Chapter 3
Daniel
watched cautiously as the van door was thrown open. He didn't move through fear of being hit round the head
again. He simply watched as a body was
thrown in. The bright light from the
winter sun flowed in through the open doors and was then abruptly cut off as
they slammed shut. The key locked the
door noisily and Daniel crawled over to discover who it was. Jack, he looked like he had been smacked
across the head. There was a large gash
on his forehead, just below the line of his hair.
Who the hell was trying to get rid of them? He felt the van rumble off and down the winding mountains. The van was about six foot long and four wide. At the back were two cells and he could guess who was in them. A Jaffa and a blended human would need to be kept under stiff lock and key. He clumsily got up and walked over to the back of the van, The entire van was painted black and the only light being emitted was from a tiny artificial light, emitting a pitiful glow. The cells were obviously well built, and a simple mesh covered the windows. Peering in, Daniel could tell who it was. Teal'c looked like he was doing Kelno'reem, but tight ropes binding him to the cold metal seat suggested he put up a fight. Trying desperately hard to keep his balance, he reached over and clasped the edge of the second cell and again peered through the window. He knew it was going to be Sam but he had to check.
"You
took your time" she said
"Well
being hit round the head isn't too good for the health
She
smiled and winced as a sudden pain surged up her neck
"They
used one hell of a sedative of Teal'c, he was there when I got in"
"Are
you okay?"
Jolinar
replied "Samantha will be fine"
"Okay
well who do you think did this"
"I
think you have a phrase, three guesses"
Daniel
smiled. He knew it was going to be hard
all round. These were changing times
for all and the changes were big. Although how they were going to get round certain obstacles, he didn't
know. "Okay well, we know Kinsey didn't
like us, maybe this is his way of getting rid of us permanently"
"Possibly,
but this is too convenient for him. How would he make it seem we have
disappeared?"
"The
Stargate?"
Leaning
back in the cell, Jolinar knew something big was going to happen. They just sat in silence as the van carried
them too their fate.
**********
Hammond was furious. Why would SG-1 be stupid enough to Gate to Vorash, and leave such an obvious trail. That didn't make sense, in fact when he thought about it was sloppy. The were not the best team on roster for making silly mistakes.
"General,
the President is waiting"
This
was not going to go down well. Although
none of it made sense to him, Kinsey was positive he knew what happened. He is convinced SG-1 has gone to the Tok'ra,
and is ready to destroy the fragile alliance between them. Hammond wasn't so convinced.
Sitting
down in his chair he picked up the 'Big Red Telephone', as Colonel O'Neill
likes to call it. Well he had to give
him full credit for accuracy and simplicity. It simply was a big, red telephone. Talking softly into the phone, Hammond explained the situation and what
he was going to do. Kinsey entered
followed by Harris and Samuels just as the conversation finished. "Well General I hope you have a damn good
explanation"
"For
what?"
"How
can you say that when a bunch of hoodlums are running around the galaxy"
"We
don't have official confirmation that it was SG-1. We only have a few insubstantial accounts and some unrecognisable
command codes"
"Well
were are th…"
Sirens
wailed as Davis shouted over the loudspeaker "Incoming traveller"
Running
down to the control room, he could see technicians moving to fill empty
computer stations monitoring closely what is happening, everything from power
intake to radiation levels is being monitored, nothing is being left out. "Receiving GDO, sir it's the Tok'ra"
"Get
the iris open" he barked and ran down to Gate room
Scraping
open, the iris revealed a sea of rippling blue. A figure leaped out, clothed in basic beige tunics. The man strolled down the ramp and looked
into the eyes of Hammond.
"George,
did you guys call about a half hour ago?" Jacob asked
"Someone
dialled Vorash and we don't know who" Hammond replied
"It
was SG-1, only he cannot accept that" Kinsey said gesturing at Hammond
"Well
if it was, we would know about it"
"I
take it you are Jacob Carter, and Selmak. Well they say blood is thicker that water"
Hammond
looked at the man and realised he doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut,
after the look Jolinar gave him he should have realised but no, he has to drag
on the subject. Jacobs eyes flashed and
Selmak spoke.
