Chapter 11
Teal'c ran full out until he came to the once peaceful village. There was no sign of any remaining marauding Jaffa, only the elders and the very young remained, some numb with fear, others wailed. Many of the huts had doors swinging off their hinges, others smoldered from staff weapon fire. The smallest children were huddled under the protection of the woman who kept them safe during the raid by remaining hidden in the cottage where they napped during the noon day heat. Many of the elders were bruised or frightened but anxious to secure help in finding their kinsmen. A few lay dead of staff wounds. All of this no doubt the work of a Jaffa raid.
Teal'c, after trying his radio and only getting static, sent a boy to run as fast as he could to the sacred site, to inform Daniel of the state of the village and asked him to return as quickly as possible.
Teal'c proceeded to the Stargate, dialed the SGC as soon as he ascertained from the remaining villagers that in the raid many of the young men and women had been abducted and it appeared that Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter were among the missing.
Within the hour two SG teams arrive planet side with a search and rescue mission. Accompanying them were medics.
On his return Daniel Jackson, after being filled in by Teal'c, took the task of interviewing the villagers. First among them was the village chieftain.
"They came without warning. It had happened once before in the time of my grandfather's youth but I never thought we would see the like again."
The old man was frightened and greatly troubled by the loss of his kinsmen.
"Do you have any idea what happened to Colonel O'Neill or Major Carter."
An older woman standing nearby overheard them and said "They threw him down as if to kill him but she pleaded for his life."
"Oh yes. She wouldn't let them kill him." the old man rejoined.
"What? What happened."
Teal'c stopped what he was doing to listen the headman.
"There were too many of the Jaffa. They threatened to kill whoever opposed them. They ordered us to stand before them. There was no where to hide. So I gave your soldier and the pretty woman some clothing to appear as one of us."
The old man got slowly to his feet and tugged Daniel's arm so that he would follow him into his cottage. He lifted the mat on the bed and exposed weapons and TAC vests with assorted articles scattered about. Daniel picked up Jack's cap and tucked it into his vest.
"They dressed here."
And as the chieftain pointed down Daniel saw Sam's boots.
"They went into the village center with the others. It seemed the Jaffa wanted only the young and I thought he, your warrior with his graying hair, would be spared. But when one of the Jaffa grabbed the pretty woman to hurry her along..."
"Oh yes, when they were separating the women from the men she would not move, would not leave his side, so the warrior grabbed her." the older woman added.
"Yes" the elder continued "when the warrior grabbed her arm and pushed her O'Neill became angry that they should touch his mate. He brought attention to himself. It was very unwise."
"Yes" the old woman chimed in again "admirable but foolish."
'But that was Jack', Daniel thought.
"The Jaffa threw him down and would have killed him but she told them of his strength and they took him too." the elder concluded.
All of the villagers who were present at the raid were interviewed and their medical need attended to. They were asked to draw the symbol tattooed on the Jaffa's foreheads and asked if they heard the name of the Goa'uld they served. Many were still terrified and could not remember even if there were tattoos, others villagers were unsure. Others drew a variety of symbols. The symbol, the crescents shapes the formed Ba'al's sigil predominated. Daniel felt actually physical pain at the thought of his friends in the hands of Ba'al.
Standing in the center of the village Daniel looked around at the sight of the struggle, hoping against hope there would be a clue to help them find his missing team mates. Where the hell were they? Were they still alive? Would he have only some carved monument to remember them, a white tombstone amid a long line of them? He should have warned them the minute he saw that symbol on the shaman's clothing. Was it his fault? Teal'c's presence jogged him out of his funk. The Jaffa, although made of sterner stuff than the archaeologist, looked just as devastated.
The two SG teams remained on the planet to continue helping the villagers repair their home and providing medical help. They also continued to ask the people to relate their experience of the raid in hopes to glean any further useful information. Two names were brought up by a few of the villagers and included in the report sent on to the SGC.
Daniel and Teal'c returned to the SGC to make a more complete report to General Hammond. They both felt distressed at their lack of information. They were both ordered to do what they did best - Daniel to research and Teal'c to seek out information on the Jaffa who raided the village and the Goa'uld they served.
In his office at the SGC, with a little research Daniel realized this before unheard of Goa'uld might well be a lackey of Ba'al. In the ancient text of Earth the Semitic term Beli'ya'al or Belial was used in reference to one who was worthless or lawless and more worrisome, a demon. With the state of turmoil in the galaxy it really was anyone's guess who he was. Perhaps a former subservient Goa'uld looking to establish himself using Ba'al name to garner respect.
Daniel requested that their allies, the Tok'ra and Free Jaffa be asked for any information about this Goa'uld and further any information that could aid in the return of their officers - his team mates and friends.
By the time he handed in his finished reported to General Hammond Teal'c was dressed in the battle gear of the Jaffa and about to embark and Walter's next duty was to contact the Tok'ra.
The word demon kept rattling around in Daniel's mind. He feared for the safety of his friends.
