~#~ (Chapter 9)
Colonel Mitchell stepped back through the event horizon and walked slowly down the ramp towards Hank Landry. The General had greeted SG-2 on their return and had sent the solemn team to the infirmary for their post-mission checkups.
He gave Cam a sympathetic smile as the Colonel explained that there was no sign of either Sam or Daniel. Landry was already aware but let the young Colonel finish his report before suggesting that Mitchell follow SG-2 down to the infirmary.
~#~
When he exited the elevator on the infirmary level the first impression he received was one of noise and chaos.
SG-2 were being held in the corridor outside the infirmary by three burly SF's and the sound of deep bellowing voices could be heard reverberating through the hallway. A group of tearful nurses were gathered around a doorway a little further down the corridor.
Cam pushed his way towards the doors and found Major Griff arguing with one of the SFs.
"What in God's name is going on?" Mitchell questioned the older man.
"Can't you tell?" Griff asked incredulously, "Just listen to 'em go"
Cam frowned, "I assume this is something to do with the Jaffa that we brought back from P8J-187, Major?"
"You're not wrong there, Mitchell. And these damn Special Forces won't let us in to help." Griff said, gesturing towards the guards with a nod of his head.
"What happened to get Teal'c so riled?" Mitchell asked. "I ain't never heard him that upset before."
"Me neither," agreed Griff. "Don't think I'd want to get on the wrong side of him, that's for sure."
Both men looked at the SFs, waiting for an explanation.
Looking at the soldiers nametag, Mitchell asked, "Well, Chapman? You gonna tell us what's goin' on or we gonna have to bust our way in there and find out?"
"Sir…well…the ba$tard deserves it," Chapman began. "Broke free of his restraints and grabbed Dr. Lam by the throat. Sounds like he'd have broken her neck if Teal'c hadn't been there. Seems that your nameless Jaffa is now sporting a newly broken arm that'll have to heal the traditional way seeing how he doesn't have a Goa'uld in his belly now."
"Carolyn OK?" Cam asked worriedly.
"As far as I know, Sir. Seems she'll be bruised for the next week or so but no serious damage. She's in the room down the hall there." The soldier pointed down the corridor to where the nurses where clustered. "Teal'c sent her and the others out and ordered that no-one go back in there until he'd had a word with his 'friend'."
Mitchell exhaled angrily, "Damn him, the doc shouldn't have to put up crp like that. She only ever tries to help people. Let me in there, I need to find out exactly what's going on."
"I can't do that, Sir," came the reply.
"God damn it, be reasonable man." Cam's voice was getting louder with each word. "Teal'c's on my team - hell, he's all I've got of my team at the moment. That bastrd in there maybe the only chance we've got of finding the whereabouts of Colonel Carter and Doctor Jackson. I need in there…NOW"
Cam was shouting in the face of the SF by this point. Griff backed away slightly with a grimace on his face, feeling glad he wasn't on the receiving end of Mitchell's tirade.
Griff looked behind him and found Captain Pierce. "Call Landry," he ordered quietly. "Go, now, and tell him he's needed down here ASAP."
Pierce nodded and scuttled down the corridor to use the phone by the elevators. Very soon he returned and nodded to Griff that the General was on his way.
~#~
Mitchell had completely failed in his attempt to intimidate the SF into letting him into the infirmary. The other SFs had simply moved behind Chapman and created an immoveable wall of flesh.
Cam turned and punched the wall on the far side of the corridor. He winced as his knuckles impacted with the paintwork but found the pain to be comfortingly distracting. He reached back to begin another swing at the wall but was stopped by a sudden barked order from the newly arrived General Landry.
"That's quite enough, Colonel Mitchell. The infirmary staff have enough going on at the moment without you breaking all the bones in your hand. Now will someone tell me what is going on down here."
There was a loud crash from inside the infirmary and loud cursing could be heard.
