Author's Note: This was originally going to be two chapters, but I'm not likely to get a chance to post again any time soon so I wanted to give you guys a good chunk. Thanks for reading this far, and when I make it back (look for me in a few months), I should have another good chunk for you.
At least this chapter heralds the return of Carter! Woot!
x.x.x.x.x
With a sigh Jack nursed the burn on his knuckle. He'd received it the night before by the ship protesting the violation of its circuits. While he couldn't be sure, he'd swear the ship had burned him on purpose.
It was morning now and he was once again in the library with Othwen learning yet another lesson in 'how to read Okatan.' He really didn't understand why he had to go through this. He could count in Okatan, and had all the names down. That covered everything he really needed, didn't it? So he couldn't write a memo, big deal, he had no intention of ever taking Thimen's job.
Of course, if he thought about it, he'd have realized that all the First wrote reports, but that would be admitting he actually needed these language lessons and he wasn't about to do that. When the lesson was over Jack was more than ready to go. The Colonel said his good-byes and practically ran out of the room, but a Guardsman was at the door to meet him.
"Sir," Jack said, making to step past.
"You don't need to call me that now. You are one of us."
Jack raised an eyebrow in question as he met Hyron's gaze. For some reason the Guardsman was looking rather pleased with himself, and that made Jack feel suddenly quite queasy inside. "Thank you," he murmured, and made to move past but once again Hyron stopped him.
"While it is true you are a slave, you were found to have the worth of the Guardsmen. It is time now for you to learn to fight as a Guardsman," Hyron stated.
"I'm sorry…what?"
But Hyron just continued. "As I am the one who chose you, it is therefore I who shall also train you."
Dread fell like a rock into the pit of his stomach. Train? As in how to sword fight? He desperately wanted to groan but didn't think the show of ingratitude would go over well with the Okatan. He forced a smile onto his face. "Great, when do we start?"
Hyron grinned, deeply pleased. "Today."
It was more painful than Jack thought it would be. Not only was he still recuperating from the last fight, but it'd also been at least a month and a half now since his last real workout. He had been so busy with everything that had happened and with helping the others he just hadn't noticed the effects it was having on his body.
Thankfully, Hyron assumed Jack's quick exhaustion was from the injuries of the fight and didn't keep him long, but it was long enough for Jack to realize he'd have to start doing some serious exercising if he was going to get back to par. When did he get so lax? He personally mused, as he sought out Khem. Even after receiving serious injuries from missions he had never let himself go so long before getting back into a regular routine. But he quickly realized what the problem was. Nothing about the routine he had here with these people felt natural to him. He didn't normally do 'exercises' while on a mission, and to him, this was still a mission.
Jack soon found Khem in front of the estate looking after a shipment that had just come in. "Jack," the young First called out. "I'm glad you're here can you…are you alright?"
"What?" Jack realized he'd been frowning quite hard. "Ya, I'm fine." He waved it off. "Shipment in?"
"Yes, with several more coming. All from Radena and all of them mixed up," The First grumbled sourly. "I need someone to organize things out here while I get things set up inside."
"No problem, I've got it covered," Jack immediately told him with a grin. He liked working outside. It was a great reminder that the sun still existed. Khem gratefully nodded and they swapped positions. When it came to shipments and inventory, the Overseers basically stayed out of the way and let Khem and Jack manage Seventh.
Five more shipments came in which Jack had Seventh unload and stack according to contents. Thankfully none of it was perishables or they would have had to take them to the coolers directly and organize there. As it was, although the sun was out, it was somewhat cool outside and after a few minutes of standing in the chilly wind, Jack joined in with the unloading, if just to keep warm.
Still, it felt amazingly good to be outside and when the day came to an end he was forlorn to go back in, so instead he made his way into the gardens. He was just contemplating stealing some fresh fruit when a voice startled him from behind.
"So what's inside the ship?"
"Neth!" Jack exclaimed, giving the man a glare for scaring him. Damn, he was getting out of habit! On any other mission he would have heard him coming a mile away. "Be careful what you say," Jack chastised.
The man shrugged. "We're outside."
"And so are many other people," Jack persisted, but then added, "And nothing yet."
"But you are looking, right?"
Jack gave the man a suspicious glare and bluntly asked, "Neth, what exactly are you getting at?"
"You're looking for a way to help us, right?" Neth clarified. He was apparently still thinking of escape.
Jack turned back to the bush as much because he was hungry as because he needed an extra minute to decide on a response. Picking a rather juicy looking purple fruit, he replied, "I'm looking."
Thankfully Neth found Jack's answer satisfactory and didn't push further. Jack plucked the fruit from its green stem and polishing it with his sleeve took a bite. He spat it out again right after. The deceptively yummy looking fruit was substantially sour! "They're not ripe yet," Neth told him absently while looking away deep in thought.
"Well you could have warned me!" Jack exclaimed, but realizing the man was still gnawing over the fact that they weren't trying to leave, added seriously, "Neth, I'm looking, okay? Things just take time."
The First nodded, and a grin touched his lips. "Good thing you didn't taste one a week ago."
"You're kidding, right?" Jack couldn't imagine it tasting any worse, but Neth only grinned further. Jack tossed the vile fruit and the two of them made their way inside to get something to eat. At the table they met up with the rest of the First except Thimen, which was usual for third meal, or dinner, as Jack still called it. "Been seeing a lot more of you lately, Chasken," Jack remarked with a smirk as he sat down.
Chasken didn't comment, but everyone exchanged knowing looks. Chasken and Shella had been far more open about their affection for each other this last week. Then with a sly smile, Chasken commented, "I heard you've started training with the Guardsmen."
Jack turned and gave Neth a pointed glare; he was the worst of them for spreading 'news.' Quite suddenly the man was giving his stew like meal considerable interest. "Yes," Jack growled out. "I have."
"Good," Thimen stated from the doorway, startling them all as he came in and joined them. "Thought they might wait a bit longer but better for it now than later."
"Wait," Jack said with alarm. "You knew they were planning on making me part of their little fight club?"
Everyone at the table looked at him confused and then Khem remarked, "You don't wear the red jewel for nothing, Jack."
Jack automatically reached up and felt where it hung next to the black one. Guess it was more than just a trophy after all. "So what else comes with this fine new accessory?" He sarcastically asked them.
"You are considered the same as a Guardsman," Neth told him seriously. "You must be willing to give your life for those in the Oketena family."
