Adrift

Chapter 3 – Your Sins Will Find You Out

SG-1 and Dr. Fraiser exited the gate and immediately stepped onto the planet finding sunshine and clear skies. The temperature was warm but not unpleasantly hot. A large forest surrounded the gate and a well-worn path led off into the trees.

"Carter. You said that the people from Vis Uban came here and were integrated into another tribe?"

"Yes, Sir. The Bokan's agreed to take them in. They felt they needed help raising crops and some new blood wouldn't hurt their gene pool."

"Too much inbreeding, Carter?"

"Not really, Sir. but, given time…"

"Ah yes, So, we should expect wedding bells in the future?"

"That's a good guess, Sir."

"Teal'c, take point. Sam then Dr. Fraiser and then Daniel. I'll follow."

The five of them headed towards the trees when they noticed a large group of men headed their way.

"Jack?"

"Yes, Daniel?"

"I think you should be the one to approach them."

"Why?"

Daniel turned and looked back at Jack. "I'm not sure. Something here just feels wrong."

"Okay, then." Jack went forward to greet the men and stopped about 20 feet from the leader.

"We're SG-1. Come to visit our friends whom we located here from Vis Uban. And you are?"

"I am Magli." He pointed to those around him and said, "We are the guardians of the Chaapa'ai."

"Well, I'm pleased to meet you. We're here to visit Shamda. Is he around?"

"Yes, he is in the village. We can take you to him."

"That would be great! Please lead on." Jack watched as Magli sent one of the men ahead.

He turned to his team and said, "Campers? To Oz."

o

From a distance, Jack could see that some of the people scattered about were wearing the traditional blue clothing of the natives of Vis Uban. As they drew closer, he noticed that a lot of men were about but very few women. He kept quiet and looked over at Daniel, noting that his friend looked troubled.

Magli led them to a large stone building and they entered into the cool shade of the interior. There were about twenty men seated around a large circular room and a man rang a large gong at SG-1's approach.

Magli stepped to the front of the group and announced, "Members of the Council of Elders. I bring you visitors." He stepped aside as a man who appeared to be the leader stood and smiled.

"We are honored to have you as our guests. Please sit. I am called Eelo" The circle widened to admit SG-1 to join them.

Sam looked around the room and felt a distinct feeling of disapproval. To her left, she saw Shamda seated about half-way around the room. She gently elbowed Daniel who was seated on her right and whispered, "Look."

"I see him," Daniel said and then turned his eyes towards the leader.

"Why have you honored us with a visit?" Eelo asked.

"We came to say 'hello,' to you and our friends from Vis Uban whom we helped relocate here."

"Of course! We will prepare a feast in your honor. I believe you know Shamda." He indicated the white haired man to his right.

Jack looked at Shamda and said, "It's wonderful to see you again. I look forward to sharing stories with you."

Shamda nodded and smiled but Jack could see that there was something amiss. He didn't say anything, though.

Eelo said, "The Council meeting has ended for the day. You are free to visit your friends.

"Thank you, Eelo." Jack nodded to the leader and then turned around towards his friends as the council members stood and made their way towards the exits.

Shamda quickly made his way through the crowd and looked at SG-1 and Dr. Fraiser. "I am glad to see you but we need to meet in private. There's something we need to discuss. Quickly, and please do not speak."

They followed the elderly gentleman out of the building and down a stone covered street to a large home made of wood and sandstone. Shamda led them to an interior room and shut the door after they were all gathered inside.

"Okay, Shamda, what's wrong."

Shamda turned towards Daniel. "Arrom, it is good to see you again but your life is in danger."

"Whoa, Shamda. Care to explain?" Jack said.

Daniel had gone pale and sat down on a bench. "It's about her, isn't it?"

"You have guessed correctly, Arrom. A lot has transpired since you left."

"Okay, let's start at the beginning." Jack didn't like what he was hearing and of course, it would involve Daniel.

"After you left Vis Uban, it became apparent after some time, that one of our women was with child without the benefit of marriage. At first, she would not tell us who the father was. I held a meeting with all the men in the village and determined that it was not one of them. This is a shameful thing amongst our people, Arrom. After much persuasion, she admitted that you are the father of the child."

Daniel closed his eyes and dropped his head to his chest. "So, it's true." He looked up at Shamda and said, "I need to explain."

Daniel told Shamda what happened and the old man sat quietly through the whole thing. When Daniel was finished speaking, the room was quiet.

"Why did you wait so long to return?"

"I was still having trouble with my memory. I only realized what happened yesterday so we came here right away." Daniel looked down and said, "And now it's too late."

"Wait," Jack said. "We would like to know if the woman is all right."

"She is fine at the moment. But, as soon as the child is delivered, she will be stoned to death."

Daniel jumped up and said, "NO! You can't. I'm just as much to blame."

"Daniel, stop." Jack held up a finger and Sam approached Daniel.

"Be careful. You don't know what their laws are here."

"I don't care. This is wrong!" Daniel was visibly shaken by the news. Oh, he figured it was a good possibility that he had gotten the woman pregnant, but that shouldn't mean a death sentence for her.