"…or should that be what's going on in there?" Landry added. "…and where's Carolyn?"
"I'm here," came the reply from further down the corridor. All faces turned towards Dr. Lam who was walking towards them with an icepack firmly around her neck.
Landry looked at his daughter, concern clearly evident on his face.
"I'm alright," she said, coughing slightly. "This is just to stop any swelling and reduce the bruising as much as possible. I'm alright, really I am - just a little sore."
Hank gave the doctor's arm a comforting squeeze, the most comfort he could openly offer in the middle of the military establishment.
"Why did no-one call me sooner?" he asked.
"Sorry, Sir. It all happened so fast. We hadn't had a chance to call when SG-2 arrived. They were very vocal about not being allowed inside and then Colonel Mitchell arrived…" Chapman came to a halt and looked apologetically at Cam.
"And from that I can only assume that Colonel Mitchell was…more than vocal?" Landry asked.
"Sir, he didn't do anything," Griff started to object on Mitchell's behalf.
"Major Griff, it's OK. As long as it didn't come to blows - apart from the wall - then I'm prepared to let it go…this time." Hank said, looking sternly at the furious Colonel Mitchell.
"Thank you, Sir." Cam said, looking slightly relieved. "Can I point out that it's gone very quiet in there." He nodded his head towards the infirmary door as just the same moment that Teal'c wrenched it open.
The large man took in the scene in the corridor, "ColonelMitchell, GeneralLandry, if you would both step inside. I believe I have come to an 'understanding' with our guest."
Cam looked at Landry and motioned for the General to precede him through the open doorway. The General turned to the crowd in the corridor.
"SG-2, go and get showered and cleaned up. Your post-mission check-up will have to wait until later. Carolyn, you and your team please go along to the commissary and remain there until you're sent for. You, you and you…" he pointed to the SFs in turn. "Wait out here and continue to keep everyone out."
~#~
The General moved forwards and Cam fell in behind as they stepped into what used to be Carolyn Lam's pristine infirmary.
Landry stopped after a couple of paces and Cam gasped as he moved past the stationary General. The once tidy room was in total disarray. The beds had been pushed out of place and medical equipment was strewn around the floor.
Cam looked at Teal'c in amazement. "I take it he didn't take to kindly to being held here then?" he asked.
"He did not," Teal'c agreed. "However after we had a brief 'discussion' he came around to agree with the ways of the Free Jaffa."
"That's very good to hear, Teal'c. But where is our 'guest' now?" Landry said, looking round the devastation and seeing only their own Jaffa warrior.
"He is sequestered within Isolation Room 2." Teal'c replied.
"Why?" Cam asked, sceptically. "I thought you said he was on our side now?"
"Indeed, he does appear to be," intoned Teal'c. "However I informed him that DoctorLam was the daughter of the commander of this facility and offered to secure him inside for his own protection. The room is empty and there is nothing in there that he could harm himself with, should he wish to do so."
"Great idea, T. I don't suppose you've had time to ask him about Sam and Jackson?" Cam asked with a hopeful expression on his face.
"No, I have not. He became violent as soon as he awoke and it took a great deal of time to get him to this stage. I believe he would be willing to speak to you, GeneralLandry, as you are commander of the base. However if we could prove to him that his false God has indeed been defeated then he may be more forthcoming with information."
"I'll get someone on that right away, Sir." Cam told his superior officer and darted back out of the infirmary doors to set someone on the task.
When he returned minutes later he confirmed that he had set a couple of people on the task of finding out what they could about Ma'at and Ptah. He figured that if they could prove that both Goa'ulds were in fact dead then the reason for the initial battle of the following day would be null and void. If this was the case then he could see no reason for the Jaffa not to tell them everything he knew.
~#~
Teal'c knocked on the door of Isolation Room 2. He informed the occupant that he was coming in with General Landry and Colonel Mitchell and suggested that the Jaffa stand by the back wall of the room.
