophis is still alive and is now commanding the dead Sokar's forces, making him in fact the most powerful Goa'uld. He was the one who attacked Chulak in his search for the Harcesis child, which Sha're hid on Kheb, a legendary planet on which, according to Earth legends, Osiris hid from Seth. With Bra'tac's help (who has also heard of the planet in Jaffa legends) they locate the planet, something SGC was unable to do in the last months. So SG-1, SG-2 and Bra'tac travel to the planet to get the child, since it hosts the whole knowledge of all Goa'uld and could be the undoing of all the Goa'uld.

While SG-2 guards the Stargate, the others discover that eight Jaffa (Teal'c counts six sets of tracks, but is corrected by Bra'tac) have passed through recently. Two went scouting and brought back a woman and headed into the forest. In their search of the forest, they find the Jaffa bodies, sizzled to a crisp although it appears as nothing has touched them. Bra'tac finds the woman who was possibly carrying the Harcesis child since her hands aren't bound. She tried to run and the Jaffa shot her in the back. Then someone or something took out the Jaffa.

The team then finds a -like temple. After removing their weapons (since the place is sacred ground), Col. O'Neill, Daniel and Bra'tac go inside and are surprised by a Zen monk. When they start asking about the child, the monk replies in riddles. Daniel receives training from the monk about his hidden powers of telekinesis and pyrokinesis. He also learns of Oma Desala, which Daniel translates as "Mother Nature" and who is the basis of the monk's religion. Carter is convinced that there was some hidden technology but Daniel interrupts that she always wanted to go to another level.

Meanwhile the others become more and more impatient since they know that Apophis will send another strike force to the planet. However Daniel convinces them to stay and continues his training so that he can protect the child. Nevertheless the fears of the others become true when they discover that a Goa'uld assault force is on the planet. So SG-1 sets up a defense at the temple while Daniel sees an ethereal being which leads him to the Harcesis. When he is about to leave with the child, he realizes that he doesn't have any powers. It was the being herself, trying to communicate and Daniel realizes that Oma only wanted him to realize that the child would be safe with her. He lets the being take the child, although he knows that the boy would give them a great strategic advantage against the Goa'uld.

Meanwhile, SG-1 and the Jaffa are at a standoff, both sides unwilling to bow to the other. The monk, saying they are not welcome, is shot and killed by the Jaffa. Suddenly, Daniel arrives and tells SG-1 to drop their weapons, because using them would anger Oma Desala, the ascended being who is guarding the temple. SG-1 surrenders, but before the Jaffa can execute them, a bolt of lightning shoots from the clouds above and kills off all the Jaffa. The monk’s body meanwhile vanishes in a bright light (he also ascended). Then, Oma appears in her Ascended form and carries the Harcesis through the Stargate to destinations unknown.

Notable Quotes
O'Neill: Remind me to harm Daniel severely.

O'Neill: Son of a bitch! Somebody ought to teach that guy how to die!(referring to Apophis)

Bra'tac: We still have false gods to slay.