The Heart's Refusal to Believe – Ch. 13
A/N: Thanks to everyone for reviewing!
Just then the ship began to slowly descend. "We are landing, O'Neill."
Joe and Jack went to the window. "Wow." Jack replied to what he saw out the window.
"What is it?" Sam asked not really wanting anymore surprises.
"We have arrived at the Aschen homeworld." Joe replied not pleased by their destination.
Jack was standing at the window amazed at the wondrous city below him. He, like Joe, wasn't happy with their destination. He was already strategically planning for possible escapes. They were now playing on Molum's home turf, and that tipped the scales to his favor.
Joe walked away from the window explaining the layout of the world they were about to enter. "The only Stargate locations are in heavily guarded storage facilities. The gates are used to transport crops in from other planets. There is also one Stargate located within the Council Building. It is used by the diplomats to gate to other planets within the confederation. Here everyone travels via the transporters. There are no other means of transportation. Ships are rarely seen. The only way off the planet is through the Stargate."
"What are those huge smoke stack looking things?" Jack asked.
"Those actually produce the required amount of oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide for the city. At the base of those towers are the storage facilities that have the Stargates. There isn't enough plant life to produce enough oxygen for the vast city."
"Yeah, what is up with that? The city looks like it goes on forever." Jack said still looking out the window. Instead of seeing majestic mountains, he saw massive concrete structures.
"That is because it does. The entire planet has been overpopulated. It's one gigantic metropolis. There is no land left for raising livestock or growing crops. That's why they must use other planets. Each high rise you see represents a city within itself. The people live, work, and play within that building. Every building is intertwined with the ones adjacent to it. Each building has passageways located in their market places or corporate floors that lead to other buildings like a highway that connects our cities. You will find all the public transporters in these areas."
"Why don't they use the other planets to live on? Why stay here among the sea of people."
"This is the only life that they know. They do not wish to leave their homes."
"I can't imagine how that many people get along. Do they have problems with crime like most crowded cities?" Daniel was curious.
"They do not. The Aschen have all given their lives to better their homeworld. Crime is non existent."
"Oh come on. This many people in one city and no crime? Are you sure they are not just covering it up?" Jacob asked.
"No, in my time here there was no crime that I could see. However, I was also disillusioned by the drugs to think there was anything amiss among the Aschen world. I believed in the idea that it was a Utopia and worked towards that ideal."
'Great, a world full of people being drugged and influenced by their government. A government that thinks exterminating another race in pursuit of claiming more land is justified as long as their world benefits. If the Aschen thinks so little of life, what is in store for us?' Jack thought to himself. He was also worried about Sam and all that she must have gone through. He had not had the opportunity to really talk to her about it and reassure himself that she was truly okay.
When Daniel began asking questions about social order, Sam took the opportunity to join Jack at the window. She wanted a better look at the city and to access any possible dangers. She was concerned when she saw the look in Jack's eyes from the reflection in the window.
"What's wrong?" She whispered loud enough for only him to hear.
This time instead of staring off at the city below he looked at her reflection in the window meeting her worried eyes. "Oh you know nearly lost someone I … uh, we … all care about, went on a rescue mission, got captured by not one but two lunatics, escaped a little too easily, landed on a strange planet full of people drugged in order to follow their leaders every whim, and now just trying to find the yellow brick road that will lead us back home."
Sam wasn't sure how to react. She was surprised by his initial slip and wondered what he was really going to say. She was also surprised that he actually shared with her everything he was concerned about. He usually carried that burden alone and refused to let others share the load. She was both honored and worried.
Jack noticed her surprise, but didn't give her a chance to respond when he turned to address everyone. "I have a bad feeling we are walking into a trap. I don't think it's wise for anyone to be alone, but this is a large group. We might have a better chance to split up into two teams."
"I think Jack is right. This way if anyone does get captured then the other group will be there to rescue them." Jacob voiced his opinion.
"That's good except that Joe is the only one that can read the Aschen language fluently. I can roughly translate some words, but it will put one team to a huge disadvantage." Daniel said.
"Actually, I can read the Aschen language thanks to Joe's help." Sam said to the shocked group.
"How is that Carter?"
"Well, Sir. Joe sent an Aschen computer to Kinsey for me to create the portable DHD. He also sent me his own cheat sheets, if you will, that allowed me to learn the language. I was able to read all the Aschen programs and even write my own program."