He then opened the door and marched in, followed by the two Tau'ri.
The young Jaffa was pacing the back wall with his right arm clasped tightly to his chest, the bandage around his stomach was stained with blood and looked in need of replacement. He looked over at Teal'c and curled up his lip when he saw the two humans. "Rhe'u, Tau'ri," he spat out.
"Don't worry, we weren't intending to come any closer." Mitchell replied sarcastically.
Landry raised an eyebrow at the young Colonel. "Didn't realise you spoke Goa'uld, Mitchell."
"Enough to get by, Sir." Cam shrugged, "Comes in kinda handy when Jackson's not about."
Teal'c strode purposefully towards the other Jaffa who seemed to shrink in size as he was approached.
"Mid'cha, Jaffa," Teal'c shouted at the cowering man. "While you are within this facility you will speak only the language of the Tau'ri. I should not have the need to remind you of this already."
The Jaffa recoiled at Teal'c's harsh words and only pulled himself up straight once Teal'c moved away from him.
"Whoa, O-kay. I think you're kinda scaring him there, T." Cam spluttered. "General would you like to talk to our 'friend' here or would you like me to do the honours?"
"I judge that you would get a better response GeneralLandry." Teal'c opined. "Although ColonelMitchell would ask pertinent questions I believe that his emotions are running high at the moment and his interrogation would not be entirely constructive."
"I concur. Colonel Mitchell, you can stay but I'll do the talking." Landry agreed. He turned to the Jaffa, "You, what is your name?"
The Jaffa looked from Teal'c to Landry and back at Teal'c. Teal'c raised an eyebrow and gave him a firm look that suggested he would take no nonsense.
The Jaffa took a deep breath and straightened himself to full height. "I am Rel'tor of Jov'uk. Husband to Ton'yak and father to Rho'dar."
"Rel'tor, I'm General Hank Landry and I'm in charge of this facility. I'd like us all to move to another room where we can speak to you in detail. We also need our infirmary back up and running. Are you going to behave yourself or do I need to have you restrained while we move through the base?"
"I will cooperate with you, I have no wish to be restrained further." Rel'tor said in a defeated tone. "You have removed my prim'ta and I believe the shol'va to have broken the bones in my arm. I am now kek and unable to withstand further punishment from your warriors. I will fight no longer."
Landry looked at the way Rel'tor was holding his arm - the Jaffa was obviously in a great deal of pain although he was bearing it well. "So we'll get one of the medics to take a look at your arm first, before we go along to the briefing room. If you attempt to hurt any more of my people then I will have you restrained and sedated. When you come round you will be in the brig and that is where you will remain until you cooperate. Do you understand?"
Rel'tor dropped his eyes to the floor. "I understand. I have already told you I will fight you no longer. I feel great remorse that I struck out at your healing woman earlier today. I was immediately aware that my prim'ta was missing and that I had been removed from the battlefield where I had earlier been struck down."
"Yeah, well luckily Dr. Lam's injuries were only superficial - thanks to Teal'c here." Cam told him.
Teal'c bowed his head to Mitchell in acknowledgement of the praise, before turning his attention back to the other Jaffa.
~#~
Landry spoke to Cam and instructed him to phone the commissary and recall the medical staff. The young Colonel quickly walked into Carolyn's office and used her phone.
The General then directed the two Jaffa into the main room of the infirmary and had Rel'tor sit on one of the beds to wait for the medics. Landry left Rel'tor under Teal'c's watchful eye and went to his office to write a brief account of the encounter in the infirmary while it was fresh in his mind.
Teal'c automatically started pushing the beds back to where they belonged and when Cam returned he helped to collect up the fallen equipment that was strewn on the floor.
To the relief of both men, a submissive Rel'tor remained seated on the bed the whole time they were tidying and by the time Carolyn and her medics arrived the two team-mates had got the infirmary looking vaguely presentable.