"Sweet," Jack sourly grumbled.
Thimen, amazingly undisturbed by the thought, said around a spoonful of stew, "Lady Omila wants you to go with her tomorrow to Galeka."
"What?!" The room practically echoed with everyone's exclamation.
Thimen calmly took another bite and repeated, "Jack is to go with the Guardsmen tomorrow to the city. She must officiate the passing of management at our business center there and wants Jack there to act as Aid. Because the Guardsmen have accepted him it means he can leave the House." Then Thimen added, showing the first signs of his usual disdain towards Jack, "I will be showing you what you have to take and do."
Jack was stunned, as was everyone else. At last Khem asked the question sitting speechless on the tip of everyone's tongue, "They're letting Jack go outside?"
But with once again that amazing show of calmness, Thimen reminded them all, "Daniel is still here."
It took the others a moment to realize why that was so important, but Jack understood immediately and made a few strangling noises before submerging himself in the motions of consuming his meal.
What Thimen had to show him was several papers Jack couldn't begin to understand, but he still had to differentiate between them so he'd know what to hand over when they were asked for. "Why can't I just take your PDF?" Jack asked, looking at the sizable stack, then expounded as Thimen gave him a blank look. "The computer pad thing I've seen you use from time to time. All of these are on there, right?"
"The portable writing boards are not known to most Okatans," Thimen told him, then pulled out a leather bag to hang over his shoulder that would hold all the papers. "The most important thing you must remember is never to speak unless asked a direct question and only by Lady Omila herself. And keep your head just slightly bowed at all times. You're to walk a pace behind Lady Omila on her right. The other two Guardsmen will be a pace behind you."
"Pace?" Jack questioned, frowning.
Thimen demonstrated and Jack figured it was about a foot and a half in distance. He nodded, everything so far made sense. "You realize Jack you're going to see other slaves while you're there?" Thimen asked, actually sounding somewhat concerned.
Jack was a bit surprised by that, but he nodded again, saying with keen remembrance, "And not everyone will look so hot."
"You can't allow yourself to react."
"I know." Jack pushed the dark feelings of rebellion down and forced a smile. "Don't worry Thimen, I'll make you proud."
The Aid scowled.
x.x.x.x.x
Jack stiffly dismounted. It'd been how many years since he'd last ridden a horse?…not counting the times he'd been tied up at the time. It was another clear and breezy day and the city was a low murmur of constant commotion. The two from the Guardsmen with them was Hyron and Otelo. Jack was a bit surprised that Rakel wasn't here himself. Although the Chief had given him a warning death glare before they left that could have melted a thousand tone block of ice!
Other slaves took his horse from him, as they were doing with everyone else's. They didn't belong to the House of Oketena, but the stable was owned by Omila and used exclusively for the Overseers and Guardsmen who made the commute between the House and Galeka City every day. Jack barely caught himself from saying thank you to the slave who took the reins from him, and mentally biting his tongue, turned to look for Omila. If he was to play her lackey he needed to start right away.
An Okatan, likely the owner of the stable was nodding, bowing, and talking quickly to her, not all together in that order. Omila was nodding politely, but Jack had been to enough social functions to know she was only barely tolerating the man's behavior.
He quietly stepped up to his place just to the right and behind her as Thimen had instructed. For a moment he wondered if he should raise himself up to his full height. He'd played the intimidator on a number of occasions and knew he was quite good at it, but no, he wasn't her bodyguard here, that was Hyron and Otelo's job, and as such had spaced themselves behind Jack. That's when Jack realized both Guardsmen were really quite tall. The stable owner noticed as well and was suddenly excusing himself.
Jack suppressed a grin and the urge to look around, to see what he was sure would be two very threatening expressions on the Guardsmen's faces. Omila just smiled at the bumbling man. "We will be back shortly, make sure our horses are ready."
"Yes, my lady." And with that, the stable man had disappeared.
When he was gone, Omila turned to their little group and stated, "I don't want to be here long."
Personally, Jack didn't want to either. It was hard enough seeing a people suppressed, it was much worse seeing a people suppressed and badly treated. The Okatans here were very different than those at the House. While the upper class of Bethro lived in their estates, here in the city existed the middle and lower classes. And as was normal in any society, each class despised the other. Unfortunately for slaves, they weren't even considered a class, just an example of their owners' power. It made Jack sick inside to see any people so openly abused, even more so to know he was helpless to aid them.
The city was swarming with people, but everyone noticed their little procession and made a point of stepping out of the way. Some even bowed as Omila passed. She didn't acknowledge them, but they didn't expect her to. Jack remembered just how big a deal it had seemed to the crowd back when she had made a bid for him and Daniel that fateful day now so long ago. She was the big honcho on Bethro, and everyone knew it.
Much to Jack's shame it wasn't just the Okatans who paid homage. Their slaves, dirty, underfed, and already stooped from abuse, bowed even lower as they passed. And when they caught Jack's eyes the Colonel saw expressions of envy, anger, and on some, blatant pleading. It took more control than he thought he had to ignore their looks and just keep going.
It wasn't his fault Omila had picked him, but as often as he told himself that, it couldn't take away the pain of knowing he was far better off than anyone else here. And what of Carter? What had happened to her? Jack fiercely pushed all remaining thoughts away. He'd never make it through this day if he couldn't keep his emotions in check.
Obtaining his game face, the Colonel blocked out anything else he saw, clasped his hands behind his back and followed Omila just like he was supposed to do. Thankfully, the rest of their trip passed numbly by. He never said a word and while he considered the factitious proceedings the new business manager put forth in honor of Omila's coming, to be grossly sickening, Jack's face never once portrayed his true feelings.
He played his part of obedient servant so well that when the group was finally free of the stuffy business house and its hassle of endless legalities, Omila actually turned to him and murmured, "I'm surprised, Jack."
He wanted to ask why, or make some caustic remark, but he couldn't, not here, or he'd loose all the control he'd managed to hold onto thus far.
Apparently Omila had half expected him to say something as well, for the corner of her lips quirked into a smile. Then she said something that surprised Jack. "I don't like it here, either."
He dared to raise his eyes and look at her, but she was already returning to the street, her expression as blank as his. Jack hurried to take his place. It was a show he knew, a show of power and position, and while he understood the importance of it all, he still thought it was dumb. But just the same, he fell in behind her, feeling Hyron and Otelo take up positions as if to flank them. They, too, had said nothing the whole trip, posing as Omila's ominous sentinels, daring anyone to approach with their gaze alone.
