Since I seem incapable of doing just one story at a time I've started another one - although I will finish my other story! This is a short chapter but I hope you enjoy.
They'd watched in despair as the lies had piled up, one after the other, to condemn and convict the General. They'd known that there were those forces in government that would do anything they could to destroy the SGC but none of them had expected this.
Treason! Anyone who knew O'Neill knew that it was impossible. There was no more honorable or decent man anywhere – and no one who loved his country or his world more. Still – money and power and dark forces had come together to manufacture evidence, to pay witnesses and to subvert the course of justice.
People had stepped forward to try and help him – Hammond, Barrett, Paul Davies, the men and women of the SGC – but in the end it hadn't mattered. There were too many forces against them – too much corruption and evil – and he'd been convicted.
Sam had been unable to hold back and had stood and shouted at the judge and the lawyers – told them what she thought of them. She'd been forcibly evicted from the court room but had been surprised they hadn't arrested her. Daniel and Teal'c had remained, although she had thought, at one point, that Teal'c was going to stand up and do something deadly. She kind of wished he had.
They all knew what was coming next. Davies had told them – with difficulty – that the prosecution was pushing for the death penalty. They claimed that O'Neill had endangered the entire planet and had been responsible for many deaths. In fact he had saved thousands. It was the men behind the trial who had been the cause of so many dying.
"What are we going to do Daniel?" she cried, as Daniel and Teal'c left the court room. They both looked shocked – too numb now to feel anger or pain. "We can't let them do this. It's wrong. We have to stop them."
"I don't know what we can do Sam", Daniel said wearily. "We've tried everything we can think of and it hasn't mattered. They're keeping him too securely for us to try and rescue him. The President won't intervene -"
"That bastard! I thought he was a decent man, but all he's interested in is power." Sam practically spit the words out.
"And there's no one else", Daniel continued, rubbing his hand through his hair. He was so exhausted he could barely think. None of them had had much sleep since this whole thing had started. He just wished he knew what -"
"You are wrong", Teal'c answered softly.
"Wrong? About what Teal'c?" Daniel asked, confused.
"When you say there is no one else. There is, in fact, someone."
"Who?" Sam asked, a spark of hope entering in her eyes.
"The Asgaard", he replied softly.
"The – but we contacted them Teal'c, and they said there was nothing they could do – that they couldn't interfere in Earth's politics." Sam sounded disillusioned. After all they'd done for the Asgaard …
"Their ruling council would do nothing", Teal'c answered. "That does not mean that there is no hope."
"Thor", breathed Samantha. "Do you mean -?"
Teal'c nodded gravely. "He was waiting for the results of the trial. He has been contacted."
Jack sat alone in his cell – no longer feeling anything but a desire to get this finished. He'd known from day one that this whole thing had been a farce. Someone wanted him out of the way. The verdict had been a foregone conclusion, as was the sentence. He knew he was going to die and that there was nothing anyone could do. His main regret was what this would do to his team – his former team. He worried that they'd try something and end up in trouble too. He didn't want that for them. He wanted them to try and get on with their lives and not let this destroy them.
He sighed and tried to stretch, although the manacles around his wrists, leading down to the ones on his ankles, made it difficult. They considered him a danger – and wouldn't let him go anywhere without the damn things. He was also pretty sure it was done out of vindictiveness. Whoever was behind this whole thing obviously hated him. Well – the person or person's had had their revenge and should be feeling pretty happy.
One of the guards – Patrenko – walked by and sneered and threw an obscene comment at him. He was a bastard and had done everything he could to humiliate him and make his life miserable. This time Jack simply ignored him. It no longer mattered.
"So – you're gonna fry O'Neill", Patrenko called to him. "Not such a big hero now eh? I bet you thought your little team would save you – or maybe one of your alien buddies. Seems like they don't care that you're gonna be executed. Probably all glad to get rid of you!"
A light suddenly appeared in Jack's cell and, standing in front of him, was a short, gray alien. For the first time in months Jack smiled. "Thor", he said happily. "Nice to see you."
"It is nice to see you too O'Neill", his little friend said. "My apologies for taking so long."
"Hey – that's okay. I'm sure you've been busy."
Without answering Thor turned to the guard, who was standing looking at him in shock. "We are not glad to be rid of O'Neill", he told him. "In fact, we would be very upset to lose such an honorable man. On the other hand, you will, I'm sure, be glad to be rid of him." With that there was another burst of light and both Thor and O'Neill disappeared.
It was only then the Patrenko began to shout.
Sam, Daniel and Teal'c saw the sudden commotion around the building. A siren had gone off and there were men running everywhere, most headed in the direction of the court house.
