Downtime-6
Vala looked around and knew it was time to find out what the Scallosions had decided. Whatever their decision was, Vala knew she was not leaving the planet without the space craft. She stood up and glanced out the window just as Driello and the other council member exited the structure where they'd met and tired to get a read on them.
"Vala, you did everything you could," Carter told her.
"But was it enough?"
"We'll soon find out," Jackson said when a knock sounded on the outer door. Teal'c moved to open it, while Vala moved to sit in Qetesh's special chair.
"Qetesh, thank you for seeing us," Driello said, standing before the woman as the other council members took up positions around her.
"Did you come to a decision?" Mal Doran asked.
"Yes, we have. You have shone us mercy during your last few visits and we know you could take the craft if you so desired…"
"Yes, I could," Vala assured her.
"We have decided to let you use our craft, but we must insist…"
"What do you insist?" Mal Doran asked, standing and placing her hands on her hips as she stared at the group. She wore her most intimidating look and smiled inwardly when each member took a step back.
"We would insist on one of our pilots accompanying you to protect our interests," Driello told her.
"So you insist, do you?"
"Please, Qetesh, it was the only way I could get the others to agree to letting you borrow our craft."
"Driello, normally I would insist on having you all punished for such insolence, but in this case having one of your people pilot the craft is a good idea," Mal Doran told her and saw the relief was over each Scallosion face. "How long before we can leave?"
"Trakeesh should be returning early tomorrow morning and you can leave as soon as he replenishes the power supply and does a check of the control panel," Driello answered.
"See that Trakeesh knows time is of the utmost importance," Mal Doran ordered and watched the group leave. "That went well."
"Yes, it did," Carter said, and moved to the window, watching as the Scallosion council returned to their building. "I just don't trust Soriade."
"I agree, Sam, the man did seem angry and probably voted against giving Qetesh the space craft," Jackson said.
"He does seem to be the one we should watch," Teal'c offered.
"I don't think I trust any of them," Mal Doran said. She thought bout Cameron Mitchell and wondered what was happening to him. Deep down she knew the Regalions had done something to him, something horrific and that was the reason he hadn't been allowed to contact Stargate Command. She knew Cam was alive, but she also sensed he was in pain and struggling to hold on to something. 'I'm here, Cam, just keep fighting and we'll get you back,' she thought and knew the next few hours would drag by.
SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1
Antropodes knew he could not hold the human's off forever and when General Landry insisted on speaking with Cameron Mitchell he knew there was no putting it off any longer. He just hoped the Regala had enough of a hold to keep Mitchell from blurting out the truth. He walked into the room and found Lorapadose helping Mitchell sit up on the bed. "Is he still fighting?"
"…the…he…hell you th…think," the colonel spat through tightly clenched teeth.
"The Regala is stronger now, but Mitchell is stubborn…"
"Colonel, how badly does your world need ZPMs?" Antropodes asked.
"…reason I ca…came here…"
"Yes, it was and we have three fully powered ZPMs that could be given to your people. Think of the benefits to your world at having three ZPMs at your disposal. I'm sure it would make gate travel easier," Antropodes told him. "Now if you want these ZPMs we will need your word that you will not speak of the Regala that grows inside you when we allow you to speak with General Landry."
"They g…get the ZPMs?"
"Free and clear," the Regalion told him and saw some of the feistiness leave Mitchell's eyes. "You simply have to convince them that you are all right and that negotiations are proceeding as they should. I will send one of the ZPMs through the gate if you do as I've asked. The others will follow in a day or two depending on how things go."
Cam knew what the ZPMs would mean to his world. The power source was needed to keep the gate to the Pegasus Galaxy open and functioning. Atlantis needed ZPMs to run many of its ordinary day to day operations and to power up the shields and cloaking device for the city itself. Three ZPMs could keep Earth and Atlantis supplied with power for a long time.
"So, Mitchell, do we have a deal?" Antropodes asked.
"You'll send the ZPM through?"
"As soon as you assure General Landry that the talks are going very well," the Regalion answered.
Mitchell sighed heavily, too tired to fight any longer and hoping the pain would stop if he relaxed and let the Regala do what it was doing despite his resolve to fight it. "How do I know you won't go back on your word?"
"We have no use for the ZPMs. The Regala provides us with everything we need. So you see, Mitchell, it is up to you whether or not your world receives the ZPMs or we find someone else in need of them. Perhaps the Ori would be interested in knowing Earth needs new power supplies," Antropodes assured him.
"I'll do it," Mitchell told him and sighed in relief as the pain that had become part of him slowly subsided. He could still feel the creature inside him, moving, feeling its way around his abdomen and upper body. His shoulders sagged, but he remained upright as Lorapadose reached for a plain white robe and draped it over his shoulders before helping his lift his arms and placed them in the sleeves. Mitchell felt as if he had no strength, but as he slid from the bed he felt the Regala take control and his legs held him up.
"You feel it now, don't you, Mitchell? Can you feel its power…its strength…its perfection?" Antropodes asked.