"Wait a minute." Jack said holding up his hand and turning around. "Joe, you said the Aschen have known for four weeks that Kinsey was coming, did you also know that Sam was coming?"
"Yes." Joe said sadly knowing he was about to anger everyone, especially O'Neill. "I'm afraid that I am the reason she's here."
A chorus of 'What!' echoed through the room.
Sam stepped toward Joe defensively as the other four men in the room glared at him. "He knew someone from Earth had made contact with one of the Aschen planets he was on. He didn't know who. He thought it was an SGC team, and therefore, he asked for me hoping I would be able to discover that the planet fell within the Aschen Confederation. He didn't know it was a rogue group. He had no involvement with my kidnapping." Sam said emphasizing the last part to make her point clear.
"I honestly thought that they were with the SGC. I cannot apologize enough for what Sam has gone through because of my actions. I am truly sorry." Joe said honestly.
Although, Joe unknowingly put Sam's life in danger and started the chain reaction that led to her kidnapping, all four men accepted the reasoning behind Joe's actions. They didn't like it and they weren't happy with him, but they accepted it.
The ship finally stopped descending causing the group to get quiet. They heard people approaching the transporter room they were in and scattered for a hiding place.
Molum, Kinsey, Hoskins, Mercel, and two other Aschen members entered the transporter room.
"I assure you Ambassador Kinsey; Colonel Carter will be properly reprimanded for her treatment towards Hoskins." Molum said.
The hairs on the back of Sam's neck stood on end. Sam was beginning to believe Jack was right they were walking into a trap. Molum wasn't looking at Kinsey as he spoke; he was looking in her direction as if he were speaking to her.
"We will allow Mercel to join you through the gate as an offer of our good faith. We will expect your return within one of your hours." Molum said as they transported down to the Aschen homeworld. Joe knew Molum was punishing Mercel for his betrayal of the Aschen people by helping him and the others from Earth.
Just before they were transported, Jack saw Molum nod his head slightly toward one of the Aschen members remaining on the ship.
The transporter was centrally located therefore there were two main corridors that lead into the room. The two Aschen members were standing at one entrance. Jack and Sam were hiding behind a large piece of equipment within five steps of the other entrance.
Jack knew something was about to happen as he watched one of the Aschen walking towards a console. He knew he couldn't fire his zat, because that would discharge the Aschen automated weapons. He also knew he had to escape or risk all of them being captured. Jack grabbed Sam's hand and rushed for the open exit into a large corridor.
Just as Jack and Sam stepped into the corridor a beam swept through the room. They knew as soon as they heard the beam discharge their friends were unconscious. They ran down the corridor as fast as they could to try and find a secure hiding place and hopefully come up with a plan to get off the ship.
In the transporter room the Aschen were looking at the three unconscious bodies on the floor. "Where are the other three humans? The scanner showed that all six were in the proximity when the beam was emitted."
"We must find them. I will transport these three to the planet while you return to the Control Room to scan the ship for the remaining three humans."
Earlier Jacob saw Jack dragging Sam from the room just seconds before the beam went off. Minutes later he was surprised when he saw Joe, Daniel, and especially Teal'c lying on the floor unconscious. He was guessing the only reason he was still conscious was because his physiology was different than the others thanks to Selmak. Teal'c was more human now that he no longer carried a symbiote. He waited until the Aschen were busy moving the others to the transporter before making his escape into the corridor, where he now hid listening to the two Aschen. He knew they didn't have much time. They needed to be off the ship by the time the other Aschen reached the Control Room. He quickly left in search for his daughter.
Meanwhile Jack and Sam ducked into a room to catch their breath when Jack heard several Aschen walking towards them. He was pretty sure that they had some kind of sensors on the ship indicating their movement; he didn't realize the sensor could only be activated from the Control Room. He was concerned all potential hiding places could turn into a make shift prison or render them unconscious.
When Sam entered the room she bent over with her hands on her knees trying to catch her breath not believing she was so out of shape after just two weeks away from the gym. Her own heartbeat bounding in her ears prevented her from hearing the Aschen nearby. She had followed Jack into the room not sure why he had stopped running.