"Shamda," Jack said. "Can you tell me her name?"

"You do not know?" Shamda was surprised and turned towards Daniel. "How can this be?"

Daniel sat down and leaned forward with his head in his hands.

"I never saw her. She wouldn't tell me her name and it was very dark."

"So, she is a shameless whore!" Shamda stood up and turned away.

"No! No." Daniel said, "We both wanted to be together."

The old man turned back and said, "So, you seduced her?"

"Daniel, don't." Jack stepped forward and turned Shamda gently towards him. "Her name, please?"

"She is called Melayna."

"What happened to her?" Daniel asked.

"She was brought before the council and condemned."

Daniel paled and sat back down suddenly. Sam sat next to him and said, "So, she's dead?"

"No. Let me explain." Shamda sat down across from Daniel and asked the others to sit. "On Vis Uban, when an unmarried woman is found to be with child, she is shunned and must live separately until one month after the child's birth. Then she would appeal to the council and request to return. The council would agree and all would be forgiven."

"So?" Jack said. "I take it that the people here don't do that?"

"You are correct, Colonel O'Neill. On this planet, the punishment is more severe. She is kept apart from everyone until the birth of the child. Then the child is taken away and the woman is stoned to death. The child is given to another couple in a neighboring town so that it can be raised without shame."

"And so that there's no reminder of the crime," Teal'c said.

"Yes. It is very strict but it also works as a detriment to others."

"Can I see her?" Daniel looked like he was about to collapse from the news. Janet immediately went to his side, concerned for his well-being.

"No. In fact, it's very dangerous for you to be here, Arrom. If the council here finds out that you are the father of her child, you will also be put to death. You must leave."

"I'm not turning my back on her again!" Daniel went to the doorway. "Take me to her."

Jack turned and said to Daniel, "Did you hear what Shamda just said?"

"Yes. And did you hear what I just said?"

Sam stood between the two men and said, "Guys! Stop shouting. The whole neighborhood is going to know what's going on." She turned towards Shamda and said, "Do you know if there's a way to bring her here?"

"It's impossible. She's been lowered into a small cave through a hole in the ground. There's no way for her to climb out and no other exit. You won't get anywhere near her without somebody seeing you."

"My god! That's barbaric!" Daniel was almost sick hearing that bit of news.

Janet said, "Would they let me in to see her? I'm a medical doctor. I could at least talk to her and see if she's doing okay."

Shamda thought about it for a moment and said, "I would have to approach the Council. If they give permission, then yes."

Jack said to Janet, "Okay, so you get in to see her. Then what?"

"I don't know, Colonel. I'm making this up as I go along." Janet reached for Daniel's hand an felt it shaking and quite cold. He was staring at the floor and didn't seem to be hearing the conversation. "Daniel?"

He was too quiet and she thought she might know why. He was feeling guilt. He'd lost Sha're and Sarah and now he felt responsible for Melayna and their child.

Jack said, "Is it possible we might be able to work something out with the council? Maybe we could convince them to release her into our custody."

Sam looked at Shamda and said, "Isn't it worth a try?"

Shamda looked at the group and said, "If I go to the council, they will want to know why you wish to take her with you. What would I tell them?"

Jack thought about it for a moment and said, "Does she have any family? Anyone she came to Vis Uban with?"

"Only her husband and he died before Arrom came there."

"Sir, maybe we can tell them that we found her relatives and they will take her off their hands."

"That might work," Shamda said. "They have recessed for the day and will meet again tomorrow morning."

"Okay, I'll go talk with them and I'll take Doc Fraiser with me. We'll see if she can get in to see Melayna and I'll ask about taking her with us."

"Sir, shouldn't we all go?"

"No. If we all go, someone might recognize Daniel, if they haven't already. If you and Teal'c go with us, others will remember that there were five of us and wonder what happened to our fifth. If you three stay here, It can be explained that as the leader, I felt it my responsibility to approach the council and the rest of the team wasn't needed."

"That is wise thinking, O'Neill," Teal'c said.

"I don't know about wise. It's more like years of experience getting our butts out of trouble."

Shamda looked at O'Neill and said, "The doctor can not go."

Jack looked a bit upset and said, "Why?"

"Women here are not allowed in the Council meetings. They made an exception for you the first time since you are visitors and do not know our ways. But, from now on, neither of your women may attend."

"First, they're not "my women," Jack said. "They make decisions for themselves. Second, Dr. Fraiser isn't just a woman, she's our doctor."

"It makes no difference. They will not allow her to attend. Guards at the door will prevent her from entering."

"Don't they make exceptions?"

"Only in the case of the law of justice. The woman accused is represented by a man and now allowed to speak. Once the proceedings are finished, she is taken away and justice is meted out. She has no say in the matter."

"Did anyone speak for Melayna?" Daniel asked.

"I did, but the men were not moved to leniency. Once she admitted that Daniel was the father, they sentenced her."

"How long ago was that?" Jack said.

"Four full moons ago. That was when it was apparent that she was with child. She was questioned at that time and sentenced."

"Jack, she's been down there all that time in that cave. We have to rescue her."

"We will, Daniel. We will."