Taken
Darkness engulfed the village of Kortaul. Every now and again, the moon of Raye Abbas would peek out from behind the heavy clouds that drifted overhead. The night environment was perfect for the man who made his way stealthily across the clearing. He had no fear of being detected, as all members of the village were fast asleep, wanting to be up early the next morning to see their guests off. He carried a pouch which contained several items he deemed necessary to carry out his plan.
He made his way around the side of the cottage to where he knew she slept. He had been in her room the previous night and knew well the lay-out of the cottage as a whole. He was also aware of where the men would be sleeping. He had planned this out very carefully in the short time that they had been in the village. As he reached her window, the ruby amulet caught the glow of the moon as it appeared briefly from behind the clouds. Fearing its light might be seen and attract attention, he tucked it carefully under his shirt.
Baryon sidled up to the window and took a small piece of wood away from its edges. The window bent inward enough that he was able to take the knife from his pouch and finish loosening its locks. The window slowly swung open into the room where she slept. Baryon reached into his pouch and took out two small vials of liquid and a cloth. When she was younger, his wife had been an apprentice to the village healer. She had learned many helpful things about plants and how to use their ingredients for other purposes. She had taught him much before her death several years ago. One such concoction he knew could render a person unconscious within a matter of seconds. It took two very potent plants to do this: plants that Baryon had found on this new planet and boiled down to get the essence he needed. He opened first one vial and poured a bit of the liquid onto the cloth, then opened the other vial and did the same. He replaced the vials and put them back into his pouch. He may need to use the mixture again. Then Baryon climbed through the window and advanced on the sleeping figure lying in the bed.
Her golden hair reflected the light of the moon briefly before it disappeared once again behind the clouds. She breathed softly as she slept, unaware of what was about to befall her. Baryon stopped next to the bed and gazed at her for a few seconds, then slowly reached down to her face, holding the cloth in front of him. Just as he covered her mouth with the cloth, her eyes flew open and she looked up at him with a mixture of shock and fear. She began to struggle but he pressed her down into the mattress with his free arm, while the one holding the cloth continued to press over her mouth. Within 10 seconds, her eyes closed and she went limp beneath his hands. Baryon continued to hold the cloth in place for another few seconds, then carefully pulled it back and slipped it into his pocket. He crept quietly to the door of her room and peered out. Nothing stirred within the recesses of the cottage. He only heard the quiet breathing of its other residents. He softly closed her door behind him.
Baryon went back to the bed and drew back its covers. He picked the woman up in his arms and made his way to the window. Because of its low reach to the ground, he was able to sit on the window sill and jump softly to the ground, still holding his hostage tightly in his grasp. Baryon glanced back once more to the window, grinned malevolently, and walked out of the clearing; heading for the path that led up the steep hill located to the west of the village.
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Kellan and Josef made their way up the steep hill to their secret hide-out. They had received permission from their parents to stay the night in the cave. Both boys were responsible young men who had been through much in their young lives. Their parents felt it wasn't too much of them to ask for some time alone together. Kellan's parents especially were grateful to Josef for spending time with the younger boy. He had been having a harder time than the other children adjusting to both the move to a new planet and losing his close friend to the Jaffa raid. Being with Josef seemed to help Kellan adjust to both.
The boys didn't talk as they continued their climb. They weren't able to rely on the sporadic appearance of the moon for light tonight, so had brought along two of the flashlights that had been given to the villagers by the Tauri. Everyone was amazed at these fireless torches. They lasted long and their light shined in far reaching arcs. The boys were almost to the rocky outcropping that held their cave when they heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind them. They looked at each other in puzzlement: who would be coming up here at this time of night? They themselves had left their houses much later than they normally would be allowed. They had been talking late into the evening with some of the adults about the impending departure of their friends.
Josef silently indicated to Kellan to move off into the brush that surrounded the mouth of the cave. Kellan joined Josef in the foliage; both hunkered down as low as they could. The footfalls grew louder as the intruder approached. The person seemed to walking very slowly and heavily, almost as if they carried a heavy burden. As the man came around a bend in the path and approached the position of the two hidden boys, the moon once again reappeared. The boys silently parted the bushes in front of them and peered out. Kellan let out a small gasp which was quickly stifled by Josef placing his hand over the younger boy's mouth. The man stopped in his tracks and looked around carefully. He had heard something off to the right. It must have been the wind, or maybe an animal. Certain that no one could be out at this time of night, he resumed his trek up the hill.