"You
have no right to question me, Samantha or the Tok'ra"
"I'm
not scared of you, you hide behind the face of a human while you carry out your
satanic ways"
"Well
that's a first", Jacob said " These guys have been called everything but never
that. Look I'm not here to argue with a
politician, I came to find out why our Gate was activated, and I'm getting
nowhere."
"Well
Jake, there is a problem"
"Let
me guess who it involves"
"SG-1
apparently used the Stargate to gate to Vorash, but if they're not there then
they could have gated to another world"
"No,
our Gate has been quiet since you guys phoned"
"Then
were are they then?" Kinsey commanded
"I
don't know Senator", Hammond said "I'll arrange a search party to scout the
area, Jacob you can go with them, maybe Selmak can help" Jacob nodded and ran to change into civilian
clothes "Senator may I suggest you leave the base with your personal jesters"
looking at the gawking Lieutenant Colonels behind him "Unless you plan to help
you can stay out of our way". Turning
around he started yelling orders trying to get some sort of organisation.
Kinsey
was fuming. Hammond had the nerve to
upstage him, well that drew the line. He left the Gate room and the complex quickly, knowing that no matter
how much he tries Hammond won't find them.
**********
Jack
groaned into consciousness and a very bad headache. He didn't get drunk, he would have remembered some of that. Cursing his brief amnesia he sat up and look
around. He was in van, a very dark
van. Even the windows on the door were
dark, painted over so no-one could see in or out. There was movement from behind him, let him get close then make him
squeal. So the person did get close, he
placed a hand on Jacks shoulder. Bad
move. Jack executed a perfect throw
over the should. Moving quickly, Jack
locked his arm behind his back and pulled on it tightly.
"Who
do you work for and what do they want?" Jack commanded
"Jack
let go of my arm!"
"Daniel?"
"Yes"
Releasing
the hold he moved around and tried to shift back away from what happened. Daniel sat up and rubbed his shoulder,
trying to earn more sympathy from those in the cells. He wasn't winning. Jack
moved over to his friend and asked sheepishly "You okay?"
"I'll
live. Do you know what happened to
you?"
"I
was with Fraiser trying to find Carter, we split up and I got jumped. How about you?"
"I
was just walking round the base and I got jumped, I didn't see who but me and
Sam have a theory" Jack gave Daniel the Is There Something Your Not Telling Me
look and waited for the younger man to explain. "Oh sorry, Sam and Teal'c were
jumped too, there in those two cells in the back"
Following
the cue Sam shouted "Hey Colonel"
"Carter"
Jack shouted back as the van ground to an abrupt halt. Jack and Daniels body flew down the van and
crashed heavily the door to Teal'c's cell. This woke the huge Jaffa, who leapt from the induced slumber. Mumbling obscenities under his breathe Jack
got up and listened as the doors were rattled open. Two large men filled the door, wearing nothing but black and
masks, meaning they were not to be identified.
"They're
awake" One of them groaned
"Good
this will be more fun" The other joked
'Well
if you're gonna take us on you've got a fight on your hands' Jack thought
Climbing
into the van they on clipped the guns from their holsters and quickly loaded
them. Pointing it in the centre of
Jacks head he said in a deep menacing voice "Try anything and you'll regret it"
"I
wouldn't dream of it" He replied not hiding the sarcasm
"Thought
so" Throwing his arm round his back he grabbed the hidden Zat and fired a shot,
hitting Daniel square in the chest. He
flew back into the cell again and this time landed on the door so hard it fired
backwards into the knees of the otherwise engaged Jaffa.
Jack
had to give up yet another battle. But
these guys were more likely to get some sort of redemption, Kinsey wasn't. Nodding his head slowly and picked his
friend up off the floor. Lugging him
out of the door to the less than caring arms of the other man. After handing him over, Jack heard two more
shots, but not in succession. He wanted
to turn around but he knew what was coming next.
Closing
his eyes tightly, he readied his body for the pain and the darkness.
They
struck his body hard and he collapsed in a sloppy pile onto the floor. Just as he lost consciousness a cold soft
drop landed calmly on his face and all around him. The first snow of the year was laying its icy grip on nature.
**********