Dr. Lam looked extremely worried as she approached the Jaffa on the bed.
"Hey, it's OK." Cam said. "You don't have to treat him if you don't want to. Someone else can see to him, if you prefer."
"No, I need to do this. I can't expect my staff to deal with a patient who I won't treat myself." Carolyn replied. "Just give me a moment, please."
"DoctorLam, be assured I will not hurt you. I am ashamed that I was…afraid earlier. I did not know where I was, only that my prim'ta was missing. Without it I assumed that I would shortly die. Teal'c has shown me that it is now possible to live without a larval Goa'uld - that he lost his many years ago and he has explained this drug - Tretonin to me. He assures me that it is being used to free the Jaffa people which is surely a noble deed. If the Goa'uld are truly vanquished then the Jaffa will require this drug to be continue their existence."
Carolyn moved closer to the bed where Rel'tor was sitting and, with a little trepidation, placed her hand on the shoulder of his unbroken arm. The warrior stayed completely still, sensing that the petite doctor was steeling her courage to treat him.
After a few moment Carolyn let out a deep breath and dropped her hand to the bed. "OK," she said, back in business mode. "I want to look at your surgery area first. I need to change that dressing and I want to make sure you haven't caused any more damage during the fracas earlier . I'll take a look at your arm when I'm certain your abdomen isn't going to cause us any further problems."
Rel'tor nodded and, with a little help from Teal'c, lay down on the bed. Carolyn carefully unwrapped the bandage from around his damaged pouch and was pleased to see the area looking not a lot unlike she'd left it. Some of the stitches had pulled a little, hence the blood, but with another dressing applied she felt that they would heal if left alone.
A portable X-ray machine was brought in and Dr. Lam discovered that Teal'c had broken both the Radius and Ulna bones in Rel'tor's right arm. Dr. Lam decided that fixation surgery would be necessary due to the position of the breaks and the fact that Rel'tor had been shaken about a great deal since the bones were broken.
To allow the General and SG-1to speak to Rel'tor, Carolyn wrapped the Jaffa's arm in a cast and bound it to his chest. She then helped him put a scrub top on and trapped the arm inside the clothing. This left the large warrior slightly unstable on his feet but kept him mobile while it was required. She then gave him an injection to make him more comfortable and made arrangements that he be returned to the infirmary as soon as the briefing was completed.
~#~
Once he was free to leave the infirmary Rel'tor was escorted to the briefing room for the meeting with General Landry.
When the three men entered the room they found that the General wasn't alone. Bra'tac stood up and walked over to them.
Clamping his arm to his chest he offered a small bow to Teal'c as he greeted him. "Tek'ma'tae, Teal'c."
"Tek'ma'tek, my old friend. It is good to see you." Teal'c replied, bowing before moving aside to allow his mentor to greet Rel'tor.
"Tak'mal'tiak." Rel'tor bowed deeply to Bra'tac before swaying alarmingly. Teal'c placed a supporting hand under his left arm and lifted him back upright. He then pulled out a chair and deposited the young man gently into it.
Rel'tor sagged gratefully into the chair and sat cradling his cast arm. Bra'tac retook his previous seat so Cam and Teal'c both dragged out chairs for themselves and sat down as well.
Landry looked around the table at the seated men. "OK, let's get things started. Rel'tor, I'd like to start by asking where your allegiances lie."
Rel'tor looked from Landry to Bra'tac and then to Teal'c, unsure of who he needed to address. Teal'c nodded towards the General and Rel'tor answered, "Until today I served the God Ma'at. Now the shol'va tells me that the Gods have been defeated and the Jaffa are free."
"Uh hm," Bra'tac cleared his throat, and looked sternly at Rel'tor.
The young man looked panicked and replayed his last statement in his head. A horrified look passed his face when he realised what he'd said. "I…I…I apologise. Please forgive me," he stuttered. "Everyone knows of the shol'va Teal'c. The first prime who joined the Tau'ri and then set out against not only his own God but many others too."
