Jennifer woke up with a pounding headache, part caused from the blow she had received and part due to heat. As she tried to cope with the waves of pain attacking her nerves she was also aware of a noise, which sounded distant but constant. The more time that passed the more Jennifer was able to ignore the pounding, but the more the other noise became more distinct. Finally she realised that the noise was Lars. Suddenly remembering exactly what had happened she opened her eyes and saw a very pale Lars looking at her.
"Take it easy." He said as she tried to sit up.
"I'm not the one who was shot." She mumbled as she batted away his hands. When she finally managed to sit up she noticed that his leg was wrapped in a bandage.
"We treated it like you showed us." One of the locals said, forcing Jennifer to realise that the majority of the village were assembled, where ever they were. "But he has lost a lot of blood." The local continued as Jennifer tried to focus on where they were and what exactly had happened. She did not have time to think for long though as a Bola Kai, dragging a villager, entered the room, which Jennifer was still trying to place. The Bola Kai threw the man to the floor and dragged another from the room, the door swinging shut behind him. Trying to ignore the dizziness Jennifer half crawled, half stumbled towards the injured villager, who already had his daughter, Jovana, by his side. As Jennifer tried to treat him he fought off her attention gripping her arm in one hand and his daughter's in another.
"You must remain hidden. They are looking for you. I'm sorry, Kino said you were here." He gasped before passing out. Trying to ignore his words Jennifer quickly assessed his injuries, looking for any obvious breaks. Content there were none she instructed some of the crowd to move him away from the door next to Lars. As she reached the young marine she was worried that he was not conscious. Feeling for a pulse she became even more concerned to discover it was so weak and that he had a fever. Unwrapping his bandage she saw for the first time the extent of the damage caused by arrow and cursed herself for not tending to him earlier. Scanning the room she realised they were in the tavern and quickly asked Jovana to fetch her some alcohol to cleanse the wound.
When she was finished retreating the wound Depali nervously approached. "Will he be ok?" The girl asked.
"I hope so." Jennifer replied trying to smile and hide her own fears.
The next time a Bola Kai entered the room, he was not dragging the villager he had previously removed. Instead he carried a flaming torch that he swung round carefully looking at the room, seemingly searching for something or someone. As he approached each pocket of villagers they retreated further into the corners and the shadows, silently begging not to be the next. The Bola Kai occasionally bent down and pulled villagers to their feet ripping off outer layers such as blankets before roughly throwing them back down. It did not take Jennifer long to realise that all of the villagers who received this treatment were women. Jennifer watched in fear as the Bola Kai moved round the room, knowing it was only a matter of time before he made it to her. Looking down at Lars she knew both of them would be given away by their clothes. Knowing that Lars was not in a fit state for an interrogation she began to edge herself away from Lars and towards the Bola Kai.
When the Bola Kai finally spotted her she was far enough away from Lars that he remained hidden from the tattooed man and, she hoped, safe. When she was roughly hauled to her feet a wave of dizziness passed through her making it impossible for her to stand without support. It also made it difficult to concentrate which spared her from seeing the sickly smile spread across the Bola Kai's face when he realised that she was who he was after. He then roughly dragged her outside.
Jennifer was expecting to meet her fate quickly, but instead she was half dragged, half pulled, away from the village up a dusty hill, further away from the gate.
"You." The Bola Kai leader said as Jennifer was flung to the ground in front of him. Another Bola Kai grabbed her from behind and forced her to look at the leader. "Do you remember me?"
Jennifer silently nodded, terrified by what could happen.
"Last time we met you claimed to be Athosian, you accused me of being a Wraith worshiper and you killed several of my clan. I am tempted to quarter you right now and feast off your innards." He roared. "However, you are clearly not Athosian and you may be of use. So tell me who you are." Jennifer looked at him wanting to show defiance, but knew her trembling body was advertising her fear.
"Are there others of you here? Where is your companion?" He asked bending down so his face was invading Jennifer's personal space. The smell causing Jennifer to nearly wretch.
"Tell me." He shouted so ferociously Jennifer whimpered, causing the Bola Kai to laugh. "Tell me and your death will be painless."
Jennifer, although not brave enough to look him in the eye did remain silent. Loosing his temper the Bola Kai unleashed a fierce blow, knocking Jennifer over.
"Tell me." He demanded again as the other Bola Kai pulled her back up. Again Jennifer remained silent, resulting in another blow. This time her world darkened again.