"I don't know what I feel…let's just get this over with," Mitchell said. He walked between the two men, a feeling of detachment washing over him as he felt the Regala imposing its will on him. They walked out of the building and along the tree lined pathway until they reached a plain structure and entered through the doorway. Inside was a simple communication center and Mitchell felt chilled when he realized he was about to give Landry a false report.
"Sit down here, Mitchell and we'll contact Stargate Command," Antropodes told him, motioning to one of two chairs sitting in front of two monitors.
Mitchell sat down, swallowing several times as nausea churned through his gut. He could feel the tiny beads of perspiration on his brow and was again struck by how oppressive the heat had become. He used the sleeve of the soft robe to wipe the sweat from his forehead and wondered why the others didn't complain or didn't seem to find it extremely hot when he felt like he was burning from the inside out.
"All right, Colonel, the ZPM is ready to be sent through the Stargate and you can watch it on that monitor," Antropodes explained.
"Can you do something about the heat? It's damn hot in here," Mitchell said.
"It's not hot in here, Mitchell…perhaps you're feeling the heat of the Regala. They need the warmth to keep them active," Lorapadose answered.
"I don't like the heat and it's dangerous if our body has a high temperature," the colonel said.
"Have no fears, the Regala will not let anything happen to you while you are its host," the Regalion physician assured him.
"It's time, Mitchell, make sure you keep things simple," Antropodes warned as the monitor came to life and Hank Landry's worried face became clear.
"Colonel, are you all right?" Landry asked.
"Yes, Sir, I'm fine. I know I missed my ten hour check in time, but the Regalions were adamant that we strike up some sort of deal before we contacted you. I apologize for not sticking to protocol, but as I said there really was no choice," Mitchell said.
"Understood, Colonel," Landry said. "How are the talks proceeding?"
"They are going very well, Sir, better than I hoped…"
"I see you were able to negotiate some clothing for yourself," Landry said.
"Yes, Sir, I also managed to get them to agree to send a ZPM as a show of good fate. It is ready to be sent through the Stargate now," Mitchell explained.
"That is good news. Will you be returning with it?"
"No, Sir, not yet. There are two more ZPMs and the Regalions are willing to let us have them, but I need to convince them we need them more than the ORI," the colonel told him, watching the second monitor as the ZPM was sent through the Iris.
"We have the ZPM, Colonel, and although we could use the other two I think you need to return to Earth."
"I'm afraid that's not possible right now, General Landry. You see our Stargate is malfunctioning at the moment…"
"Worked fine just now, Antropodes," Landry spat.
"Yes, it did, but that was a mechanical object. Colonel Mitchell is flesh and bone and that's where the problem lies. It seems the last few times we've sent people through they've simply disappeared. I'm sure you understand why we would rather not take a chance on that happening to Colonel Mitchell."
"No, we wouldn't. How long before you get it fixed?"
"Unknown, but we have people working on it. I'm afraid we must go now, General, but we will be in contact again."
"Colonel, don't forget the regular check in time," Landry ordered.
"I won't sir," Mitchell agreed as the monitors went blank.
"Well done, Mitchell, now why don't we take you back to your chambers?" Antropodes suggested.
Cam renewed his efforts to fight the Regala, but in the short time since he'd relaxed his mind and body, the creature had invaded his mind, probing deeper until the layers were open to it. He screamed as fire burned through his skull and nightmarish images flashed through his mind.
"Why do you do this to yourself, Mitchell?" Antropodes said and motioned for several others to help carry the semi-conscious man back to his room.
"I still think we made a mistake," Lorapadose said, but he knew the others simply ignored his comments. Somehow he knew he had to find a way to help Mitchell, but right now he was at a loss as to how he could accomplish that.
SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1
Hank Landry turned to the others who'd been watching his talk with Cameron Mitchell. His steady gaze came to rest on his daughter. "What do you think, Carolyn? Is Mitchell okay?"
"He appeared fine, but there was defiantly something out of sink with him. Did you notice he seemed to be sweating?"
"I did," Landry told her.
"None of the others seem to be affected by the heat. Now I don't know much about Regalion physiology, but if Colonel Mitchell found it hot enough to sweat profusely then they should also have shown signs of it," Carolyn told him.
"General."
"Yes, Walter?"
"Mitchell also mentioned protocol for check in times."
"I know…ten hours is not what we agreed on when he took this mission. Has there been any news from Carter?" Landry asked.
"Nothing yet…hang on, Sir, this could be them now?" Walter told him and pressed several buttons until Carter's voice came through.
"General, we've received permission to use the Scallosion's space craft and should be on our way in approximately eight hours. Have you heard anything from Colonel Mitchell?"
"We heard from him a few minutes ago, Colonel, and it's imperative that you get there ASAP. The Regalions sent us a ZPM supposedly as a show of good faith, but there's something else going on there."
"Yes, Sir, we'll put a little fire under the Scallosions and hopefully shave a couple of hours off launch time," Carter told him.
"Stay in contact," Landry ordered, wishing there was something more he could do, but for now all he could do was wait and hope whatever was happing with Mitchell it would not have lasting effects.
TBC