"Do not worry, Rel'tor." Teal'c assured the younger Jaffa. "I do not take offence to the title of shol'va. Now that the Jaffa are free it is not longer a label to be ashamed of."
Bra'tac looked between the two men with a bemused expression on his face. He then looked over at Mitchell and saw the young Colonel watching the interaction with frustration. He noticed Hank Landry doing the same, caught the General's eye and nodded his head gently.
"Gentlemen please. Can we move on?" the General interrupted. "We're getting away from the purpose of the meeting. We're here to try and establish if Rel'tor has any information on the whereabouts of Colonel Carter and Doctor Jackson. Rel'tor we're hoping you may have seen something that can help us."
"Indeed we are." Bra'tac spoke up. "Rel'tor, were you aware that the Tau'ri were on the planet with you?"
"Master Bra'tac, yes I was. We were ordered to pursue the four Tau'ri of Earth, with the aim of capturing them alive if possible. It would have brought great honour to the System Lord that finally defeated the infamous SG-1."
"Infamous, I kinda like it." Cam said quietly. "Were you in the clearing with us?"
Rel'tor nodded, "I did not see Teal'c there though. When I arrived the Chappa'ai was already active and one of you was standing in front of it firing into the trees. Two other Tau'ri were in the clearing at the time."
"That would have been me in front of the gate with Sam and Jackson in the clearing." Cam told him. "Teal'c went through before us."
"It all happened so quickly, I was hit by staff weapons fire while I was near the tree-line and I fell to the ground." As he told them this Rel'tor's left hand automatically dropped to his abdomen as he remembered the pain.
"Please tell us you were still facing the gate and saw what happened." Cam pleaded.
"Indeed I did." Rel'tor told him. "That is why I do not understand why you do not know the whereabouts of the two humans."
"What do you mean?" asked Cam. "What did you see?"
"I saw one of the Tau'ri take a staff weapons blast and fall to the ground. The one who had been sheltering behind the controller of the Chappa'ai ran out to help."
'Now we're getting somewhere.' Cam muttered under his breath. "Yep, Sam took the blast and fell down, Jackson ran over and picked her up. I know that much, what I don't know is what happened after I stepped through the gate. They should have been right behind me. Hell, they were headed straight for me when I stepped through."
"Easy, Colonel," the General warned. "Rel'tor, please continue."
The Jaffa pulled himself up straighter in his chair and looked Cam in the eye. "Yes, this is why I don't understand. You went through and the ones you call Sam and Jackson followed you."
"What," cried Mitchell. "They can't have followed me, they never made it back here. You sure you saw them step through?"
Rel'tor nodded again, "Yes, I am certain. They went through together, at speed, just moments after the controller was hit by the blast from the Death Glider. The explosion was extreme, it was so bright that I had to close my eyes. Your friend - Jackson - was very lucky that he was not still sheltering behind it or he would have certainly been killed. When I opened my eyes I saw the two Tau'ri disappearing through the Chappa'ai and then they were gone. I believe I must have lost consciousness at that point because the next thing I remember is another Tau'ri leaning over me shouting that I was alive. The battle had finished without me knowing it…and I still do not know the outcome."
"My young friend, there were no winners in that war." Bra'tac told him quietly. Reaching over he placed a firm hand on Rel'tor's left arm. "You were the only survivor on the planet that the Tau'ri have designated P8J-187. This is why it was so essential that we speak to you about what happened there."
"I understand. But what will happen to me now?" Rel'tor was looking more than a little lost and gazed at Bra'tac beseechingly. "Will I be allowed to return home?"
"You are not a prisoner here, young one." Bra'tac told him. "Where is your home?"