The next time Jennifer awoke she found herself inside a cage, similar to the one she and Teyla had been confined in on New Athos. As with that occasion her hands were bound and attached to the the roof of the structure. Unlike before, instead of being in a temperate, wooded area, now she was sitting under the full glare of the baking hot sun. The combination of fear and heat meant her mouth was dry and her throat burned. She did not have time to worry about dehydration though as the nearby Bola Kai spotted that she was awake. Three of them approached the cage sneering. Jennifer wanted to curl into a corner, but even if she'd been able to move there was nowhere to go. Instead she sat transfixed, like a rabbit caught in headlights, watching the men approach. When they reached the cage they did not untie her instead the y kicked the cage and amused themselves with watching her fear grow.
She was eventually saved from being used as a plaything by another Bola Kai ordering the others away. This one released her hands from the top of the cage before dragging her out of the cage towards the leaders tent. Once again roughly shoving her onto the floor.
"Are you ready to talk?" He asked drinking water from a jug. Jennifer watched as water spilled out from the top of the jug and run down his face and his front. She was sure he was doing this deliberately to demonstrate his power and the fact he controlled the water. So Jennifer tried not to think about the cool, refreshing water being wasted. The clear liquid that would soothe her burning throat and relieve her parched lips. But it was not an easy task and she was failing at it.
"Thirsty?" He asked laughing. Jennifer remained silent.
"Where are you from?" He questioned again. When he was met again by silence instead of unleashing another blow he signalled one of his men. A minute later another Bola Kai entered the tent and handed the leader an object. At first Jennifer could not make out what is was, but then, as the leader came closer she realised it was a handgun. He ran the scolding hot barrel over her cheek saying. "You have weapons. Are you here you protect them?" Again Jennifer did not answer. "Powerful weapons are needed by weak warriors." He proclaimed, resulting in jeers from the other Bola Kai in the tent. Jennifer was not given the chance to respond as another prisoner was dragged into the tent. Although he was severely beaten and his face was badly swollen Jennifer was sure it had been the man dragged from the tavern earlier. The Bola Kai shifted his focus to the man.
"Who is she?"
"I told you, she is a healer from another world." The man said trembling.
"If she is a healer why is she carrying weapons?"
"They all do."
"Where is she from?"
Jennifer looked at the man, eyes wide, and shook her head.
"I can't." The man whimpered.
"You fear her people more than me?" The Bola Kai asked, taking time to mull what that means. Eventually he looked at one of his men and ordered. "Bring all the children here, now."
"No." The man cried. "She is-" He began, only for Jennifer to cut him off.
"I'm from a trading planet. We found an underground city which had some weapons."
"Which city?" The Bola Kai asked. "There are no cities, the Wraith ensure that. I will not believe the lies you tell me this time." He added as he unleashed another blow, knocking her out.
When Jennifer next came to she was back in the cage under the scorching sun. Her throat now unbearably sore and her lips were cracked. At least, she thought, she was not being exerted physically and loosing even more water. She sat scared in the cage looking round for possible escape routes, although she knew deep down she did not have the skills to escape. Suddenly a Bola Kai walked up to the cage. Instead of kicking it he knelt down and stared at Jennifer. Eventually he pointed to another warrior who was dragging a woman towards a tent.
"Because of you." He said. "They are punished for your silence." He added before walking off.
Jennifer sat shocked, hating herself for not thinking of the consequences of her silence. Hating herself for knowing she couldn't speak. She was drawn out of her self loathing by once again being dragged from the tent and brought before the leader of the Bola Kai.
"How many can go in the flying carts?"
"Flying carts?" Jennifer asked too surprised to stay silent.
"Last time your people came through the portal in a flying cart. How many can they hold?"
Jennifer again remained silence, but for the first time she felt hope growing. Maybe a rescue was coming.
"What else do you have in the city of the ancients?" He asked, his temper far beyond irate. As soon as he mentioned the ancients Jennifer's blood ran cold. She silently questioned how he could know that.
"What?" He practically screamed. Jennifer flinched but stayed quiet, resulting in another blow.
When she woke up she was not sitting in a cage, instead she was lying face down. Her arms stretched out in front of her. Looking up she realised that she was tied to the back of a horse type creature. Fearing she was about to be dragged she quickly sprung up, much to the amusement of the Bola Kai.
She looked around trying to figure out what was happening. What she saw, despite the unbearable heat, chilled her. The Bola Kai were about to leave, with her.