Jack mentally shook his head. He didn't want any part of this. Then, suddenly, a sound caught his attention and Jack stopped short, causing Hyron to walk right into him unprepared.
"Jack," the Guardsmen quietly growled in warning, but the Colonel didn't respond. His eyes were frantically searching the crowded street. There, by the market stands!
"Carter," Jack breathed out, feeling the blood drain from his face.
She was half lying on the ground, an overturned basket with its spilled goods next to her. A rather beefy looking Okatan was furiously hovering above the Major while he bit out several harsh words of reprimand.
Jack's mind screamed at him to run to her aid, but he was unexplainably frozen to the spot. No one else was paying the scene any mind; this was all commonplace here. Carter was hurriedly gathering the spilled items back into the basket with her head bowed low in submission, but then as she was getting back to her feet she suddenly froze and blue eyes met brown across the expanse of the street.
Yet still he couldn't move, too many emotions fought for control, leaving him dumbstruck with horror. The Okatan, still yelling at Sam, realized she wasn't paying any attention to him, and pulling back his arm struck her hard across the face, sending her and the basket once again careening to the ground.
Jack half stepped forward in reaction but someone gripped his arm rather tightly and he vaguely registered Hyron saying quietly in his ear, "It is not your concern." But it was his concern! Damn it, she was his responsibility!
He was quite ready to throw caution to the wind when Omila calmly asked him, "Would you like me to buy her for you?"
Fists clenching at his side Jack couldn't pull his eyes away to acknowledge the Okatan. Carter hadn't gotten up again. She was like a muddied mass completely still in the dirt-strewn street. Why wasn't she moving? Unformed tears stung his eyes as the anger formed a painful knot in his throat. At last he looked at Omila, and forced out through clenched teeth, "Yes…please…my Lady."
Her expression remained as neutral as ever as she merely turned and headed across the street. All at once Jack could move again, and it was all he could do not to run. Clearing his face of emotion as best he could, he and the two Guardsmen escort followed Omila at the same stately pace she always persisted in walking.
But it was the hardest six seconds Jack would ever face. The Okatan had taken to kicking Sam in an effort to get a response out of her. He had added cursing to the kicking by the time they reached them, and was so preoccupied that he didn't even notice their approach until Omila loudly questioned, "You are Lord Haken's Scout, are you not?"
"Who wants-" the man started with a growl of annoyance, but then looked up and an expression of surprise mixed with alarm instantly covered his face. "My apologies, my Lady! The seasons have been good this year, muchly due to your business of course," he stammered, quickly stepping away from Sam and nervously wiping his smudged hands on his clothes.
As if filth like this was ever worth shaking hands with! Jack internally seethed while amazingly managing to keep the hatred from his face. Well, most of it at any rate.
"Yes, my Lady, I am his Scout," The Okatan finally answered when Omila didn't look pleased at his attempt at chitchat.
"Good," She stated, then told him decisively, "You with tell Lord Haken that I am buying this slave from him."
The man frowned, somewhat confused. "My lady, this slave is not for-" He didn't have a chance to finish the sentence as Hyron and Otelo suddenly each took a dangerous step forward. The Scout took an involuntary step back.
Omila just waved her hand as if the sale was already made. "Tell Lord Haken to contact me tonight and we will finalize the trade. Tell him also that I will consider this trade to be as a personal favor to me. He will not be disappointed."
The Okatan was speechless with shock, and he stayed that way even as Otelo removed the purple gem from around Carter's collar and handed it back to the Scout, signifying the end of Lord Haken's ownership.
Giving the shaken man a brief smile, Omila turned away, saying imperiously, "Jack, collect my property. I tire of this place."
Quickly crouching down next to Carter, Jack was suddenly afraid to touch her. She was still unconscious and his eyes couldn't tell what her injuries were like beneath her rugged appearance. She could be seriously hurt, very likely was, but he also couldn't wait, so he picked her up and hoped for the best. She was so light, too light. Carter hadn't been a heavy person to begin with, but Jack felt like he could barely feel any mass at all resting in his arms.
Again he had to fight the surmounting urge to just turn around and kill the Okatan for what he'd done. It was just as well that they were leaving. No one said anything, but their return passage to the stables had earned more curious looks this time round, and the stable master was quite surprised to find that the party included one more.
"Would you like another horse made up?" He quickly asked, handing the reins of Omila's stallion to her.
"No. This will be fine," Omila told him, thanking him for the service with only a nod.
Carter wouldn't have been able to ride, anyway. She still hadn't regained consciousness but Jack had managed to check for a pulse and was relieved to feel it still beating strongly. That was one worry out of the way at least, just a million more to go.
The Guardsmen helped hand her up to Jack so she could ride in front of him, and then their party was setting out, quickly leaving the city behind. Omila put them into a strong gallop for the first ten minutes or so but gratefully slowed them to a walk as soon as the city was a decent enough distance away.
Omila indicated for Jack to pull his horse up next to hers, and she looked at Carter as if considering her for the first time. "She came with you to this planet."
It was more a statement than a question, but Jack still replied in a tight voice, "Yes." He had one hand on the reins and the other snaked around Carter to hold her upright against him, but her body still hung limply and he desperately wished she'd wake up and confirm his hopes that she was all right.
Omila regarded Carter with deep consideration, and then after a few minutes seemed to have come to a decision. "In spite of this…distraction…you handled yourself much better than I expected you to. I will continue to expect this from you in all future trips." She paused, as if possibly reconsidering what she was about to say, but finally stated, "While it is not common for property to have property, I am giving this woman to you, Jack. Do not make me regret this decision."
She moved her horse into the lead again. Give? Jack was both alarmed and confused by Omila's words. He already knew what the Okatan woman wanted, the secrets of the Ancients' ship, and it wouldn't be beneath her to use Carter as leverage to get them.
The rest of the trip back was made in silence, and much to his surprise, when they reentered the gates of the House Omila didn't say anything more to him, but instead entered the House as soon as she had dismounted.