"I am from Jov'uk." Rel'tor replied. "My wife and son are both there. My son is thirty-four moon cycles of age and I have not returned home for twenty-nine cycles. I have a great desire to return to see my son. I have received messages from my wife, Ton'yak, that he is growing into a strong warrior and I would very much enjoy seeing him again. I only hope that he wishes to know me as he was just an infant when I left and he will not recognise my face."
"You've been away from home for nearly two and a half years?" Mitchell asked incredulously. "No wonder you were out of the loop where the System Lords are concerned. Who sent you on this last mission? To try and annihilate Ptah's Jaffa?"
"We have been at war with Ptah for many years and have engaged in battle with his Jaffa numerous times. Our numbers were few as was true for the Jaffa who served Ptah, it was presumed that the final battle may be staged on Char'ok. If you speak the truth and I was the only survivor of the battle of Char'ok, then it seems that presumption was correct and I may be the last of Ma'at's Jaffa. Many of the others were good men, I shall mourn their passing greatly." Rel'tor stopped speaking and bowed his head.
Landry looked over at the cowed young man. "Rel'tor, if that is what you want - to return home - then we will endeavour to carry out that wish as soon as possible. However Dr. Lam called me when you left the infirmary to tell me that your arm required fixing surgically. You will need to remain here for at least a couple of days to allow the healing process to start unhindered. Master Bra'tac is it possible for you to contact the family of Rel'tor? To assure his wife he is safe and that he will be returning to her soon."
"Indeed I can." Bra'tac replied. "In the mean time would it be possible for me to escort the young one back to your medical facility? I do not believe there is anything more that Rel'tor can tell you about your missing comrades."
Landry nodded his approval, "You may do so, Master Bra'tac. Will you be remaining on the base for a while afterwards?"
"No, I shall return through the Chappa'ai once I have delivered Rel'tor. I have many people waiting for me as I left very suddenly when I received your message." Bra'tac told the General. "I will dispatch some warriors to Jov'uk to make contact with Ton'yak. Do I have your permission to return in three days to collect Rel'tor? Will that be sufficient to allow the bones to start to heal?"
"I think that should be long enough. The arm will still have to be immobilised for a while after that but there should be no medical reason to keep him here." Landry said thoughtfully. "Would you take him now? I need to get some of my technical staff in here to try and work out where Colonel Carter and Doctor Jackson may have ended up seeing as they didn't come out of this end of the wormhole."
Bra'tac raised himself from his chair, Rel'tor quickly copied and the two of them gave Landry a bow of respect before leaving the room.
Landry leaned over and grabbed the phone. He ordered Walter to summon the heads of the technical teams and have them report to the briefing room immediately. He then sat down to wait for the men and women to arrive.
"Sir…" Cam started, jumping to his feet.
Landry cut him off with a sharp retort. "Colonel Mitchell, sit down and wait for a moment. Now we know Colonel Carter and Doctor Jackson followed you through the wormhole we need to formulate a search plan. Let me get some of the technical team in here and see if they can give us a likely place to start looking."
"Sorry, Sir." Cam said, retaking his seat. "I suppose we now know they weren't captured on the planet, at least that's something. You're assuming the wormhole jumped somehow, after I stepped through?"
"That I am, Colonel," the General told him. "Hopefully the technicians can give us more of an idea as to whether that would have been possible. The other possibility that we have to contend with is that they may not have made it out at all. If they were in transit when the wormhole closed down then they may have been lost to us forever."
Cam held his hand as if to ward off the words of his commanding officer. "I'm not even going to go there, Sir. Last thing I saw, Jackson was unharmed but we know Sam's going to need medical attention, on her leg if nothing else. It doesn't make me feel much better knowing they could be lying, injured, on God knows what sort of a planet. At least if the Jaffa had them we'd've have a rough clue where to start looking."
"I know Colonel. But don't worry, we're not going to give up on them without a fight. If the techs give us some clues as to where Colonel Carter and Doctor Jackson might have ended up then we can start sending MALPs through this afternoon. Lets just wait and see what they come up with, shall we."
