Chapter 4 - More Questions than Answers
Mop up on P2X-808 was quick, especially for Jack. Teal'c and Daniel's remaining involvement was largely socialization, not Jack's department. Truth was these Jaffa had not yet organized themselves enough for real negotiations to occur. Carter, Dr. Frasier and the medical team took copious samples and obtained some of leftover cure from the healer. After three days they were ready to head back to the lab for analyses.
Back at the SGC, Carter and Dr. Frasier had plenty to keep them busy. Daniel hovered over them anxious to see the results. Teal'c didn't quite hover but checked in frequently at the lab; he was holding out high personal hope for the future of the cure. Jack was bored and restless. He was forced to catch up on interminable paperwork as relief.
After a week the scientists presented their findings. There was good news and no news.
Carter reported: "The cure retained by the healer appears to operate in a way similar to what scientists hope to find from stem cell research currently going on here. It is not Tretonin-based. The cure does not, as I would have expected, derive solely from Jaffa genetic material. It does partly consist of Jaffa stem cells along with specific DNA instructions for the Jaffa immune system. But we have no clear idea what the rest of the substance is, not even whether it is animal or plant based.
The dosage of the cure required to complete the process is miniscule. Our sample alone would cure at least ten Jaffa and still leave plenty for research. The cure is applied through patches that look like tiny pieces of scotch tape placed inside the prim'tah pouch.
I think we're seeing some very clever bioengineering and gene splicing in this cure – way beyond that which is being performed on Earth. Sir, with permission, this is outside my expertise. I think we need to hand this to the bio-engineers as soon as possible. Given time, they might be able to replicate or synthesize it.
As to the toxin, there is no real news as to what killed the larva and the mature Goa'uld. The carcasses were entirely desiccated. There are traces of various elements that might have been part of whatever did this, but nothing we could put together to replicate. Moreover, the blood work on the cured Jaffa and the dead host show no traces of a toxin. The only possible clue we have is a substance we found on the dead host's clothing. It resembles the external casing of something we've seen before, Machello's bugs. But whatever was inside didn't work the same."
"What do we know about how the – let's call it a 'bug' pending discovery otherwise – was spread?" queried General Hammond.
"Not much, sir. Lacking live samples, we can only guess. If it's like Machello's bugs, then they have to be released from some sort of container. They could spread from person to person contact, and could survive for some time on inanimate surfaces before dying. There is some suspicion that the stranger's walking staff was a source. The elders had touched it and became ill. But the two guards had also handled it and did not experience symptoms until substantially later. The one difference might be the guards wore gloves. Once released from the staff, maybe it spreads through skin contact only. Bottom line, we've got nothing but suppositions as to how the bug works and no real clue what it is."
"Thank you Major. So as I understand it, we have a cure for some Jaffa. Right now we don't think we can't replicate it, but we might be able to given time. Alternatively, it might be more efficient to seek out the source. Can I assume from your comments that we have enough of the material to regrow Teal and Master Bra'tac's immune systems should they choose to take that risk?" General Hammond asked with optimism.
"Yes sir. And I believe the risk is minimal as compared to dependence on Tretonin. This regrows the immune system; Tretonin does not. We have no reason to think that the cure won't be permanent."
"Sam, do we have any reason to believe the cure is specific to the bug?" Daniel asked.
"No, Daniel. In fact, I doubt it. If a Jaffa simply removed the prim'tah and killed it, I believe the cure would work as well. We would need a volunteer to confirm this, but it would be a helluva find if it did work."
"So, if it does work, even if we never find the 'bugs' that were used, the Jaffa can still be healed and refuse or reject prim'tahs?" Daniel queried.
"If we can replicate the cure. That's still a big if, and it may take years," Sam cautioned.
Daniel's mouth opened moments before words came out, his thoughts obviously still coalescing. "Wait a minute, Sam. What you're saying is the killer and the cure might be separate. This woman walks into town, unleashes a toxin, and then offers life or death depending upon rejection of the Goa'uld as god. She could give them the same choice without the toxin. Is that choice or blackmail?"
Jack was annoyed. "This is war Daniel. These people are enslaved. They're being used as hatcheries for evil incarnate. If they can't see the Goa'uld for what they are, are we supposed to let the bad guys win?"
"Jack, I'm just raising the moral question here. I'm not answering it."
"With due respect, Daniel Jackson, I must agree with Colonel O'Neill. Although I yearned to leave the service of Apophis for a long time, it was not until I believed I had found powerful enough allies in the Tauri before I dared choose to do so. To end this cycle of enslavement, she may need to use coercion to show the Jaffa proof that freedom is possible, and that the Goa'uld is not a god. To expect this woman, a non-Jaffa, to attempt to administer this cure on a strictly volunteer basis is beyond plausibility. Her actions are reasonable. In the end, you must remember it was the Goa'uld themselves who genetically modified the Jaffa to carry their young.
You also fail to consider what would happen to those Jaffa who choose the cure and freedom if those who do not are permitted to live. Their loyalty to the Goa'uld would surely bring slavery and death to the Jaffa again. Under these circumstances, it is not objectionable to coerce the choice of good over evil."
"Maybe Teal'c. I'm just wondering if there might be another way."
Jack got up. "Enough Daniel. Right now, we don't have one sure way to accomplish what this one woman has. General, why don't we aim straight for the source. The eggheads can do their thing while we do ours."
"Agreed, Colonel. Based on what we know, this woman may be a powerful ally. She already opened the door with her comments about the Tauri to the people of P2X-808. We'll start a dialing program on the addresses the Jaffa gave the stranger. Let's hope the trail isn't too cold already."