Hyron and Otelo didn't hang around either, but had separated to go and talk with several other Guardsmen. It was a busy time at the stables and Jack nudged his horse to the side of the line up till he could get some help getting Carter down. The trip back had taken much longer than usual because they had kept the horses at a walk, not to mention they hadn't set out for the city till after lunch as it was, so it was rather late by the time they'd gotten back. Most of the Orders would already be locked down for the night by now with only Fourth and Sixth Orders still active. Fourth to clean up the kitchens and Sixth to handle the stables as Guardsmen and Overseers alike, mounted to make the commute to the city and their homes.
It was a while before two Sixth were free to come help him with Carter and collect his horse. They gave him wide curious looks at seeing the addition of a new slave to the House, but there wasn't time for questions and with quick thanks, Jack gently took Carter into the estate, carrying her as carefully as possible.
She didn't make even the smallest of sounds. The only thing that kept Jack calm was being able to see the small motion of her chest as it lifted with slow even breaths.
The House was eerily still as he walked through the halls towards his room, the leather bag banging against his side in his hurry. He was still somewhat surprised that Omila hadn't left instructions for Carter. This place was nothing but control, for her to just let Carter stand outside the system didn't seem like the Okatan's way, but perhaps knowing Carter's condition meant the Okatan just didn't want to worry with it till Carter was healthier. He shoved his confusion and doubts away as he entered the First's living rooms.
Everyone was there, and as soon as he entered he instantly had their complete attention.
"What do you think you're doing?" Thimen demanded, not much to the Colonel's surprise.
"Jack?" Khem asked, not as hostile as the Aid, but still somewhat alarmed.
Shella was quicker to move and helped Jack lay Carter in his bed. "It's all right," Jack finally told them. "Omila gave her to me, whatever the hell that's supposed to mean." He scowled, and then began the necessary examination of the Major, something he should have done before ever moving her. A nasty bruise was already forming on her forehead but he couldn't feel any contusions or soft spots through her dirt-matted hair. He carefully felt around, finding no broken bones either but she was dreadfully thin and he didn't doubt there were many more bruises hiding beneath her clothes. Her skin was bone white under the many smudges that coated her, but she wasn't overly hot or cold to the touch so there was hope most of the damage was likely the after effects from extensive punishment by the collar combined with exhaustion and malnutrition.
At last Jack relaxed somewhat, and tucking the covers gently around her, settled onto his chair pulling the heavy bag from off his shoulders. The rest had remained silent till now, likely as startled as Jack had been at Omila's decision. "Her name is Samantha," Jack quietly told them, giving Carter yet another worried look. "She's the other member of my team."
"She's wearing the colors of Kena, Lord Haken's House. That's why you were asking about him back when you fist got here, isn't it?" Thimen questioned.
A smile flickered briefly at Jack's lips. "I'm surprised you remember that."
The Aid bristled at Jack's comment, but he didn't get a chance to say anything as Neth asked, "Why is she here? You said Lady Omila gave her to you?"
Jack ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He was as perplexed as the rest of them. "I don't know. But she's my responsibility, so for tonight at least, she's spending the night here."
"And where will you sleep?" Shella asked in concern.
"I could go back to the mines," Chasken offered.
Jack shook his head. "Thanks, but I don't think I could actually fall asleep if I tried right now."
"Jack, I have too many shipments to do on my own tomorrow," Khem said, biting his lip.
Looking down at Carter, Jack struggled for an answer. He didn't want to leave her, but he couldn't just leave Khem empty handed, either. Shella put a hand on his, catching his attention, and smiled. "In the morning, bring her to the White Rooms, I'll make sure she's well taken care of."
Jack smiled in gratitude, and then told Khem, "Put me over unloading. I'll be fine. This won't be the first time I've gone a few days without sleep." That only semi-reassured the man, but he nodded in agreement anyway.
"If that's all settled, shall we continue?" Thimen impatiently asked the group, but even the Aid glanced at Carter with some sympathy in his eyes. They had been in the middle of the nightly meeting when Jack had come in, and it was with reluctance that Jack joined them at the other end of the room.
It was a longer meeting than normal, but there was a fair bit of rearranging needed to accommodate the sudden increase in orders going out. Normally, Thimen handled all of that as administrator over the Blue Rooms. Jack had only recently gotten a glimpse at the process when his restrictions had been lifted. The unloading doors were located on the far side of the estate, with a completely separate entrance from the outside. A large shaft came directly up from the hidden Blue Rooms.
An empty wagon, much more like a flatbed or trailer in Jack's opinion, would be lowered down and then raised again, packed and ready to go.
The problem was that they were severely understaffed and heavily overloaded on orders. Since contact between the people in the Blue Rooms and the other Orders was strictly forbidden, there was no one to send down there to help out.
Jack listened to them argue back and forth about the problem, but they seemed more interested in reiterating the situation rather than coming up with actual solutions. But then, everyone felt a little more tense than usual, or so Jack would have noticed if he wasn't so preoccupied himself.
"Why don't you just have them send everything up and load it on the surface?" Jack interrupted. He was getting annoyed. This meeting was taking too long, and his eyes kept straying to the other side of the room, to watch Carter.
"Absolutely not!" Thimen exclaimed, outraged. "No one in the Blue Rooms are aloud on the surface, the same way no Okatan is allowed below!"
Jack had to consciously force himself to remain calm in the face of that comment, but it didn't work out so well. "Did I say they had to come up?" Jack snapped, his eyes flashing with more anger than Thimen's objection really warranted, but Jack's patience was running thin. "Use your head why don't you. All they have to do is send the stuff up. Anyone can handle it from that point on!"
They looked at him, stunned into silence at his outburst, but Jack didn't care. He had more important things on his mind. Then Khem hesitantly said, "There aren't enough in the Seventh to handle both the incoming and outgoing shipments."
Jack shook his head. He'd had enough of this. Standing up, too furious to look at them, Jack walked back to his 'corner' of the room and sat down to watch Carter. Her breathing was still even, steady, but she didn't stir. There wasn't even movement behind her eyelids to suggest she was in REM sleep.
For several minutes the room was dead silent. Jack refused to look back at them, to even acknowledge them, for fear his frustration with them, with the whole situation, would lead to another outburst.
Then Shella quietly asked, "Couldn't we use some of the Third and the Fifth?"
"We can probably use a few from each Order so as not to thin anyone out too much," Chaskin replied, just as quiet, but in a small silent room their voices easily carried.
Jack listened as the group settled on the details. There were no more arguments. Even Thimen seemed willing to keep his words civil. Then a soft moan yanked the Colonel's attention back.
