Martouf leads a Tok'ra delegation with crushing news for Carter: her father Jacob/Selmak has been captured by Sokar and imprisoned on Netu, an Egyptian name for hell, on a moon of planet Delmal, where prisoners are sent to suffer eternal torture, and from where no one returns; only Jolinar has ever escaped. SG-1 mounts a rescue operation with Martouf, top-priority being any information Selmak can offer about Sokar's plan to subjugate the other system lords, an unprecedented threat for all humanoids in the galaxy. Teal'c must pilot a Goa'uld ship and keep it in orbit as landing is impossible except by small pod, but first Martouf taps into Jolinar's memory, which is partially blocked by some trauma beyond physical torture. Only when they're down and in the custody of Netu's lord Bynarr, does Sam realize he is the key, in a 'personal' way, but not voluntarily, as she had thought. Sokar learns of their presence from Bynarr and orders the team and craft destroyed, but this also means there must be a way out. Bynarr's prime, Na'onak, has, and is himself, a major surprise.