Kellan and Josef stared at each other in confusion after the man continued on. They had both recognized the man as Baryon from their village. The burden that he carried was the instantly recognizable figure of Major Sam.
"What do we do?" Kellan fearfully asked the older boy. It was obvious to both of them that Baryon was not trying to help Major Sam; most likely quite the opposite.
Josef looked up the hill as the figure continued its ascent. "Kellan, I need to follow Baryon to see where he's taking Major Sam. You need to return back to the village and get the rest of Sg-1 up here."
"But how will I know where to take them?" he continued in a quiet whisper.
"This path leads to the top of the hill and ends by that semicircle of large stones. He can't go beyond that. He has moved past our cave so he doesn't intend to go there. Just have them follow the path to the top. Kellan, you have to go quickly. I don't know what Baryon has in mind but we might not have much time." Josef declared.
"Why would he want to hurt Major Sam, Josef?" Kellan was clearly confused by what was happening.
"I don't know Kellan, but if we want to help her, we have to move now. GO! Run as quickly and quietly as you can. Don't go anywhere but directly to the guest cottage!"
"Don't let anything happen to her Josef," Kellan pleaded before he turned and took off down the hill. Josef promised himself that he wouldn't as he quietly crept out from his hiding place and made his way up the hill.
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Teal'c's eyes sprung open at the incessant pounding on the front door. Not a heavy sleeper, he quickly got up from his bed and made his way to the front door. As he unlocked the door, both Jack and Daniel came stumbling out of their rooms.
"What's with all the noise Teal'c," Jack asked while tiredly rubbing his hand across his face.
"Someone knocks on the door O'Neill. My intention is to find out who it is and what they want." Teal'c swung the door open to find Kellan, his arm raised to pound once again on the door.
Upon seeing the figure of the young boy, Jack came instantly alert. He walked over to the boy and crouched in front of him. "Kellan, what's wrong?"
Kellan, trying hard to catch his breath, threw out words and phrases that didn't have any discernible meaning to the men standing there. "Josef and I....up on the hill... really dark....saw Baryon.....Major Sam..."
At the mention of Sam, all three men looked at each other. "Daniel, check her room," Jack instructed. He looked back at Kellan. "Kellan, I need you to slow down and tell me what you saw."
Kellan closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. Before he could begin again, Daniel came running out of Sam's room. "Jack, she's gone! The window to her room is open, the covers are a mess, and she's gone!"
Jack closed his eyes briefly. Why hadn't he insisted she sleep in his room? If anything had happened to her... He opened his eyes and looked to Teal'c, who read the emotions flitting across his CO's face.
Kellan finally gathered himself together. "I think I know where she is. Josef and I were on the hill...going to our cave...and we saw Baryon. I'm pretty sure it was him. But he was carrying Major Sam. She wasn't moving Colonel! Why would Baryon take Major Sam and want to hurt her?" he pleaded.
Jack ignored the question for the moment. "Where is Josef?"
"He stayed up on the hill so he could follow Baryon. He wanted to make sure that he kept his eyes on them until you could come," replied the boy.
"Can you lead us to him?"
"Yes, Colonel. Josef and I have been to the top of the hill many times. It doesn't go anywhere else but down. He can't leave it without coming back down toward the village."
"OK. Daniel, Teal'c, get your gear together. Make sure you have Zats. I don't want to take out Baryon unless it's absolutely necessary. Kellan, wait here while we get ready. You'll have to be ready to move quickly again. Do you think you can do that?"
"Yes Colonel O'Neill. I'd do anything to help Major Sam."
"I know you would Kellan. As we all would." He placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "We'll leave in five minutes." Colonel O'Neill quickly went to get his own gear together, not wanting to waste any more time. Within five minutes, the three men and the young boy were out the door, making their way down the path that lead to the rocky hill where Sam had been taken.
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A/N: I know, another cliff hanger. Sorry! Hope you enjoyed the action here. More to come soon! I don't like to keep you waiting!