He was crouched next to the bedside within the next heartbeat. Any previous emotions fled as worry instantly rushed in.
"Carter?" Jack whispered. Her face was an expression of deep pain, but she was coming around. He ever so gently brushed back now shaggy bangs from her face and tried again. "Carter, can you hear me?"
Tightly shut eyes cracked open but quickly shut again as if the light was too bright. "Colonel?" Her voice whispered back at him. Jack smiled with relief, but it quickly vanished, leaving a knot in his stomach as she pleadingly questioned, "Sir, are we at the SGC?"
Swallowing hard to keep his voice from cracking, Jack softly told her, "No. But you're safe here."
She nodded, trying to open her eyes again. Pain creased her face as she brokenly said, "I saw you, sir. I could see you, but I-" her words broke off as her voice constricted and tears made muddy tracks down the sides of her face.
The knot in Jack's stomach tightened into a hard lump. "Carter, listen to me. You're going to be okay now, I promise." Again she nodded, and he wiped her tears away while trying to keep his own at bay. "You just need to get some sleep, and things will be much better when you wake up, you'll see. I'll be right here, Major."
"Yes, sir." The words were quiet, but she calmed instantly in response to his authority. Jack stayed there until he was sure she was asleep again and then moved back to the chair. He was a little surprised to find that the rest had quietly slipped into their own beds, leaving only his light on. But no one other than Carter was asleep. Looking over at Neth, Jack met the man's silent sympathetic gaze. And then reaching up, Jack turned his light off, plunging the room into blackness to wait out the night.
x.x.x.x.x
Carter woke up in one of the softest beds she'd felt in a long time. It was as comforting as it was alarming. Her head felt stuffed and pounded with what could be the world's worst hangover. She was already used to her body's protest at moving. She didn't usually get much to eat, and the headache, while spiking worse than it had in a long time, wasn't really anything new to her, either.
Carefully opening her eyes, she had to blink back several tears, but finally managed to get them to focus somewhat in the bright light.
"Oh, so you're awake, are you?" A female's voice questioned warmly. "I thought you might sleep through the entire day."
Sam looked over at the woman. She was a few years younger, brown hair braided back out of her face and obviously pregnant. Dread instantly rushed through the Major. Only those selected for breeding were kept in the breeding pens. Wincing, Sam forced herself up into a sitting position. It was amazing how much of her hurt right then, and what energy she had was spent in just that small action. "Where am I?"
The woman, oblivious to Sam's alarm, smiled at her, stating brightly, "The White Rooms of course! I'll go get Shella." She got up and left, closing the door behind her. Calling this place the 'white rooms' seemed like a very accurate description. Everything was white, even the clothes the woman had been dressed in. Sam looked down at her own clothes. They were the same ones she'd been given after first being bought. Quite a difference to this room that was so sterile she could have been in a hospital. If this was inside a breeding pen, it was the cleanest, most spacious, breeding pen she'd ever been in. There was only one bed in this room, and it wasn't that small a room.
Sam contemplated trying to make a run for it, but hadn't even managed to get the courage up to get herself out of the bed before someone else came in. Another woman, this time dressed in black, a vivid contrast to everything else. She smiled warmly and asked, "Is it Samantha or Carter?"
Wary, the Major slowly replied, "Call me Sam."
"I'm Shella," the woman introduced, and then explained, "He said your name was Samantha but then he called you Carter so I wasn't sure."
He? A faint blossom of hope emerged deep within Sam, yet before she could inquire who he was, the door opened again and a young woman came in with a platter of food. "Just put it on the table Nyath and be on your way," Shella ordered.
"Yes, Shella," Nyath replied, but grinning with open curiosity looked Sam over before leaving.
Shella came over and sat in the chair, giving the departing girl a stern expression before saying, "She'll be in here before too long, I'm sure."
"Just where is here?" Sam cautiously asked, but at the smell of food, her mouth had started watering and the pains in her stomach intensified.
Giving Sam a look of sympathy, Shella calmly told her, "You're in the House of Oketena, owned by Lady Omila. You are safe here." Safe. That word didn't have as much meaning as it used to. Shella must have understood Sam's expression of mistrust, for the woman motioned to the food and kindly encouraged, "You must be very hungry. Jack left orders that you were to eat as much queesh as you could stand before anything else."
"Jack?" Sam asked in surprise, the hope rising even further. "The Colonel?"
Shella frowned with thought. "I know him solely as Jack, but you did call him Colonel, didn't you, last night when you fist woke up."
Relief flooded through Sam like a tidal wave, and she breathed out, "I thought it was a dream." Suddenly she found she couldn't keep the smile off her face. "Is the Colonel here? Can I see him?"
"He will be by later. You are safe here," Shella said again, and this time Sam was more inclined to believe her. "Still, you won't do yourself any good by starving."
Getting the hint, Sam looked over the delicious smelling food before asking with some embarrassment, "Which is the queesh?" The moment she swallowed her first bite, Sam immediately could understand why the Colonel would want her to eat the fruit first. While spicy and sweet wasn't the greatest taste combination, the headache she'd been sporting, almost constantly it seemed, started to fade away for the first time in weeks. An hour later it was finally gone and her stomach full.
Shella had stayed with her the whole time, though other women came in from time to time to talk to the woman in black, and whenever Shella left, she had the messenger remain till she returned. It was obvious Shella, in spite of being a slave, was the one in charge of the 'White Rooms.'
The next time Shella came back, she brought with her a needle full of a pale pink liquid. The woman reassured Sam it would help her heal faster, but the Major only let the drug near her after much contemplation.
"I know this can't be easy," Shella said, rubbing at the spot where the shot was injected. "I don't think your friends have ever really adjusted to the change, either. It's more like they are causing changes, instead."
"They? Then Daniel's here, too?" Sam quickly asked.
Shella grinned. "Yes. He is in the Third Order." Sam looked at her perplexed, and with an expression of humor, Shella wryly asked, "That doesn't help, does it?" The Major shook her head, so the woman explained. "There are two complexes here. The Mines and the House. Here in the House we slaves are classified into different Orders. I am in the First Order, as is Jack."
"What, ah, what Order will I be?" Sam hesitantly asked, thinking again of the pregnant woman who had first been watching over her. These White Rooms, in general, seemed to be the equivalent to the breeding pens that Sam had first been kept in at Haken's House. At least, they were in the sense that pregnant women and little children were kept here.
