Amends -Chapter 2-
They reached the caves and Teal'c, who was slightly ahead of Jack, entered first. "Major Carter! Jonas Quinn!" He spotted a body lying on the cave floor by a wall full of writing. Jack shot past him and kneeled next to the body."It's Jonas." He spoke as he felt the man's neck for a pulse. Sighing in relief when he found one, he shook Jonas' shoulders lightly.
The young alien suddenly jolted up and looked at the Colonel confused.
"What happened?" Jack asked calmly. Inside he was screaming to know where she was. "Major Carter and I were looking at the writings… and then I woke up just now." Jonas looked around confused. "Where is she?"
"Major Carter does not appear to be here, Jonas Quinn." Teal'c spoke as he inspected the rear of the cave.
Jonas was helped to his feet by Jack as he winced, and brought a hand to the back of his head. "Well somebody must've hit me over the back of the head." He continued rubbing his scalp. "But why would they have only taken Major Carter?"
"Some guy said something about women not being allowed above the…uh…" Jack searched his mind for the words the stranger had used.
"The Lower Levels, O'Neill." Teal'c concluded for him. "Perhaps Major Carter was apprehended for breaking the rules."
"Yeah, well you know how Carter feels about these Shavediah-Mongol type people." Jack stated "Caineth," Jonas suddenly spoke.
"What?" Jack asked, looking at him. He wondered if the alien had gotten brain damage after being hit on the head.
"Caineth. Uh… SG-13 mentioned him in their report. He's supposed to be the leader here."
"Yeah, our tour guide Axis said that…"
"Alexis," Teal'c interrupted Jack.
"Whatever, he said that Caineth was at the Capitol in a meeting."
"We should talk to him about this," Jonas added.
"Oh yeah, I've got a few things that I'd like to talk to this Caineth guy about."
"I'm sorry, but Lord Caineth is busy in an important meeting. You'll have to wait until he has finished." The man behind the desk sighed after repeating it for the 4th time.
"Oh, for crying out loud!" Jack yelled, causing the man to jump slightly. "Listen to me! One of my team members has been kidnapped! And I don't take that lightly." He leaned closer to the man as if he were about to pummel him into the ground. "Now, if you don't get this lord guy out here now, I'll…"
"Can I help you?" A quiet voice interrupted from behind them.
The three male members of SG-1 turned around much to the relief of the receptionist who sighed and went back to his work. They were faced with a short, well-rounded man with slightly graying hair.
"I am Caineth, and you must be the SG-1 from the planet called Earth."
"Yes, that would be us." Jack took a few steps closer to the old man "I am Colonel Jack O'Neill; this is Teal'c and Jonas Quinn." He indicated to each of the guys who nodded in turn to Caineth. "And there is something you can help us with. You see, one of my team members has been kidnapped while looking at your caves."
"Kidnapped?" Caineth replied, "There must be some kind of mistake."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Well Jonas here was hit over the back of the head when he was with Carter and she was gone when he came to. So I'm thinking yeah, it was a kidnapping!" He knew that he was being a little snippy, but he hadn't exactly been in a good mood all day, and it had just taken a considerate downfall.
"This team member of yours is a woman?" Caineth asked, slightly surprised.
"Yes," Jonas answered. "We've just recently learned that women are not supposed to come out of the uh… the Lower Levels. So if she has been reprimanded for that, then please understand that we did not know of these laws until now."
Caineth shook his head. "I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding. Nonetheless, I will call upon my second who is in charge of the Lower Levels. He will know if your friend has gone there. If so, we will return her to you. Please wait here and I will return momentarily." He turned and walked through a doorway. Jack turned to Jonas and Teal'c.
"What if they tell us that she's not there?" Jonas asked.
"Well, I'm not going to believe them until I take a look myself." Jack replied and looked at his watch. "Well, we're due to check in. Teal'c, head back to the gate and tell Hammond what's going on. I also want SG-12 ready for back up if we need them."
"Do you believe that Caineth was lying to us and he is withholding Major Carter?" Teal'c questioned.
"I don't know, but somebody took her and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get her back."
Teal'c tilted his head forward, then left the room, he knew better than to cross Jack O'Neill when he had his mind set on something. Especially when it involved one of the members of his team being missing.
"I am sorry, but I have not seen this Samantha Carter you speak of." Caineth's second, Marin, spoke. "Nobody has passed in or out of the Lower Levels in days."
Jack rubbed the back of his neck in frustration, "Well, do you mind if we take a look anyway?"
"You do not believe us? You think we have taken this woman from you!" Marin began, getting angry. He was taller than his first, Caineth, and his hair was darker, which obviously showed that he was much younger.
"Marin," Caineth warned.
"He does not believe my word, Lord Caineth." He replied in a calmer voice.
"It's not that we don't believe you," Jonas cut in. "It's that maybe she's in there without your knowing. We'd like to take a look to see if she's there, and to learn more about your culture."
Caineth nodded in agreement. "You will show them the Lower Levels, Marin. If they do find their friend, she will be returned to them."
"Yes, my Lord." Marin bowed his head and turned to Jack and Jonas. "Please follow me."
The man looked through the metal bars at the unconscious body lying on the cold cement floor. "You say you found her in the caves?"
"Yes Sir." The younger man standing next to him replied. "She must have escaped from the Lower Levels. She was being harbored by a man."
"Did this man see you?"
"No Sir. Shall I return her to the Lower Levels?"
"No, she is with the aliens."
"Then should we let her go?"
The older man considered this then shook his head. "No, she's too valuable. We can use this to our advantage."
"Sir?"
"Do not question me!" he yelled furiously, turning to face the younger man beside him. "Let me know when she awakens," He continued in a quiet voice.
"Yes Sir." He bowed his head and walked away.
"Yes, she will prove to be very valuable." He smirked as he looked at her one last time before turning and walking out of the room.
A/N: Chapter 3 will be up soon! Please leave a review!
