Chapter 7

Daniel and Teal'c had followed the tracks to a cave. As they observed, stretched out among the tall grasses, they spotted a relatively small Mantis—perhaps Teal'c's height-emerge and walk to a storage crate.

While it was bent over rummaging through the box , Daniel and Teal'c sneaked up behind it. Teal'c put his P90 to the alien's triangular head and said, "Do not move."

The Mantis' large eyes darted between Teal'c and Daniel. It dropped what looked like a bandage roll and began clicking and hissing madly.

"Do you understand, Daniel Jackson?" asked Teal'c.

"It would help if it would slow down a little." Daniel tried making a "calm down" gesture and it slowed a bit, but was still clearly agitated.

"From what I can tell—based on what I learned from my notes from P4X-221 and Corvara—I think it's calling us invaders," Daniel said to Teal'c.

He turned to the Mantis. "No. We have no hostile intent. We didn't know you were here. Chick nee va."

It seemed to calm down, lowering its head slightly, in what Daniel interpreted as a submissive—or at least an "I'm harmless"- gesture.

"You appear to be making progress, Daniel Jackson. Ask about our friends," Teal'c said.

Daniel tried a few more phrases.

"Chick teer shoo vee! Chick jee!" it said, pointing toward the cave.

Daniel turned to Teal'c. "I think it's saying something about someone being hurt and needing help."

"Chick jee! Help us," he said to the Mantis.

It took on a greenish tinge and nodded. "Chick jee teer shoo!"

"It's going to help," Daniel said.

"Can it be trusted?"

"What choice do we have?"

SGX SGX SGX SGX SGX SGX

Teal'c and Daniel entered the cell followed by a short armed Mantis. Julia and Monty were suspended in net cages and Sam was bound and slumped against the wall, eyes closed.

"Sam!" Daniel said in a stage whisper and ran to her side.

At the same time Monty dropped from his net and rushed the Mantis.

"Stop! It is a friend," ordered Teal'c. Monty stopped short and he noticed the Mantis was standing with its head bowed. Odd. He took the zat Teal'c handed him.

Sam struggled to stand, her "bonds" falling to the ground. Ah, she was faking, Daniel thought.

"I guess you guys didn't need a rescue after all," Daniel joked, though he frowned at her bloody leg. He decided her makeshift bandage looked fine for the moment, but knew her leg should be looked at once they made their escape.

"I'll take it," Sam said, taking the hand he offered and pulling herself the rest of the way to her feet. "Come on, we still need to get Julia out."

Daniel handed her his beretta and pulled his zat.

"How did you manage it?" he asked.

"Julia," Monty said and held up the pocket knife.

Teal'c looked up from cutting through Julia's net. "Well done, Dr. Wells."

The work of cutting through the last net went much faster with a combat knife than the pen knife and in no time Julia dropped carefully to the floor.

Before they could get out of the room, the tall Mantis appeared in the doorway.

"Chick nee va!" their new Mantis friend called to Daniel.

"Don't shoot!" said Daniel.

"Shorty" stood in front of "Stretch," as Monty was beginning to identify them. He couldn't have hit Stretch without taking out Shorty. Monty had worked with Dr. Jackson long enough to trust his instincts. Still, he looked to Colonel Carter for confirmation. She held up her hand and nodded.

An orange color began to come up on Stretch body. "Oh, oh-he's getting mad," Monty said. Teal'c trained his weapon on the Mantis.

Shorty also began to flare up orange but then quickly reverted to brown as he talked.

Daniel attempted to translate. "He's telling the tall one we don't want to fight."

Shorty pointed at Sam and said "Teer shoo nee va—chick vee jee teer shoo!"

"I think he likes you Sam. He's saying something about the brave one and hurting is bad," Daniel said. "That bandage he had when we found him must have been for you."

She raised her eyebrows and eyed the Mantis. "He's the one that stopped the other from clocking me after it slashed me," she told the group. "Daniel, tell him thanks and that we can negotiate," Sam said.

"Right. Negotiate, negotiate…" Daniel took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, thinking. "Nee va, nee shree," he said and began to gesture.

After some more gesturing and exchanges among Shorty, Stretch and Daniel, Stretch nodded and gestured toward the cave entrance.

"We can go," Daniel said.

"Let's get out while the getting's good," said Sam.

The seven of them walked out of the cave.

Stretch nodded again and gestured for them to leave. Sam and Daniel nodded back. The team turned to go.

"Chick chick shreee!"

A blur of orange rushed Sam.