"I do not know," Shella told her, neither confirming nor deterring her fears. "Do you think you'd be up to a wash?"
"Wash?" Sam blinked. Her last place had been segregated into different groups as well, but Sam had been at the low end of the ranks, and they were only given time to really clean themselves once a week. Certainly not whenever they wished. But she wasn't there anymore, was she? Forcing herself to relax, Sam smiled. "I think I'd like that very much."
"Good. We'll put you in whites for now I think, too."
It turned out that while the headache had vanished, so had Sam's strength. She hadn't realized just how malnourished and bruised she was until -with the help of two other women, she had managed to get her clothes off and herself into the warm waters of the bathing pool. Sam was somewhat embarrassed to have to be helped as such and even more so when a man dressed in black walked into the room.
Taking note of Sam's sudden blush and tensing, he irritably snapped, "I'm not going to hurt you."
"Sorry, I just," Sam tried to push away from the two woman working at washing her hair.
"Sam, relax. You are in no condition to overexert yourself," Shella immediately stated in concern. With some effort Sam finally stilled, but still covered herself as best she could. She'd learned the hard way that communal bathing, or even sexual activities, was a norm for slaves on this planet, but she had never gotten used to it.
The man was still looking at her with thinned lips, but then turned to Shella and handing her some clothes, instructed, "These are for her. She is to use an extra Guardsmen room at night and has free access to all unrestricted areas."
Shella was looking down at the clothes in surprise. They were white, with two color stripes down the side. One black, one red. "Then it is true? She's-"
"Yes," The man cut her off with impatience, and added disgruntled, "And it cost Lady Omila greatly for this purchase." He turned angry eyes on Sam, but they suddenly softened, and with a significant change in his tone of voice, he quietly stated, "But it is better for her to be here now."
"Thimen," Shella called, also surprised by the man's sudden change, but he just ignored her and left without looking back.
Sam had watched the exchange both confused and concerned. "What was that about?" She finally dared to ask.
Shella sighed. She opened her mouth to answer but one of the other women beat her to it.
"Thimen doesn't like Jack."
"Katha!" Shella immediately scorned.
Katha looked abashed but refused to be silent. "He doesn't! I used to know Thimen, Shella, he was a good worker, but after he became a First, he changed. I don't know him anymore."
Shella sighed again, heavy with regret. "He has to deal with a lot." The two women paused to look at the First in surprise, but Shella came out of her momentary melancholy and smartly stated, "At least we know where you will be now, Sam."
That didn't make her feel much better, but at least the clothes weren't all white like the pregnant women's were. They were warm against her skin. Nice and loose. It was the best Sam had felt in a long time. Looking down at them critically, Sam finally questioned, "What do the color's mean?"
"Alone, the black would signify the Third Order and the red the Second, but together they are Jack's colors." That surprised Sam, and confused her. Shella herself seemed to struggle to explain it. "This has never before happened, but then, we've never had slaves that haven't been from Bethro or Okata before, either. Ultimately, you belong to Lady Omila, but until she decides differently, you also belong to Jack. What he tells you to do, you must do."
Sam's eyes went wide, but in the next instant a chuckle rose in her throat. Needless to say the other women were somewhat taken back by Sam's reaction. "Before-" Sam had been about to say 'on Earth' but quickly changed her mind. She hadn't gotten such a good reception when she'd tried to talk to people about Earth at her last place of residence. "Where I come from, The Col- Jack, is the head of the team I'm a part of. I already have to do everything he tells me to."
Katha and Jothana didn't seem to understand, but Shella pursed her lips, then smiled, and then asked, "Do you think you'd be able to help with the younglings or would you rather lie down again?"
Sam had wanted to tell her she'd help, she was tired of feeling so helpless, but a yawn betrayed her and she blushed with embarrassment.
Shella didn't seem to mind at all, and with a kind smile, smartly stated, "Back to bed it is. Sleep is needed if you're to heal."
Sleep didn't come so easily. The had left Sam alone again in the same room she'd first woken up in, fresh sheets on the bed, but as she lay there, the warm sounds of the Colonel's laugh filtered down the hall. Forcing her aching body to move, Sam slipped out of the bed, going quickly to the door to listen.
There it was again, followed closely by the excited squeals of a young boy. They weren't too far away from the door now and Sam clearly heard Shella scold, "Mitch! You know you're supposed to stay with the rest!"
"But Jack was here!" a very young voice protested.
Sounding like he was in good humor, Sam heard the Colonel easily order, "I'll come by later, rugrat. Do what Shella tells you to." Sam smiled at that, the Colonel had always been good with kids and she could hear the young boy giggling some more before it faded away down the hall.
There was an exasperated sigh by someone, likely Shella, and then the woman stated, "He's too intelligent for his own good."
"He'll be five soon, won't he?"
"Yes. Did all the shipments arrive already?"
"No," the Colonel replied, sounding suddenly tired to Sam. "But they finished the outbound shipments early so Neth came to relieve me."
"Neth usually doesn't have spare time to offer, especially with how busy today's been." Shella commented, sounding surprised, and then she remarked, "but I didn't expect your plan to work so well."
"It wasn't my plan, Shella. You guys figured out what to do on your own."
"Jack-"
"Don't," the Colonel cut her off in a tone of voice Sam rarely heard from the man. A moment later her said, his voice much lighter, "You guys just need to believe in yourselves."
"That's easy for you to say, but not us."
"Ya, I guess."
This was followed by more silence.
Sam didn't think they were moving away, but she pressed her ear closer anyway and heard Shella say, "Your friend woke up earlier. She just went back to bed now."
"How is she?" The Colonel immediately asked.
"She'll be fine. I gave her some medicine just in case, but it's just like we saw this morning on the table. No internal bleeding, and her ribs have all but healed themselves. She didn't show any particular discomfort from them."
This confused Sam. What table? She didn't remember waking up other than in her dream that wasn't really a dream, or in this dreadfully white room. Furthermore, that they had the ability to tell if she was bleeding internally seemed inconsistent with her knowledge of this medieval society. But she couldn't stop from feeling where her ribs were still tender. They had been broken, twice in the last four weeks.
"It still bothers me how hard she was sleeping," the Colonel remarked.
"I think mostly she suffers from malnutrition and other minor injuries," Shella replied.
