Colonel Jack O'Neil paced the briefing room like a caged animal as he waited for General Hammond to join them. Around the conference table sat Daniel Jackson, Teal'C, and Dr. Janet Frazier. His second in command, Major Samantha Carter had been taken on their most recent mission. The planet SJX-554, known to the natives as Creeta, could only be described as barbaric.

The settlement they encountered had a patriotical caste system. Men ruled everything, which wasn't uncommon on the planets they've visited; however, their views of women were downright disturbing. The highest caste of women were treated like porcelain dolls. Daniel likened it to the certain extremist religious practices on Earth. The mid-caste of women were working class. They had husbands and families, and traditionally served the highest caste.

Jack could have accepted the society if it ended there, but of course it grew worse. The lowest-caste were women who were unclaimed. These women were either orphans who were not adopted by their sixteenth birthday, women disowned by their fathers, and those caste aside by their husbands. They were rounded up and sold to the highest bidder to serve however their owners deemed appropriate. Unfortunately, Sam had been identified as an unclaimed woman. While the head of state, Omar, had granted her exemption based upon her status as Jack's second in command, the religious leader Zabar had called her an abomination. In the middle of the night, Zabar's forces had snuck into her room and abducted her.

"Sir," Jack stopped pacing as General Hammond entered the room, "permission to go and extract Major Carter."

"We are definitely doing that, Colonel," Hammond told him, "but I want to understand exactly what needs to happen."

"Sam's being put on the auction block," Daniel said, "in exactly one hour."

"Is negotiating for her release an option?" Hammond asked.

"I do not believe so," Teal'c answered. "The people of this planet do not value the same things as you do. The only thing they want is more females."

"It's a society based on human trafficking, sir," Jack told him fighting to keep his voice respectful. All he wanted to do was take an army back and kill anyone who dared to touch one of his people.

"Explain to me again why you didn't just steal Major Carter back before?" Hammond had heard the explanation already, but Jack didn't argue. He wanted to get out of here and back to her as quickly as possible.

"A slave cuff, sir," Jack replied.

"A device that emits an electric shock to me a slave who gets too far away from their master. We had Sam, sir, but once we set foot just outside the city, she was zapped," Daniel explained.

"Colonel O'Neil suffered varying degrees of electrocution as he carried Major Carter back inside the city limits," Teal'c added in his calm Jaffa voice, but Jack could tell he was brimming with anger. He also wished to get back to Carter as soon as possible.

"Bottom line, sir," Jack finished, "we've got to get that cuff off of her wrist or she'll die before we can get her to the SGC. Carter herself said entering the wormhole while being shocked would likely result in death."

General Hammond nodded. "You are to return to the planet and, I cannot believe I'm about to say this, purchase Major Carter. These people have developed highly advanced weaponry and, I for one, would like to avoid a battle with them," Hammond ordered.

"Sir, Major Carter—" Jack started to argue.

"Colonel, while I'd like to avoid bloodshed if at all possible," Hammond held up his hand before Jack could interrupt. "If non-violent options do not work, you are authorized you to extract Major Carter using any means necessary."

"Thank you, sir," Jack said standing up. "Daniel. Teal'C." His two teammates stood up to prepare for their rescue mission.

"Bring her home, son."