Jack noticed Sam was breathing hard from the mad dash from the transporter. Her two weeks of being trapped in tight quarter without exercise was evident. He was worried the Aschen, who were a few feet away now, would be able to hear her. He thought quickly and went with his first instincts. Unfortunately, it wasn't the best solution. He put his hand over her mouth forcing her to breathe through her nose silencing her gasp for breath.
Sam was standing beside Jack, and as she straighten up a hand clasped over her mouth. She was taken by complete surprise. Her mind went immediately back to the night she had been kidnapped. She was in the car and the officer had his hand covering her mouth. It was dark and she was struggling to get free. The seatbelt was stopping her movement as the drugs began to take effect. Just seconds before she passed out her attacker put his head in the window to see if she was unconscious. She could see him for the first time just briefly. His face was clearly illuminated by the lights from his own car. 'Jameson! Pete's partner? But why?' Sam thought to herself now.
Sam had only met Jameson a few times, but she was sure it was him. She couldn't have been in any more shock unless it had been Pete that had kidnapped her. The answer that had been plaguing her nightmares had finally surfaced and now her mind was full of questions.
Jack knew he had made the wrong decisions as soon as Sam began to fight him. She landed a few elbows to his stomach and chest before she went completely still. She was holding her breath. Her eyes were wide and not focusing on her surroundings. He was assuming he must have triggered a memory from when she was kidnapped. Jack was kicking himself for such a stupid move.
The Aschen passed them without pausing so he was fairly certain they weren't detected. He was more worried about Sam now. He slowly let her slide down the wall to a sitting position. He was talking to her quietly trying to bring her out of her nightmare. "Carter … Can you hear me? Sam!" Jack was rubbing her shoulder trying to bring her out of it, but was unsuccessful. Desperately trying to get her back to reality, Jack placed one hand gently on side of her face and rubbed his thumb across her cheek, "Come on Sam, talk to me."
Jack's presences shook Sam from her nightmare. She looked directly into his warm eyes and covered his hand with her own. "Jameson?" She whispered the hurt showed clearly in her eyes.
Jack closed his own eyes briefly and then opened them to look directly at her. He nodded his head, "Yes I'm afraid so."
"But why? How did he even know that I was in town?"
"Sam. I know this is difficult, but I don't have time right now to explain everything. We have a couple of Aschen probably scanning the ship right now pin pointing our location. When we are safe, I promise I will answer any questions you have and tell you everything that I know. But right now we need to get out of here. Do you think you can walk?"
Sam released his hand, shook her head, and looked around the room. She was so consumed by the memory she had forgotten where she was and the current threat that they were fleeing from. She quickly stood up and cleared her mind of her past as she focused on the current situation. "Sorry, sir." Sam said now in full military mode.
"Don't apologize Sam." Jack was not about to let the moment pass. "I promise I will tell you everything and we will get through this together." Jack said squeezing her hand, now worried more then ever on how she will react when she finds out about Pete's involvement. He looked into the corridor to see if it was clear.
Sam stared at the back of his head, once again surprised by his actions and words. He offered her nothing more than help and comfort, but for now it was enough.
Jack walked out of the room followed by Sam, just as Jacob rounded the corner. Jack and Sam were surprised to see him. They were sure everyone was knocked unconscious.
"Sam … Jack, we have to get back to the transporter now before they scan the ship!" Jacob said not caring how loudly he was talking.
Jack looked at Sam to ask if she was okay and she nodded her head to assure him that she was. Jacob noticed the exchange and wondered what could have happened in such a short amount of time to cause the interaction. He couldn't worry about that now as they all rushed back to the transporter room.
There was no one in the room as they stepped onto the transporter platform. "What happened to Daniel, Teal'c, and Joe?" Jack asked
"They were knocked unconscious and transported down to the planet." Jacob responded as Sam once again out of breathe, read the transporter and then punched in a few keys and transported them off the ship.
An Aschen member watched from the Control Room as the three humans from Earth transported to the planet below. He pressed a button on the console to contact Molum. "Sir, the remaining three have transported to the coordinates that I am sending to you now."
"Good. Now we must wait. Ambassador Kinsey and the others have left to retrieve the rest of his men. I do not suspect we will see them again. As for the remaining three humans, we have their friends and I do not believe they will return home without them this time. I will monitor their movement from here. You may return to the Algeun Planet."
Molum turned to look at the three unconscious visitors on the tables.
TBC