Minor injuries my foot! Sam silently protested. She couldn't count how many times she'd been beaten since coming to this planet. Honestly, she didn't care to remember, either.
"She should sleep for a while," Shella continued while the Colonel snorted with humor. "Thimen came by and said she has free access to the unrestricted areas of the House, and that she's to have one of the extra Guardsmen rooms as her own but I think you might want to have her stay here at least for a while."
"A Guardsmen room, uh? I wonder why not the room right next to us, no one's been-" but he stopped short, then laughed and slyly remarked, "You and Chasken don't plan to fall in love, uh?"
Shella gave a quick and tart reply of, "It's none of your business, Jack!" But the Colonel was still chuckling, and soon after Shella said, not sounding at all offended, "I think you're the only one who's noticed."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Jack replied, and Sam could practically hear his grin. "The women in here are fairly observant. But in any case," he said seriously, "you know I won't say anything."
There was a sound very much like a yawn, and Shella stated sternly, "You need some sleep, Jack. There's an extra room available here if you'd like."
"I might take you up on that, but right now I want to check in on Carter."
Sam didn't stay to listen to anything else as she heard the sudden movement towards her door. She made a beeline back to her bed and for a brief moment was undecided if she should pretend to be asleep or not, but in the next second her door opened and the Colonel walked in, all smiles. "Still awake?"
Sam could only nod. She sat up, her gaze locking with his as he calmly approached and sat down on the edge of her bed to face her. He was dressed in black like Shella had been with the white stripe down his side. Shella had said the Colonel was in the same Order as her, but what that really meant Sam still wasn't sure.
He reached out a hand and hesitantly touched her along the side of her face, brushing back some of her now shaggy hair. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
Again she nodded, and then bit her lip to keep her emotions in control as they suddenly all came rushing to the surface. Part of her just couldn't believe he was there. So many times she had wondered what had happened to him, hoping with every beat of her heart that he and Daniel and even Teal'c, as unlikely as that was, would show up and rescue her, and then they could go back through the stargate. They could go back home. But this wasn't Earth, this wasn't home.
"Sir," She said, finally finding her voice. "What's the plan?"
There was a flash of pain in his eyes and the Colonel withdrew his hand, suddenly breaking eye contact with her. "There is no plan, Major. Not yet anyway."
"Sir?" Sam couldn't believe it. That there was a plan somewhere out there was what had kept her alive so long, to admit that it didn't exist wasn't something she was willing to do.
The Colonel finally looked back at her, telling her with open honesty, "Daniel's collar's rigged. I mess up and he dies."
Sam shook her head, her mind franticly seeking a solution. "The collars are locked with an electromagnetic lock, all we'd have to do is find the right frequency or get a hold of the key and we can-"
"Carter," the Colonel interrupted her, grabbing her by the shoulders to force her to look at him. "I'm going to find a way to get you and Daniel home, but I can't leave these people."
"We can't help everyone," Sam protested, feeling suddenly more helpless than she had at any other point during any other time spent in captivity on any planet. "You said it yourself!"
"I know," the Colonel immediately stated, and then repeated a bit softer, "I know. But there's more to it than just freeing a group of slaves. I'll explain everything, I promise, but I can't here, the whole place is bugged."
"Bugged?" Sam frowned. "I know the Okatans have some technology but nothing that would suggest-"
"Having that kind of level of surveillance?" Jack finished for her with a wry grin. "The Okatans don't, but Omila does. Trust me, I'll explain everything, later. Right now you just need to concentrate on getting better."
Sam nodded, but she had gone numb inside, and the only real thought in her head was that they weren't leaving.
"This place is different from the rest, so you don't need to worry about anyone hurting you here. And if Shella gave you the stuff I think she did, you'll been feeling dead tired right about now." She didn't say anything and the Colonel looked at her with eyes full of worry. "Major?"
"Yes, sir?"
He paused, looking even more worried, or regretful, Sam wasn't sure which. "I have to ask you a question. Is there any chance whatsoever that you might be pregnant?"
Flushing, both from embarrassment and shame, Sam wanted to look away but couldn't. "No, sir."
"I'm sorry, Sam, but I need to know."
Unbidden, Sam felt the tears sting her eyes, but she repeated firmly, "No sir, I'm not pregnant." She bit her lip, blinking quickly and told him, "They, ah…they wanted…" she stopped and felt the Colonel reassuringly squeeze her arm, but he didn't ask her to stop and she knew she'd have to tell him at some point, anyway.
"I can't tell you I wasn't raped, but…I convinced them I wasn't worth the trouble," Sam told him, anger coloring her voice even as her throat threatened to seize up on her. The memories were like nightmares in her mind, but she refused to let them have control over her emotions. Taking a slow breath to calm her nerves, Sam quietly added, "I recently had my period," her words showing some of the relief she'd felt at the time. Because up until that moment, she herself hadn't been sure.
"It's all right, Sam," the Colonel gently said, finally convinced. "You don't have to say any more if you don't want to." Sam nodded, her shoulders sagging with relief.
He smiled the same warm friendly smile she so loved about him, and she smiled hesitantly in return. Then, with a hint of laughter in his eyes, he brushed away her bangs, lightly remarking, "Thinking of growing the hair out? Looked good on the other you."
Her smile broadened at his humor, finding it more calming then she would have expected, and with a small chuckle replied, "Maybe. What about you?"
Self-consciously the Colonel ran a hand through his growing locks of dark grays, causing patches to stand in all sorts of odd directions. Sam giggled, causing the Colonel to give her his patented glare, but then he grinned, saying with a shrug, "It used to be long, had a good mullet going once upon a time."
"No!" Sam couldn't believe it; she couldn't even imagine it.
"Yes," the Colonel insisted. "During a break I took between tours. I think it's the only real vacation I got, too." He frowned, but then smiled again and asked, "Will you be okay here? There are some things I've got to go do, but I'll be back and you can always tell Shella if you need me. She'll know where to find me."
Sam once again nodded, her smile fading as the moment of humor ended, but she felt a bit calmer than she had at least. She didn't really want him to go or to be left alone again, but her eyelids were growing heavier and heavier in her exhaustion, and too much military training had been ingrained into her to allow her to ask for something as selfish as his continued presence. "I'll be fine," she automatically reassured him.