"What's going on?" Sam asked suddenly.
"I don't know", Daniel answered, "but I think we might want to find out."
Just then Major Benjamin Farraday – the prosecutor who had gone after O'Neill so relentlessly, appeared. He looked around wildly and when he spotted the members of sg-1 he ran over to them. "What did you do?" he screamed.
"Uh – we didn't do anything Farraday", Daniel answered. "Why? What's going on?"
"You know damn well what's going on. Where did you take him? Where is he?"
"Where's who?" Sam asked, a puzzled frown on her face and a heart that was beating wildly – with hope.
"O'Neill! What did you do with him?"
"We didn't do anything", Daniel repeated. "We just came out of that farce of a court room and we've been standing here. Don't tell me you've lost Jack?" His eyes narrowed as he looked at this man in front of him – this evil, evil man.
"You know we have", he hissed. "But we'll find him and bring him back. You won't get away with this."
Just then a soldier ran out of the building and, spotting Farraday, ran up to him. "Sir, Patrenko says it was an alien – a small, gray alien. It sounds like it may have been one of the Asgaard Sir."
Grins broke out on the faces of the three friends – and Daniel clenched his fist and gave a small victory 'pump'. "Yes!" he murmured.
"Thor?" mouthed Sam, looking between Daniel and Teal'c.
"Indeed Colonel Carter. He has come as he said he would. O'Neill is safe."
O'Neill may have, in fact, been safe, but he was also in shock. He'd been through hell over the last few months and had been certain he was going to be executed. Now, at the last moment, he'd been saved. He was grateful – really he was – but he was also depressed and not sure he really wanted to keep on living.
It had been a terrible thing to be accused of treason – to have men and women you'd known and trusted turn their backs on you. His family – although no longer terribly close – had had to hear about him in the news. They couldn't know that it was all lies, all fabrications. All they had known was that O'Neill was now a name full of shame.
Oh – his team and friends from the SGC had stood by him – he'd been grateful for that. But he'd known there was little they could do – and that this would blight the program and probably end it.
And of course there was his future – or lack of one. He had nowhere to go. He couldn't return to Earth – he was a criminal, a pariah. So, his life would now be lived out on some distant, alien world, away from friends and from all that was important to him.
No – as grateful as he was – he also felt lost and alone – and wasn't sure if he was happy to have been rescued.
Thor had removed the manacles and he continued to rub his wrists – at least he was grateful to get the damn things off. He looked around the little spaceship and closed his eyes briefly. Thor had given him some time alone to deal with his shaky emotions - he'd almost lost it after the sudden rescue. Now thought he should go and speak with Thor and find out what the alien had planned for him.
"O'Neill – you are well?" Thor asked when he walked in.
"Fine Thor. Uh – thanks again for this."
"It was no problem. I could not see a miscarriage of justice occur like this. I am surprised that your government allowed it to continue."
"Yeah – well I think it actually was my government that arranged this whole thing."
"Really?" Thor sounded shocked. "I must tell the council that. They will not wish to have contact with such as these.
"No – although didn't they refuse to help?" Jack suddenly looked puzzled – why was Thor here?
"Indeed they did, however many of us felt this was wrong. I am here not on behalf of my government but as a private citizen of Othalla. There are many of us who support you O'Neill and who will not tolerate it if our government continues to deal with yours."
That made Jack feel a bit better, although for the most part he didn't care anymore. He knew it was partly because of what he'd been through and his depression but he didn't care about much of anything anymore.
"So – where are we going?" he finally asked. "I assume it's not to Othalla?"
"I am afraid not. I am taking you to Eirenia", he informed his human friend.
"Iron – what?"
"Eirenia. It is the name of the planet. The people there are a kind and gentle people and will welcome you. A handful of years ago they suffered a great plague and many died. They have need of strong men and leaders and you will be of great help to them. I am sorry you cannot remain on Earth – I know it is your home – but I believe you will find peace and some happiness on Eirenia."
Jack nodded – knowing it was about the best solution, although again, he really didn't care one way or another. "My team?" he asked suddenly. "Do they know where I'm going?"
"I am afraid not O'Neill. I spoke with Teal'c and we agreed it was best that they did not know, in case some from your planet wanted to locate you and harm you. I am the only one who knows where you will be taken. I am sorry for this too. I know you will miss them as will they you, but for their sakes -"
Jack nodded again. "You did the right thing Thor – thank you. If you – if you see them or talk to them tell them – tell them thank you and that I'll miss them. Tell them it was an honor to serve with them."
"I will O'Neill", the little alien nodded. "I will make sure they know."