He didn't look convinced, but he stood up anyway. "I'll see you later." And then he was gone and Sam was all at once left alone with her emotions.
They weren't leaving.
Curling into a ball with her back against the wall, Sam pulled the covers up tightly around her like a shield. She was too tired to hold back the tears any longer, feeling as desperately alone as if she were still trapped in the slave pens in Haken's House. For the first time since arriving on Bethro, Sam gave in to the despair.
She didn't remember when she fell asleep, but she remembered the dreams that plagued her. Dreams bred from the worst memories of her life, repeating themselves over and over again in her mind like a broken record.
x.x.x.x.x
Daniel was back on his regular crew with yet another new Overseer, this one was actually a loan from Eighth, as had been all the rest until an actual replacement was found. His name was Kilen and he was the most animated Overseer they'd ever had. Considering the Eighth was made up of kids, Daniel wasn't really surprised, but he wasn't used to getting cleaning tips from their watching Okatan, especially not on a regular basis.
"Apply the cleanser liberally, makes scrubbing the grime off easier."
"Yes, sir," Daniel spritzed the wall several more times on top of what he already had. They were cleaning the filters and scrubbing down the insides of one of the bathing pools. It was difficult work, but thankfully they didn't have to do it too often, the constant flow of water generally kept the pools clean. Right now they were empty of water and full of suds, brushes, soapy slaves, and one Okatan.
Usually the Overseer watched from above, but Kilen had taken a more active role in his position, and it was all Daniel could do not to snicker as Kilen moved on to the next victim.
Then Daniel saw Kilen look up and looking up at well noticed Jack walk in. The Colonel was looking around as if searching for something.
"Do you need anything?" Kilen questioned with a smile. Daniel silently added 'the friendliest' to 'the most talkative' Okatan he'd ever met.
Jack's eyes fell upon Daniel, but then he looked back at Kilen, smiled and replied, "No sir, I'm good. Thanks." But the Colonel didn't leave again just yet. Instead he walked over to the edge of the pool above Daniel and crouching down told him simply, "Carter's here."
"What?" Daniel exclaimed, a little louder than he intended. Jack's grin was fit to crack his face, but he just made a motion as if to say 'get back to work,' and then stood up and left again.
Daniel stood still in complete shock. Kilen walked up to him, frowning. "Daniel?"
"Sorry, sir," the anthropologist murmured, immediately going back to spritzing and scrubbing with a vengeance. The Overseer seemed uncertain for a moment, looking like he wanted to ask another question, but after a second he backed off, leaving Daniel to his work. The rest were also giving Daniel curious looks having heard just as clearly Jack's cryptic message, but Daniel didn't dare meet any of their gazes.
Sam was here? How? Was she all right? Was she here here, or just visiting? Would he get a chance to see her? A million questions plagued his mind, and then a million more out of exasperation at Jack for leaving him with so little information.
"I think that spot's clean," a quiet voice commented beside him with humor. Daniel glanced over at Rhyon, flushing with embarrassment. He shifted over but he couldn't relax, and by the end of the day he was ready to explode from all the pent up agitation.
"Would you please sit down!" Kheta exclaimed for probably the tenth time that night. The entire group of his usual friends was clustered together in the common room as Rhyon, Kheta, and Eglish practiced with their instruments. There was likely to be a circle tonight and now that the Fourth were back it wouldn't be long before it started. Daniel sat down on one of the benches, but after a few seconds got back up and resumed his pacing, his arms tucked tightly across his chest. He'd been dogging people's questions all day in hopes he'd see Jack again, or even Sam, and learn more for himself, but Daniel didn't think that was going to happen anymore, at least not tonight.
Making a sound of disgust, Kheta grabbed Daniel's shirt and pulled him down again. "Sit! What is wrong with you anyway?"
While Rhyon hadn't previously mentioned Jack's odd visit to the rest, the normally quiet man took the opportunity to do so now. "Jack said something to him earlier that upset him."
"It didn't…" Daniel paused, feeling helpless, "it didn't upset me."
Everyone just gave him a look of utter disbelief, and letting out a moan Daniel buried his face in his hands.
He listened as Opith calmly asked Rhyon, "What did Jack say?"
"'Carter's here.'"
And groaned again as Eglish automatically questioned, "What's a Carter?"
Daniel lifted his head only to squeeze his eyes shut as if he could squeeze out all the frustration. "She's from Earth, like Jack and me," Daniel finally told them. "She was bought by someone else when we first got here, and it's been killing me not knowing what happened to her. And then Jack comes and says she's here and nothing else, not if she's okay, if she's here to stay, nothing!" Once he'd started it was too hard to stop.
He stood up, and as he began to pace yet again he just let his frustrations out, telling them all about his worries and complaints. He even started going into the frustrations he'd had with Jack on prior missions before he realized the entire common room had gone dead silent in shock.
Shoulders sagging, he sank to the bench in defeat.
Then Eglish hesitantly questioned, "What's an artifact?"
Laughing with painful exasperation, Daniel helplessly covered his face with his hands. He heard someone approach and an altogether too cheerful voice questioned, "Are you talking about the new slave?"
Daniel's head instantly shot up, seeing Nyath standing just outside the group with a sly grin on her face. "New slave? Is it a woman, short blond hair, about my height?"
Nyath nodded. "Saw her today in the White Rooms. Poor thing was a mess, but Shella will fix her up I'm sure."
"White Rooms?" Daniel repeated, his face paling with all sorts of new alarm.
Kheta squeezed his arm reassuringly. "The injured as well as the pregnant are kept in the White Rooms."
That didn't help his fears any. "Did she look seriously hurt at all?" Daniel insistently asked.
Nyath frowned, uncertain, "I can't say really. She was a horrible mess like I said. She was awake though so she's probably had a good wash now. Bet she cleaned up real nice," Nyath had an appreciative look in her eye that made Daniel want to groan. Then the girl added, "The talk from the White Rooms is that she's special somehow, and she's not going to be in any Order but will still be part of the House."
"The Blue Rooms?" Opith questioned.
Nyath shook her head. "Nope. At least I don't think so." She grinned suddenly. "I'm going to see if I can work in their kitchen again tomorrow." And with a small bounce in her step she walked away.
Kheta murmured in disbelief, "That girl is almost intolerable."
But Daniel's mind was wrapped around what Nyath had told them. The most important part being that Sam was here to stay. The team was together again. Well, sort of. Close enough.